Okay, first of all, you, like other people complaining about the apology, haven’t actually said what it is you object to. So let’s see...
I completely repudiate this disgusting email from 26 years ago. It does not accurately represent my views, then or now. The invocation of a racial slur was repulsive. I immediately apologized for writing it at the time, within 24 hours; and I apologize again unreservedly today. I recoil when I read it and reject it utterly.
Is it that part you don’t like?
What are my actual views? I do think that provocative communication styles have a place—but not like this! I also think that it is deeply unfair that unequal access to education, nutrients, and basic healthcare leads to inequality in social outcomes, including sometimes disparities in skills and cognitive capacity.
Is it that part you don’t like?
This is a huge moral travesty that we should not paper over or downplay. Much of my personal charitable giving over the years has gone to fighting exactly this problem: I’ve given many thousands of pounds to organizations including to the SCI Foundation, GiveDirectly, the Black Health Alliance, the Iodine Global Network, BasicNeeds, and the Christian Blind Mission.
Is it that part you don’t like?
Are there any genetic contributors to differences between groups in cognitive abilities? It is not my area of expertise, and I don’t have any particular interest in the question. I would leave to others, who have more relevant knowledge, to debate whether or not in addition to environmental factors, epigenetic or genetic factors play any role
Is it that part you don’t like?
And so on. You get the idea. Edit: you said it was “to put it mildly, mealy mouthed” which Bing tells me is “avoiding the use of direct and plain language”. So what leads you to think Bostrom avoided plain language “to put it mildly”? You also say it was “without much substance”. So, how would you have said it in such a way that it does have substance and plain language, if you were Nick? I suspect that there is nothing he could have reasonably said to pacify you, but if in fact there was an apology that would have suited you, you can prove it by writing it. (Edit 3: I apologize for not having noticed that the post suggested that Bostrom should have said “hey I was an idiot for thinking and saying that. We still have IQ gaps between races, which doesn’t make sense. It’s closing, but not fast enough. We should work harder on fixing this.” But why is this statement better than what Bostrom said? Is it because this new version vaguely suggests that it is not possible for IQ differences to be genetic? But of course, Bostrom decided he could not make that judgement without expertise or data. It is this humility that bothers you? Do you believe it’s not “real” humility? Also, do you not see how confusing it is that you imply it’s okay to acknowledge an IQ gap after making it clear that it’s unacceptable to do that?)
If you believe there are racial differences in intelligence, and...
I can’t imagine what reasoning process you are using here. If I do a survey and ask people whether people in poverty could possibly grow up with a lower IQ than people in wealth, what result do you think it will have? Do you really think environment and upbringing can’t affect intelligence?
And now, what if the poor people happen to have a different skin color?
Do you not admit, then, ________? (not even going to ask because the question itself angers people)
I think the main issues with Bostrom’s original posting (the one he apologized for) were (1) that he said something extremely easy to misinterpret, (2) said a word he shouldn’t say and (3) didn’t qualify his words.
But did he even so much as say, 26 years ago, that there are genetic differences in IQ? No, he didn’t.
if you can’t see why sticking with the theory that “race X is inferior in Y”
Not only did he not “stick with that”. He didn’t even say it in the first place.
And I saw at least one person on Twitter saying ze was disappointed with EAs (especially leadership) for how they’re roasting Bostrom for this, and that it makes zim want to affiliate less with EA in the future.
There’s only so much SJWing people can take.
Edit 2: and by the way, have you noticed that the above is full of questions? Immediately after I posted this, I got two strong downvotes or high-karma downvotes as well as disagreement votes. But an hour later, my questions have not been answered. I literally don’t know why people do this, but in my opinion it is mean-spirited to downvote as one’s sole response, just as I think OP is mean-spirited toward Bostrom. Okay, so you think I’m wrong, fine. Reasonable people can disagree. But tell me why.
I think everything after the words “Christian Blind Mission” was unnecessary and if he had ended the statement there, it would have been less provocative. I don’t think that would have been the best possible choice but it would have been better than what we got.
That’s something I couldn’t have predicted before he posted the thing, but I’m sure a more skilled communicator could have.
The reason the words afterwards were harmful is because irrespective of their truth value, they raise an issue that is potentially harmful just to get into. By talking about it in a particular context when it isn’t necessary, you give it airtime you don’t need to. I think that’s the dimension that is missed here.
Words aren’t just truth claims; they are also locutionary acts that draw readers’ attention to certain topics. The words “smoking is bad for your lungs” are true and even helpful in many contexts, but they may also remind a smoker about smoking which could have an unintended consequence of causing a smoker to smoke. There may also be unintended negative consequences from jumping into a discussion about what you do and don’t believe about eugenics or genetics and IQ.
That’s a fair point. But Rohit’s complaint goes way beyond the statement being harmful or badly constructed. Ze is beating around the bush of a much stronger and unsubstantiated claim that is left unstated for some reason: “Bostrom was and is a racist who thinks that race directly affects intelligence level (and also, his epistemics are shit)”.
