I’ve been thinking some more about Phil Plait’s “Don’t Be a Dick” speech from TAM8 and I keep coming back to what seems to be a bizarre demand from many people that Plait provide specific examples of dickery. Without that, they say, Plait was just attacking a straw man, and talking without evidence … and could be disregarded?
To me that makes no sense at all. The notion is that we should behave civilly towards other human beings. The virtue in not being a dick does not depend on citing examples of people being dicks. That’s like demanding specific examples of murders (or assaults, if we want to be a little less dramatic-sounding) before accepting the notion that murder (or assault) is wrong.
Without being able to examine every single page on the internet and in print, and every face-to-face interaction around the world involving sceptics, we are all (whatever side of the DBAD argument we take) putting forward our own collation of anecdotes, as to whether or not dickery is a problem. I was about to give some anecdotes supporting the notion that it is a problem, but I won’t – because that’s not really the point anyway.
The point is: how ought we behave? How should humans treat each other? The answer – I would hope the vast majority would agree – is not being a dick. It doesn’t matter whether or not specific examples are provided of sceptics being dicks; we (i.e.: humans) simply shouldn’t be dicks. – And the BA’s anecdotal experience of encountering significant dickery is just as valid as the anecdotal experience of those saying there’s little/no dickery to be found.
So let’s just forget about which is more true now, and concentrate on making it so no-one feels the need to talk about not being dicks.
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Absolutely the point! I too noticed the requests for examples and thought that anyone following thsesdebates anywhere on the Internet would have been tripping over nasties all the time. I guess some people don't recognize it But you are right that examples don't matter what matters is how we as individuals should behave
Well put, not being a dick is how we make progress in the world. That said, I do think that there is room for aggressive dismissal of wrong and dangerous ideals. Sometimes the aggressor will end up in the firing-line, and that's just unfortunate, but I firmly hold that bad ideas breed bad ideas. We can't afford people to sit by and passively exclaim "I hear what you're saying, but don't you think it would be a better idea if…" when dealing with fanatics who won't listen to you anyway.
But your point of acting civilly is a good one, and is a cornerstone to civilisation. Thanks for the post mate.