I actually think we should discuss other hypotheses.
Firstly, “other hypotheses” includes all kinds of inoffensive explanations like the primary cause of a difference being:
Broader society has instilled certain social norms in people, as opposed to it being anything specific about this group
Founder effects—A guy gets a few of his mates to start the group, they rope in their mates, ect.
That the message happens to resonate among groups of people that are currently disproportionately one gender (ie. programmers)
But going further than this, I don’t think we should limit discussion of different intrinsic preferences either, especially if someone makes an argument that is dependent on this being false.
Where do we draw the line? Is intrinsic abilities an acceptable topic of casual discussion? Do you think it would be humiliating for people who are being discussed as having less intrinsic ability?
I think it depends on the particular space. The rationality community should aim to have everything open to discussion because that is its purpose. The EA community should minimise these discussions in that they are rarely necessarily and quite often a distraction. In most groups I’ve been in, social norms can prevent the need for formal rules though.
I actually think we should discuss other hypotheses.
Firstly, “other hypotheses” includes all kinds of inoffensive explanations like the primary cause of a difference being:
Broader society has instilled certain social norms in people, as opposed to it being anything specific about this group
Founder effects—A guy gets a few of his mates to start the group, they rope in their mates, ect.
That the message happens to resonate among groups of people that are currently disproportionately one gender (ie. programmers)
But going further than this, I don’t think we should limit discussion of different intrinsic preferences either, especially if someone makes an argument that is dependent on this being false.
I think I’ve noticed a pattern where basically any hypothesis that’s not the discrimination hypothesis gradually leaves the Overton window.
Where do we draw the line? Is intrinsic abilities an acceptable topic of casual discussion? Do you think it would be humiliating for people who are being discussed as having less intrinsic ability?
I think it depends on the particular space. The rationality community should aim to have everything open to discussion because that is its purpose. The EA community should minimise these discussions in that they are rarely necessarily and quite often a distraction. In most groups I’ve been in, social norms can prevent the need for formal rules though.