Robin Hanson lists some "Signs that your opinions function more to signal loyalty and ability than to estimate truth", so I thought I'd check myself out:
Guilty. Way way way guilty.
You have little interest in getting clear on what exactly is the position being argued.
No. In fact the opposite is true
Realizing that a topic is important and neglected doesn’t make you much interested.
No. In fact the opposite is true
You have little interest in digging to bigger topics behind commonly argued topics.
No. In fact the opposite is true
You are less interested in a topic when you don’t foresee being able to talk about it.
No. In fact the opposite is true
You are uncomfortable taking a position near the middle of the opinion distribution.
Guilty. Extremely guilty.
You are uncomfortable taking a position of high uncertainty about who is right.
No. In fact the opposite is true
You care far more about current nearby events than similar distant or past/future events.
I don't even understand this fully, but I don't think it's true of me
You find it easy to conclude that those who disagree with you are insincere or stupid.
Guilty
You are reluctant to change your publicly stated positions in response to new info.
No. In fact the opposite is true
You are reluctant to agree a rival’s claim, even if you had no prior opinion on the topic.
Guilty
You are reluctant to take a position that raises the status of rivals.
Guilty
You care more about consistency between your beliefs than about belief accuracy.
No. In fact the opposite is true
You go easy on sloppy arguments by folks on “your side.”
No. In fact the opposite is true
You have little interest in practical concrete implications of commonly argued topics.
No. In fact the opposite is true
Your opinion doesn’t much change after talking with smart folks who know more.
No. In fact the opposite is true
You are especially eager to drop names when explaining positions and arguments.
No. In fact the opposite is true
You find it hard to list weak points and counter-arguments on your positions.
No. In fact the opposite is true
You feel passionately about a topic, but haven’t sought out much evidence.
No. In fact the opposite is true
You are reluctant to not have an opinion on commonly discussed topics.
No. In fact the opposite is true
So that makes me what, 75% truth seeker and 25% signaler? That's pretty good for me, I would have said in advance of seeing the questions that I'd come out 50/50.
Somehow though, I would bet that Robin H. thinks this entire post is some kind of anti-truth signal!
Hat tip to LeBron
2 comments:
"You are uncomfortable taking a position near the middle of the opinion distribution."
All my friends (and my wife) would say I was guilty... yet, I think matter is made of atoms, that the Earth revolves around the sun, that the universe is billions of years old... All these and many other of my beliefs are "middle", common opinions.
How much does being an atheist and libertarian weigh against all that?
Like you, Tom, I believe those things but I don't "take positions" on them. I save that for the controversial stuff.
I sometimes fear that if everyone was a libertarian, I'd be a big statist!
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