Scott Alexander explores how evil evolves to evade societal recognition, drawing parallels with flu viruses and analyzing modern bullying tactics. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the anti-inductive nature of evil, comparing it to the evolution of flu viruses. He argues that as society develops antibodies against recognized forms of evil (like Nazism and Communism), new forms of evil will emerge that don't match these patterns. The post then analyzes a Cracked article about groups society considers acceptable to mock, suggesting that bullies adapt their tactics to appear as if they're 'punching up' when they're actually 'punching down'. Scott concludes by noting that calling out these new forms of bullying is important work, as it helps society recognize and prevent them. Shorter summary

Scott examines phatic communication and anti-inductive systems, exploring their roles in social interactions, job-seeking, and psychotherapy, and suggests the value of balancing both approaches. Longer summary

Scott explores the concepts of phatic communication and anti-inductive systems, using examples from small talk, job interviews, and psychotherapy. He explains that phatic communication is talking for the sake of talking, often serving as social grooming or signaling. Anti-inductive systems are those that become more complex once understood. Scott discusses how job-seeking and dating profiles can become anti-inductive as people try to stand out. He then reflects on his experiences in psychotherapy, realizing that sometimes a phatic approach works better than trying to be uniquely insightful. The post concludes by suggesting that people may fall into 'phatic culture' or 'anti-inductive culture', and that learning to appreciate phatic communication can be beneficial in certain situations. Shorter summary