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This website is a place for people who want to move past shady thinking and test their ideas in a court of people who don't all share the same biases. Our goal is to optimize for light, not heat; this is a group effort, and all commentators are asked to do their part.

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A motte is a stone keep on a raised earthwork common in early medieval fortifications. More pertinently, it's an element in a rhetorical move called a "Motte-and-Bailey", originally identified by philosopher Nicholas Shackel. It describes the tendency in discourse for people to move from a controversial but high value claim to a defensible but less exciting one upon any resistance to the former. He likens this to the medieval fortification, where a desirable land (the bailey) is abandoned when in danger for the more easily defended motte. In Shackel's words, "The Motte represents the defensible but undesired propositions to which one retreats when hard pressed."

On The Motte, always attempt to remain inside your defensible territory, even if you are not being pressed.

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benjaminikuta

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joined 2023 October 30 18:41:40 UTC

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benjaminikuta

0 followers follows 1 user joined 2023 October 30 18:41:40 UTC

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User ID: 2723

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Small-Scale Question Sunday for November 5, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

Thanks.

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Wellness Wednesday for November 8, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

and is not autistic enough to go without GPS etc.

I would hope! But he seems to value the lethal risk for its own sake...

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Wellness Wednesday for November 8, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

The whole point of prediction markets is to predict more carefully than just saying offhand.

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Wellness Wednesday for November 8, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

I think he's going to make a post about it with more detail at some point.

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Wellness Wednesday for November 8, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

https://manifold.markets/BenjaminIkuta/will-skookumtree-pinetree-successfu?r=QmVuamFtaW5Ja3V0YQ

I made a prediction market about the Hock.

It's generally admirable to work towards a challenging goal, but I do hope he doesn't attempt it without thoroughly adequate preparation.

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Small-Scale Question Sunday for November 5, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

Really, even considering all the benefits? Wouldn't you income be higher anyway?

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Small-Scale Question Sunday for November 5, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

Is there a good essay or post that summarizes the anti race realist position?

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Friday Fun Thread for October 27, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

Thanks.

2

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NYC Rats (rationalists) Gambling strategy & halloween party night [10/31]

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

What was taught?

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Friday Fun Thread for October 27, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

https://discord.gg/pVrNW5kd4N

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Culture War Roundup for the week of October 30, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

there are clearly characteristics that many trans women share with cis women and not with cis men.

And with other trans women

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Friday Fun Thread for October 27, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

Dang, looks like someone downvoted this. What's wrong?

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Friday Fun Thread for October 27, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

Well not just strictly style, but everything that could be used to identify. Patterns in timing, in topics... And haven't the mods said they're usually able to identify alts?

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Culture War Roundup for the week of October 30, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

Ideology, style of dress, voice, hormones, etc

Everything is correlated. You should be surprised if it's not.

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Friday Fun Thread for October 20, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

https://optimizeddating.substack.com/

There's a discord server too, and it overlaps with the rat sphere quite a bit.

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Friday Fun Thread for October 27, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

How much overlap is there with the discord?

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Friday Fun Thread for October 27, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

It's probably unwise, but it would be inconvenient to maintain a separate identity at this point, since, I've been told, my writing style is fairly distinct.

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Friday Fun Thread for October 20, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

If you don't mind a somewhat unrelated question:

I have a 2015 MacBook Pro. Is it possible to manually control the battery charge, so it doesn't charge all the way when plugged in all the time, or is that functionality only available on newer models?

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Culture War Roundup for the week of October 30, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

"gender identity" has essentially zero predictive power

It does have predictive power, just in a different way than biological sex.

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Friday Fun Thread for October 27, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

I finally got around to making an account here. As far as the mechanics of the website itself, are there any differences from Reddit I should be aware of?

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Wellness Wednesday for October 25, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

Hey, long time no see! (I finally got around to making an account here.) It's nice to hear from you again. Wishing you well.

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Friday Fun Thread for October 27, 2023

benjaminikuta 1yr ago

Hello everyone.

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