# Fucking Goddamn Basics of Rationalist Discourse

1.  [Don't say false shit](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/XPv4sYrKnPzeJASuk/basics-of-rationalist-discourse-1#1__Don_t_say_straightforwardly_false_things_) omg this one's so basic what are you even doing. And to be perfectly fucking clear "false shit" includes exaggeration for dramatic effect. Exaggeration is just another way for shit to be false.
2.  [You do NOT (necessarily) know what you fucking saw](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/XPv4sYrKnPzeJASuk/basics-of-rationalist-discourse-1#2__Track_and_distinguish_your_inferences_from_your_observations_). What you saw and what you thought about it are two different things. Keep them the fuck straight.
3.  [Performative overconfidence can go suck a bag of dicks.](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/XPv4sYrKnPzeJASuk/basics-of-rationalist-discourse-1#3__Estimate_and_make_clear_your_rough_level_of_confidence_in_your_assertions_) Tell us how sure you are, and don't pretend to know shit you don't.
4.  [If you're going to talk unfalsifiable twaddle](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/XPv4sYrKnPzeJASuk/basics-of-rationalist-discourse-1#4__Make_your_claims_clear__explicit__and_falsifiable__or_explicitly_acknowledge_that_you_aren_t_doing_so__or_can_t__) out of your ass, at least fucking warn us first.
5.  [Try to find the actual factual goddamn truth](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/XPv4sYrKnPzeJASuk/basics-of-rationalist-discourse-1#5__Aim_for_convergence_on_truth__and_behave_as_if_your_interlocutors_are_also_aiming_for_convergence_on_truth_) together with whatever assholes you're talking to. Be a Chad scout, not a Virgin soldier.
6.  [One hypothesis is not e-fucking-nough.](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/XPv4sYrKnPzeJASuk/basics-of-rationalist-discourse-1#6__Don_t_jump_to_conclusions_maintain_at_least_two_hypotheses_consistent_with_the_available_information_) You need *at least* two, AT LEAST, or you'll just end up rehearsing the same dumb shit the whole time instead of actually thinking.
7.  [One great way to fuck shit up fast](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/XPv4sYrKnPzeJASuk/basics-of-rationalist-discourse-1#7__Be_careful_with_extrapolation__interpretation__and_summary_restatement_) is to conflate the antecedent, the consequent, and the implication. DO NOT.
8.  [Don't be all like "nuh-UH, nuh-UH, you SAID!"](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/XPv4sYrKnPzeJASuk/basics-of-rationalist-discourse-1#8__Allow_people_to_restate__clarify__retract__and_redraft_their_points_) Just let people correct themselves. Fuck.
9.  [That motte-and-bailey bullshit](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/XPv4sYrKnPzeJASuk/basics-of-rationalist-discourse-1#9__Don_t_weaponize_equivocation_abuse_categories_engage_in_motte_and_bailey_shenanigans_) does not fly here.
10.  [Whatever the fuck else you do](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/XPv4sYrKnPzeJASuk/basics-of-rationalist-discourse-1#10__Hold_yourself_to_the_absolute_highest_standard_when_directly_modeling_or_assessing_others__internal_states__values__and_thought_processes_), for fucksake do not fucking ignore these guidelines when talking about the insides of other people's heads, unless you mainly wanna light some fucking trash fires, in which case GTFO.