What ze does say: “his apology, was, to put it mildly, mealy mouthed and without much substance” “I’m not here to litigate race science.;” “someone who is so clearly in a position of authority...maintaining this kind of view.”; “If you believe there are racial differences in intelligence”; “a third of the community seems to support him” [implied to be a bad thing]; “applauding someone for not lying is great but not if the belief they’re holding is bad”; “Do not mistake ‘sticking with your beliefs’ to be an overriding good, above believing what’s true”; “sticking with the theory that ‘race X is inferior in Y’”; “leaders of your movement is saying these things that are just wrong”.
Okay, first of all, you, like other people complaining about the apology, haven’t actually said what it is you object to. So let’s see...
Is it that part you don’t like?
Is it that part you don’t like?
Is it that part you don’t like?
Is it that part you don’t like?
And so on. You get the idea. Edit: you said it was “to put it mildly, mealy mouthed” which Bing tells me is “avoiding the use of direct and plain language”. So what leads you to think Bostrom avoided plain language “to put it mildly”? You also say it was “without much substance”. So, how would you have said it in such a way that it does have substance and plain language, if you were Nick? I suspect that there is nothing he could have reasonably said to pacify you, but if in fact there was an apology that would have suited you, you can prove it by writing it. (Edit 3: I apologize for not having noticed that the post suggested that Bostrom should have said “hey I was an idiot for thinking and saying that. We still have IQ gaps between races, which doesn’t make sense. It’s closing, but not fast enough. We should work harder on fixing this.” But why is this statement better than what Bostrom said? Is it because this new version vaguely suggests that it is not possible for IQ differences to be genetic? But of course, Bostrom decided he could not make that judgement without expertise or data. It is this humility that bothers you? Do you believe it’s not “real” humility? Also, do you not see how confusing it is that you imply it’s okay to acknowledge an IQ gap after making it clear that it’s unacceptable to do that?)
I can’t imagine what reasoning process you are using here. If I do a survey and ask people whether people in poverty could possibly grow up with a lower IQ than people in wealth, what result do you think it will have? Do you really think environment and upbringing can’t affect intelligence?
And now, what if the poor people happen to have a different skin color?
Do you not admit, then, ________? (not even going to ask because the question itself angers people)
I think the main issues with Bostrom’s original posting (the one he apologized for) were (1) that he said something extremely easy to misinterpret, (2) said a word he shouldn’t say and (3) didn’t qualify his words.
But did he even so much as say, 26 years ago, that there are genetic differences in IQ? No, he didn’t.
Not only did he not “stick with that”. He didn’t even say it in the first place.
And I saw at least one person on Twitter saying ze was disappointed with EAs (especially leadership) for how they’re roasting Bostrom for this, and that it makes zim want to affiliate less with EA in the future.
There’s only so much SJWing people can take.
Edit 2: and by the way, have you noticed that the above is full of questions? Immediately after I posted this, I got two strong downvotes or high-karma downvotes as well as disagreement votes. But an hour later, my questions have not been answered. I literally don’t know why people do this, but in my opinion it is mean-spirited to downvote as one’s sole response, just as I think OP is mean-spirited toward Bostrom. Okay, so you think I’m wrong, fine. Reasonable people can disagree. But tell me why.
I think everything after the words “Christian Blind Mission” was unnecessary and if he had ended the statement there, it would have been less provocative. I don’t think that would have been the best possible choice but it would have been better than what we got.
That’s something I couldn’t have predicted before he posted the thing, but I’m sure a more skilled communicator could have.
The reason the words afterwards were harmful is because irrespective of their truth value, they raise an issue that is potentially harmful just to get into. By talking about it in a particular context when it isn’t necessary, you give it airtime you don’t need to. I think that’s the dimension that is missed here.
Words aren’t just truth claims; they are also locutionary acts that draw readers’ attention to certain topics. The words “smoking is bad for your lungs” are true and even helpful in many contexts, but they may also remind a smoker about smoking which could have an unintended consequence of causing a smoker to smoke. There may also be unintended negative consequences from jumping into a discussion about what you do and don’t believe about eugenics or genetics and IQ.
That’s a fair point. But Rohit’s complaint goes way beyond the statement being harmful or badly constructed. Ze is beating around the bush of a much stronger and unsubstantiated claim that is left unstated for some reason: “Bostrom was and is a racist who thinks that race directly affects intelligence level (and also, his epistemics are shit)”.
What ze does say: “his apology, was, to put it mildly, mealy mouthed and without much substance” “I’m not here to litigate race science.;” “someone who is so clearly in a position of authority...maintaining this kind of view.”; “If you believe there are racial differences in intelligence”; “a third of the community seems to support him” [implied to be a bad thing]; “applauding someone for not lying is great but not if the belief they’re holding is bad”; “Do not mistake ‘sticking with your beliefs’ to be an overriding good, above believing what’s true”; “sticking with the theory that ‘race X is inferior in Y’”; “leaders of your movement is saying these things that are just wrong”.