Paul GrahamVerified account

Something surprising I've learned from forums: intellectual dishonesty is an art form. When I write an essay on a controversial topic, I can usually predict what the median attack on it will be. But occasionally I'll see one of just breathtaking novelty.

I think intellectual dishonesty is analogous to hacking in the sense of breaking into things. There are people who are not just smart but also way more dedicated than you'd expect anyone to be, and they find ways to attack you that you'd never have imagined possible.