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PaperclipPerfector  27d ago (text post)   3318 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for January 26, 2025

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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I feel like I can spot those (the 2nd) type posts fairly quickly. Typically here at least the one posting them has a low or zero post history except such links and responses to the links, and isn't a "known" quantity (eg someone known from the reddit days, etc.)

SSC on reddit is more difficult because I'm never on reddit any more, and there are a lot more random users there--or at least more than I'm interested in keeping up with.

Probably weird of me but I maintain an Excel spreadsheet of many motte regulars (their usernames , I mean) with my own notations, so I can have a clearer idea who I'm interacting with or reading.

The policy of disallowing (in principle) sock puppets helps, though we have a few Throwaway(insert number) accounts that can be confusing when I'm working out which one is the MD and which aren't.

Probably weird of me but I maintain an Excel spreadsheet of many motte regulars (their usernames , I mean) with my own notations, so I can have a clearer idea who I'm interacting with or reading.

Why a spreadsheet as opposed to just text?

Personal preference I guess.

Cute!~ Am I on your spreadsheet?

You are, yes. Most regular post-ers are.

Oooh fancy, can you tell me what you got on me?

"Lock or wool matted with dung hanging from the hindquarters of a sheep."

I keed! I feel I've set something in motion unintentionally.

I keed!

You what?

I KEED!

"I kid" (I'm joking) with a strong accent.

Oh that’s a reference to my name lmao

Actually my name is a reference to a fantasy series

Ah! I learned the word dag from that Errol Flynn biography. Apologies, just a joke.

LOL savage ;p

Would I be able to see my spreadsheet entry?

Ñoldoren Elf

Kidding. I'moin mobile now, that's my excuse. My excel is on my computer

Ñ

I had never seen this spelling for it, so I was going to make some sort of joke about the “Nya-“ sound. Catgirl Celebrimbor, maybe.

But when I looked it up, it’s apparently a recognized spelling. Weird.

Catgirl Celebrimbor

SindarRevolt

Not that weird, though I only keep track of other guys from Alabama.

There are tons of us. In fact, our only rivals for Motte hegemony are the Subcontinentals, and we have the better space program. Once our victory here is complete, we will use this place as a bastion from which to evangelize the wider internet on the sublime delicacy of white barbecue sauce.

Roll Tide.

Probably weird of me but I maintain an Excel spreadsheet of many motte regulars (their usernames , I mean) with my own notations, so I can have a clearer idea who I'm interacting with or reading.

Did senpai notice me? If so, what does it say?

As a regular poster, yes, you are on there. I'm on mobile now but I think just basic info like your country of residence and maybe one or two points.

What is this place?

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.

The weekly Culture War threads host the most controversial topics and are the most visible aspect of The Motte. However, many other topics are appropriate here. We encourage people to post anything related to science, politics, or philosophy; if in doubt, post!

Check out The Vault for an archive of old quality posts. You are encouraged to crosspost these elsewhere.


Why are you called The Motte?

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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