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i was so focused on not pretending i knew things i didn't, that it took me a long time to realize it was nearly as bad a failure to pretend i didn't know things that i did. Pretending you know things feels like lying; pretending you don't know things feels like being nice

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Alex Altair

@postquanta

May 30, 2022

"Rationality is the art of not pretending you don't know things." mobile.twitter.com/ChanaMessinger

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Aella

@Aella_Girl

I once interacted with a rationalist who has a reputation for arrogance where they spoke a very arrogant-sounding, impolite social truth; but I noticed some part of me relaxed, like "but they're saying truth though," and I realized fear of arrogance was a kind of cowardice

7:23 AM · May 30, 2022

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(I am much less good at boldly knowing things compared to boldly not knowing things; taking a strong stance that represents your true opinions is really terrifying, and I often subconsciously justify this under rationalizations that I'm being humble)

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Humility has no place in reasoning and science. If you simply follow the method and the rules then you can claim anything that the evidence has pointed you to, whether that makes you sound arrogant or not. That's why I never understood the concept of epistemic humility.

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Arrogance leads to the bold proclamation of falshood without introspective.

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Arrogance is a matter of feigned superiority, humility is strength. These are different from the matter of truth and lies. You can be an arrogant liar, and humble and honest, likewise you can be arrogant and speak truth, and humble but speak falsehood. The link is intent.

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The arrogant speaking truth uses truth to bolster theor ego, the humble speaking truth does so for the sake of truth. The humble speaking deception does so because they too are decieved, the arrogant again does so for their ego.

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One person’s confidence may be perceived as arrogance by another.

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take the hint and get in her dms

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I think it only becomes arrogance if one is unwilling to accept correction or the idea that something one thinks they know is actually not true.

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I think women in particular are too afraid to seem disagreeable. I am actively working on becoming more comfortable with this

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There is room for good manners and polite engagement though. Just because someone is right doesn't mean they have to be arrogant. The best experience I have had is when someone who knows their stuff inside out explained it to me aty level. No arrogance at all.

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