If someone asked me this I'd either make a joke or literally tell them to fuck off, depending on how serious they were. Telling someone your least socially acceptable belief is giving them a weapon to use against you, and is proof of significant trust. You shouldn't be expected to trot it out for someone who doesn't know you yet.
Re:How to get to know someone (2018)
by dotancohen on Friday August 09, 2024 @06:17AM
(#41200433)
Maybe the OP is just used to hanging around theoretical physics conventions. Honestly I can not think of any other venue where such a question would be socially acceptable.
"radical" is definitely a word imbued with meaning in recent times and might take away from OP's point here.
I saw a version of this question in a book once and it stuck with me: "What important truth do very few people agree with you on?"
Obviously, never asking this when first meeting someone but further down the line, once you are comfortable with each other.
Does having an answer to the question phrased as such still make you a nutjob?
Personally, I value individuals that are able to ponder on this question for a while and provide a valid answer.
Re:How to get to know someone (2018)
by borggambit on Friday August 09, 2024 @08:47AM
(#41201325)
It is a good way to filter out people that think differently than you.
Since we are all mostly interested in having what we already believe repeated back to us because obviously what I believe is truth, it is a quick and easy way to filter out the "bad apples" that don't have the correct beliefs.
> Gives you a sense for if they think independently. Call them out if what they say is something you’ve heard before or 30%+ of the people in the room would agree with what they say is their most “radical” belief.
This isn't a measure of independent thinking, this is whether they're a complete nutjob.