[ExI] The answer to tireless stupidity

[Adrian Tymes]

Very true.  However:

1) Might it be the case that those whose arguments are not based on facts
have
more buttons to push?  If they can not be secure in letting the other side
have the
last word, because they know everyone else can tell which side is the
buffoon...

2) The point of the debate is more often to convince the silent audience.
If one
side keeps making emotional arguments, and the other side keeps rebutting by
linking to facts supported by outside sources, more people who witness the
debate will come away leaning toward the latter.

3) This is an interesting development as a political tool.  Like any
technology, it
can be used for good or evil.  However, like many new technologies, those
who we
view as "good" tend to be in a better position to use these tools, and thus
will
probably make more effective use of them (at least in the next decade or
two).
(In other words: try imagining an Extropian setting one of these up, then
try to
imagine a creationist setting one of these up.  It's easier to imagine the
former
case, no?)

On Wed, Nov 3, 2010 at 10:43 AM, Dan <dan_ust at yahoo.com> wrote:

> This is not necessarily a cure for anti-science nonsense or even nonsense.
> It
> could be used against anyone holding any view: simply wear them down. E.g.,
> someone here argues for Extropians or transhumanist views and someone else
> sets
> up a chatbot merely to keep pushing their buttons.
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.extropy.org/pipermail/extropy-chat/attachments/20101103/e9968ca5/attachment.html>