There's a bit of an implicit norm that has accumulated over the past few years, but inconsistently, and AFAICT no one has publicly argued for it.

Sometimes, when arguing online, you will notice yourself going into a mode that is more like a rant than like careful arguing. Or, you know is not really passing your interlocutor's Intellectual Turing Test. Or, you know is psychologizing someone, and there's decent odds you're wrong (perhaps only in a subtle way that isn't core to your point but is going to feel violating to the person you're psychologizing).

Sometimes, the correct action is "just don't do those things."

Sometimes, IMO, the correct action is "do those things, but carefully."

Sometimes, IMO, the theoretically ideal correct action all-else-equal is "do those things carefully", but you're busy and it's realistically a choice between "do them uncarefully" or "don't do it at all", and [...]

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First published:
October 1st, 2025

Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/DLHLuntDinBgpykcT/less-than-rant-greater-than-less-than-uncharitable-greater

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

“</rant> </uncharitable> </psychologizing>” by Raemon

LessWrong (30+ Karma)

“</rant> </uncharitable> </psychologizing>” by Raemon