Thoughts about "playing the Devil's Advocate"

[morbid_curious]

This phrase came up again in conversation with a particular friend of mine, so I took the time to try to clarify an issue I see with this kind of "play" in the discourse of the Internet Shouting Factories.
The original principle of the historical role of Devil's Advocate was that extraordinary claims require extraordinary scrutiny, and thus must

Comments

[danjite]

I am shedding non-builders and non-futurists to some extent.

Many of my friends are- oft like me- stuck in day-to-day survival mode which makes some things more challenging.

But those who don't participate in the advancement of humanity when they have time and ability? Dead weight.

So-called "Devil's Advocates" tend to be in that group. Could help. Have the skills. Would rather intellectuwank into the wind.

[morbid_curious]

In that source conversation, I fear it may be more collateral education than having any chance at changing his habits of a lifetime. So it goes.

Still. I feel better having put forward the conditions under which I am prepared to engage, and the kind of discourse I would like to encourage. Regardless of the reaction it receives, articulating it has been a useful clarifying exercise for me.

[danjite]

All respect from me, but I am getting older, feel my coming (hopefully far off) demise, and can't be arsed for another second dealing with entitled mediocrity from my core group, so am freely dumping people from my social cohort.

Do not have the time. The patience. Or the remaining cycles.

I still have free crash space in most major cities and feel well loved even in my darkest depressions. By losing the people I have walked away from, all I have gained is more time for my more fulfilling relationships.

[morbid_curious]

I suspect that this will be my trajectory also. I am certainly suffering fools less gladly as the years go on - I just need to find energy and make time for the good relationships. PhDing has made a hermit of me.