The Rationalist Papers (2): three ways to look at the election
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The Rationalist Papers (2): three ways to look at the election

How do you decide who to vote for? I see three ways people are deciding: policy, team loyalty, and trust. Just a reminder: these posts are for the group I call the deciders: conservatives, moderates, undecided, and third-party voters considering their choices in the 2020 US Presidential election. Choosing based on policy In a traditional…

In God we trust?

In God we trust?

Every school in South Dakota must now display the motto “In God We Trust” in a prominent location. I have two problems with this: a God problem and a trust problem. South Dakota’s legislature passed the law, joining other states with similar rules including Kentucky. Now every student will be confronted with a statement about…

Facebook is secretly rating your trustworthiness. Excellent!
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Facebook is secretly rating your trustworthiness. Excellent!

According to the Washington Post, Facebook is rating your trustworthiness on a zero-to-one scale. Not only that, they won’t tell you how they rate people. Here’s why that’s a necessary first step in squashing the spread of fake news. First, let’s get this out of the way. Facebook is biased. All social media and search…

How extra words undermine trust: a case study
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How extra words undermine trust: a case study

Fear makes people hide their meaning with extra words. It backfires. We know you’re afraid. Adding words make people less likely to trust you. A friend forwarded me an excellent example: a 414-word missive about financial improprieties in the school district of Northborough/Southborough, Massachusetts. I know how this letter must have developed: a panicked set of people at the…