---
title: Notes | Tutorial 22
layout: page
parent: Tutorial Notes
date: 2020-08-03
lesson: 22
---

## analysing max's "debate"

* too many things at once
* not well explained
* gish gallop - win by overwhelming
  * need to get standard rationality techniques on autopilot

* future debates:
  * make a few points well
    * object points, not meta
    * keep it simple, not overly complex
    * explain enough for ppl to learn (opposition or audience)
    * explain enough that someone could give critical feedback
    * keep claims to stuff i'm confident about or explicitly hedge
  * keep it short
    * organization structure simpler
    * take time and make tree during discussion
      * or tree after for analysis

## tree of debate and comment on debate

```
max debate tree (covid pandemic image; june 2020)
    image: low deaths per population (0.005%) means there is no pandemic
        max: is this satire?
            [implied 'no' from alice]
            max: 'satire is the most charitable interp'
                implication: if you don't think it's satire then you have low standards for ideas
                    max going on the offensive
                    aside: posting low qual stuff erodes good points
                        alternative thing max could say: i disagree, do you want to debate/discuss?
        alice: reasonable metric?
            max: unclear response "like the data points aren't irrelevant or wrong"
        Alice: i think 0.005% is a good point, why don't you like it?
            max: because it has problems
                [what problems do you think it has?] -- note Alice just said they thought it was good
                max: avoiding giving answer ahead of time
                    max could have been more direct by saying "do you want to make any disclaimers"
        alice: pandemic means prevalence
            the metric (0.005%) means it's not prevalent
                max [non sequitur] evading the thing, being unclear, etc
                    alice replies to get back on track
                        alice: this is what I thought the convo was
                            alice: is the metric is satire or low standard? [sic]
                                max: metric wouldn't have qualified as satire without image
                                    max: trying to back alice into corner and set her up, max lacks skill
                                        plus don't need to do that
                                        alice: i think it has zero problems
                            alice: mild infection, supporting details
        alice: i don't think it has problems
            max: here's my list
                list lacks explanation
                alice: you're being pedantic, the point still stands
    max's list
        conclusion doesn't follow (not explained)
        too many sig figs
        no citations
        number of deaths unrelated to pandemic status
            alice: for a mild infection only mortality counts b/c other symptoms can be ignored
        ignores proactive measures
```

## for next session

* grammar stuff
* text analysis
  * chapters of possible minds
  * TCS material