johhnylately535

I believe the responder is here on HN as kazinator. I remember him from back in the day.

I finally gave in and created an account because of your comment. It's beautifully put. I would only perhaps add that, to me, the neo-rationalist thing looks the most similar to things that don't work yet attract hardcore "true believers". It's a pattern repeated through the ages, perhaps most intimately for me in the seemingly endless parades of computer system redesigns: software, hardware, or both. Randomly one might pick "the new and exciting Digg", the Itanium, and the Metaverse as fairly modern examples.

There is something about a particular "narrowband" signaling approach, where a certain kind of purity is sought, with an expectation that, given enough explaining, you will finally get it, become enlightened, and convert to the ranks. A more "wideband" approach would at least admit observations like yours do exist and must be comprehensively addressed to the satisfaction of those who hold such beliefs vs to the satisfaction of those merely "stooping" to address them (again in the hopes they'll just see the light so everyone can get back to narrowband-ville).