# Signalling with T-Shirt slogans 

It kind of started when I got this T-shirt as a present two years ago:

![Don't Drink and Derive T-Shirt](http://asset-c.soup.io/asset/2383/7925_c710.jpeg)

It is not just a slogan that is quickly filtered out under the heading 'generic ad-like content'. It invites checking where the error is. It is kind of a challenge - at least for suitably minded persons. Exactly that kind of person I'd like to get in touch with more. This T-shirt signals: "I'm a nerd and proud of it." And the positive feedback I got from this was part of the reason I chose to signal this more. Maybe you'd like to signal this too. Please remember the T-shirt alone will not do it. You still have to talk to people. For the introverted among us (me included) I recommend [active listening](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_listening).

The remainder of this post lists some slogans I have tried, some I will likely try shortly and other related resources.

Obviously I'm not the only one using this signalling approach. T-shirt dealers have [lots](http://www.spreadshirt.de/nerd+math+geschenke#/list/nerd+math) of [these](http://www.cafepress.de/+math+gifts) in [stock](http://www.shirtcity.us/math-t-shirts?search=math). Thus some I just ordered online. But the most effective shirt I 'designed' myself. It is a black shirt suitable for business purposes and such a shirt with a small slogal on it stands out. I chose

> That which can be
> 
> destroyed by the
> 
> truth should be.
> 
> — P.C. Hodgell

which I'm delighted to also find recommended by EY [here](http://prettyrational.com/71/).

One year ago [MIRI](http://intelligence.org/2013/10/12/miris-october-newsletter/) linked to [Rational Attire](http://rationalattire.com/ ) but the store appears to be broken right now. And then there is [Pretty Rational](http://prettyrational.com/) which at least contains some promising slogans.

I also have this T-shirt about the [Map-Territory correspondence](http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Truth):

> The sentence
> 
> "This T-shirt is black"
> 
> is true if
> 
> This T-shirt is black.
> 
> \-\- Tarski

(I had this printed on a dark blue T-shirt thus adding a gradual truth aspect).

Other slogans of this type to be found on my T-shirts:

*   [Math is an integral part of my life.](http://www.cafepress.de/mf/89779447/math-is-an-integral-part-of-my-life_tshirt?productId=1298713879)
*   [Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear](http://www.cafepress.de/mf/65951443/litany-against-fear-black_tshirt?productId=626890220)

 I plan to print more of my own design shortly. The next one will be

> "Everyone generalizes
> 
> from one example.
> 
> At least, I do."
> 
> \-\- Vlad Taltos

You can find out more about this quote [here](/lw/dr/generalizing_from_one_example/). What I like most about this one is that it is a bit self-deprecating which if combined with otherwise high status signalling (stance and gaze) I take comes across as approachable.

More ideas I might or might not print:

> [The enemy's gate is down.](http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/the-enemys-gate-is-down-/)
> 
> \-\- Ender

> "Two people acting 
> 
>  rationally \[\] and with
> 
>  common knowledge 
> 
>  \[\] cannot agree to 
> 
>  disagree."
> 
>  \-\- R. J. Aumann

> "When you have eliminated the
> 
> impossible whatever remains
> 
> however improbable must be the truth."
> 
> \-\- Sherlock Holmes

> "truth resists simplicity"
> 
> \-\- John Green

> "Those who do not move,
> 
> do not notice their chains.”
> 
> \-\-  [Rosa Luxemburg, 1906](https://librarianshipwreck.wordpress.com/2013/07/06/reference-desk-unanswered-questions/)

  

> World domination
> 
> is such an ugly phrase.
> 
> I prefer world optimisation.
> 
> \-\- Harry Potter-Evans-Verres

So this is my personal approach to rationality signalling, but maybe you are inspired by it. You may use the comments to propose other such slogans, discuss these, question or laud the whole approach or propose other avenues for such signalling.