Scott Alexander critiques the use of bias arguments in debates, explaining why they're often counterproductive and suggesting more constructive ways to address bias. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the problems with using bias arguments in debates. He argues that these arguments are often unproductive because everyone is biased, people are hypersensitive to biases against their side, it's hard to define bias, and bias arguments don't lead anywhere productive. He suggests that bias arguments can be useful when they provide new information, can be quantified, offer unbiased alternatives, or in private conversations between trusted friends. Scott emphasizes that first-person bias arguments (recognizing one's own biases) are the most valuable, as they allow for honest self-reflection and improvement. Shorter summary

A collection of interesting links from around the web with Scott's commentary, covering topics from international politics to scientific research to cultural curiosities. Longer summary

This is a link roundup post sharing various interesting articles and news items from around the web. The links cover a wide range of topics including international politics, scientific research, cultural observations, and historical events. Scott provides brief commentary and context for each link, often with a mix of humor and critical analysis. The post includes content about children's possessions worldwide, Egyptian politics, happiness rankings, creative interpretations of Star Wars, medical research transparency, and various other eclectic topics. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander criticizes 'bravery debates' as toxic and unproductive, explaining psychological factors that lead to their persistence and recommending against engaging in them. Longer summary

Scott Alexander critiques 'bravery debates', where people claim to be bravely holding unpopular positions against persecution. He argues these debates are toxic and unproductive, often devolving into inflammatory rhetoric. Scott explains how the hostile media effect and selective attention to negative examples can make opposing groups feel equally persecuted. He cites studies showing that portraying oneself as an underdog can gain support and sympathy. Scott concludes that these debates are addictive but ultimately unhelpful, drowning out more substantive discussions. He recommends avoiding bravery debates unless one is genuinely risking something by speaking out. Shorter summary

Scott shares and comments on various interesting links, including critiques of science journalism, updates on scientific discoveries, and various cultural curiosities. Longer summary

A collection of interesting links and news stories, covering diverse topics from scientific research to social experiments. The post includes critiques of science reporting, particularly focusing on poor journalism in the Daily Mail, discussions of various scientific discoveries including medical breakthroughs in back pain treatment, and interesting historical anecdotes. Scott also covers economic experiments with basic income, technology news about 3D printed guns, and various cultural curiosities, maintaining a mix of serious analysis and humorous observations throughout. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander presents Raikoth, his fictional utopian society, which strives for perfection in language, government, and population through unique systems and practices. Longer summary

Scott Alexander describes Raikoth, a fictional utopian society he created. Raikoth is an island nation of 8 million people that aims for perfection in three areas: language, government, and population. They use Kadhamic, a 'perfect language' designed for philosophical rigor, and are governed by AI 'Angels' that make decisions based on utilitarian calculations. The population is carefully managed through birth control, exile of criminals, and selective breeding. Education focuses on meditation, psychedelic experiences, and rationality. The post provides detailed information about Raikoth's history, government structure, societal norms, and educational system. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander critiques the concept of 'rape culture', arguing that society actually treats rape more seriously than many other crimes, contrary to what the term implies. Longer summary

Scott Alexander expresses confusion and skepticism about the term 'rape culture'. He examines five claims associated with the concept and argues against each one, concluding that society actually treats rape as particularly heinous compared to other crimes. He discusses how the criminal justice system handles rape cases, victim-blaming behaviors, sexual objectification, and the disproportionate attention given to rape compared to other issues. The post uses various examples and statistics to support its arguments, maintaining that the concept of 'rape culture' is misguided and contradicts observable societal attitudes towards rape. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander argues that generalizing male violence to all men is problematic, drawing parallels with racist generalizations about crime. Longer summary

Scott Alexander critiques arguments that generalize male violence to all men, drawing a parallel with how similar arguments about black people and crime would be considered racist. He analyzes statistics on crime rates by race and gender, showing that while there are disproportions, it's unfair and counterproductive to treat all members of a group as dangerous. The post suggests ways to discuss violence and rape awareness more constructively, without unfairly stigmatizing entire groups. Scott emphasizes the importance of acknowledging that the vast majority of men are not violent, and argues that overgeneralizing can be harmful both to men and to the goal of reducing violence against women. Shorter summary

The post contrasts public reactions to the deaths of Osama bin Laden and Margaret Thatcher, highlighting inconsistent moral standards in celebrating or condemning deaths of public figures. Longer summary

This post compares the public reactions to the deaths of Osama bin Laden and Margaret Thatcher, highlighting the contradictory nature of societal responses. The author notes that after bin Laden's death, many people preached against celebrating anyone's death, regardless of their actions. Conversely, when Thatcher died, many celebrated and defended the right to express negative feelings about public figures' deaths. The post suggests a significant overlap between these contradictory groups, implying a critique of inconsistent moral standards and selective outrage. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander explores the concept of 'Lizardman's Constant' and its implications for interpreting poll results, especially those concerning unpopular beliefs. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the concept of 'Lizardman's Constant', which refers to the roughly 4% of respondents in polls who give outlandish or deliberately false answers. He explores this through three examples: a personal experience with survey responses, a poll about conspiracy theories, and a controversial study on climate change skepticism. The post argues that when dealing with unpopular beliefs, polls can only provide weak signals that are easily overwhelmed by noise from various sources, including jokesters, cognitive biases, and deliberate misbehavior. Scott concludes that polls relying on detecting very weak signals should be treated with skepticism. Shorter summary

A collection of interesting links covering various topics from government plots and scientific studies to religious news and technological developments. Longer summary

Scott shares a diverse collection of interesting links from March, ranging from humorous historical anecdotes to serious scientific developments. The links cover topics like failed CIA plots against Cuba, religious developments including the Catholic Church's growth and interesting saints, scientific studies about diet and health, political observations, and technological news both positive (like graphene desalination) and negative (like various platform shutdowns). The post maintains a light, sometimes humorous tone while sharing these varied pieces of information. Shorter summary