Comments on: Rational Paranoia http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/04/rational-paranoia.html Overcoming Bias is economist Robin Hanson’s blog, on honesty, signaling, disagreement, forecasting, and the far future. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:09:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Not Racism, Puzzlement http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/04/rational-paranoia.html#comment-433170 Not Racism, Puzzlement Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:09:22 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2009/04/rational-paranoia.html#comment-433170 [...] I would tend to agree with Mickey Kaus’ thesis in this post but not that it rationalizes paranoia. Googling “rational paranoia” returns an article from Overcoming Bias. [...] [...] I would tend to agree with Mickey Kaus’ thesis in this post but not that it rationalizes paranoia. Googling “rational paranoia” returns an article from Overcoming Bias. [...]

]]> By: jonah http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/04/rational-paranoia.html#comment-385061 jonah Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:53:25 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2009/04/rational-paranoia.html#comment-385061 but the definition of paranoia (both colloquially and clinically) specifically entails a baseless or unwarranted suspicion of the ill will or machinations of others. thus if one is accustomed to living in a situation where government clandestine surveillance and general backstabbery are the norm, one's concerns are not then "rational paranoia" but merely "rational" (if perhaps excessive? but then, better safe than sorry if you live in a police state, no?). but the definition of paranoia (both colloquially and clinically) specifically entails a baseless or unwarranted suspicion of the ill will or machinations of others. thus if one is accustomed to living in a situation where government clandestine surveillance and general backstabbery are the norm, one’s concerns are not then “rational paranoia” but merely “rational” (if perhaps excessive? but then, better safe than sorry if you live in a police state, no?).

]]> By: Fenn http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/04/rational-paranoia.html#comment-385060 Fenn Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:36:10 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2009/04/rational-paranoia.html#comment-385060 That buckshot really made you scatterbrained: "don't mean they're not out to get you" That buckshot really made you scatterbrained:

“don’t mean they’re not out to get you”

]]> By: Kurt Cobain http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/04/rational-paranoia.html#comment-385059 Kurt Cobain Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:13:00 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2009/04/rational-paranoia.html#comment-385059 "Just because you're paranoid / Don't mean they're not after you" “Just because you’re paranoid / Don’t mean they’re not after you”

]]> By: Alan http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/04/rational-paranoia.html#comment-385058 Alan Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:30:30 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2009/04/rational-paranoia.html#comment-385058 So, are there any reliable tests for ascertaining the rationality of "paranoid" belief and behavior? If you are running a cutting edge technology firm, then perhaps you can rationally and profitably live by the motto that only the paranoid survive (a la Andy Grove). That's different from the case of social systems where individuals live in a state of fear and mutual mistrust. In that case, people are paralyzed by mistrust. On the other hand, in business, a realistic ongoing assessment of the profound uncertainty and extreme competitive pressure may allow one to stay empowered, even to the extent of anticipating inflection points of structural change. So, are there any reliable tests for ascertaining the rationality of “paranoid” belief and behavior? If you are running a cutting edge technology firm, then perhaps you can rationally and profitably live by the motto that only the paranoid survive (a la Andy Grove). That’s different from the case of social systems where individuals live in a state of fear and mutual mistrust. In that case, people are paralyzed by mistrust. On the other hand, in business, a realistic ongoing assessment of the profound uncertainty and extreme competitive pressure may allow one to stay empowered, even to the extent of anticipating inflection points of structural change.

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