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This Forum Has No Privacy Policy

Theologian June 06, 2019 at 05:04 6925 views 23 comments
I've just been checking this place out a bit, thinking about whether this is somewhere I want to post. One thing that does trouble me though: no privacy policy. At least, not one that I can find.

If you check out the Terms of Service, besides covering the intellectual property rights we give away by posting here, they don't have anything to say about how our data is used, stored, or shared.

I have posted in a couple of other threads about this, as well as privately messaging jamalrob. So far without much in the way of response.

Comments (23)

Shawn June 06, 2019 at 05:36 #294973
The secret is out. This forum is actually an attempt to create the ultimate AI philosopher by building a database of responses to philosophical questions.

I for one am content with the situation.
I like sushi June 06, 2019 at 05:59 #294977
Reply to Wallows The worst and most ignorant ‘philosopher’ ever? ;)
Shawn June 06, 2019 at 06:16 #294980
Quoting I like sushi
The worst and most ignorant ‘philosopher’ ever? ;)


Well, given that we are having a halcyon period of Wittgenstein reading groups, I suppose our collective efforts will result in the AI being a quietist.
Wayfarer June 06, 2019 at 06:17 #294981
Reply to Theologian The only piece of data necessary to share is an email address. If you use a VPN or post from 4G then even your own IP address is concealed. So apart from that, there's nothing apart from your content - what you enter - that is collected, so far as I know.
Baden June 06, 2019 at 10:26 #295070
https://plushforums.com/privacy-policy
Terrapin Station June 06, 2019 at 13:00 #295088
Quoting Wallows
The secret is out. This forum is actually an attempt to create the ultimate AI philosopher


We'd better start recruiting if that's the goal.
S June 07, 2019 at 10:45 #295293
Reply to Theologian Oh. You're one of [i]those[/I] people. :roll:

You people are annoying. "Hi, I would like a refund". "Ok, I'll just need to take a few details". [I]Proceeds to have a tantrum[/I].
Theologian June 07, 2019 at 11:15 #295302
Reply to S

So far the only person here having a tantrum is you, S.
Shawn June 07, 2019 at 11:18 #295305
Quoting Theologian
So far the only person here having a tantrum is you, S.


He's just looking for love.
Theologian June 07, 2019 at 11:20 #295306
Reply to Wallows

I'm tempted to add "In all the wrong places."

But hey, this is only my seventh post. So what would I know?
Shawn June 07, 2019 at 11:21 #295308
Quoting Theologian
I'm tempted to add "In all the wrong places."


Q.E.D. Unless it's philosophy, right?

Theologian June 07, 2019 at 11:22 #295309
Reply to Wallows

Ooh... You got me there!

I had to think for a few seconds before that penny dropped! :wink:
Shawn June 07, 2019 at 11:24 #295311
Quoting Theologian
Ooh... You got me there!

I had to think for a few seconds before that penny dropped! :wink:


So, what's on your mind as of late in terms of philosophy? I loved Walden Two by B.F. Skinner, in my youth; but, thought it would only apply to places where the law is so strictly enforced that it leaves no room of indecision or apathy or angst.
Theologian June 07, 2019 at 11:54 #295322
Reply to Wallows

A bunch of stuff.

I did an undergraduate major in psych way back when. I discovered Skinner and have long considered myself a methodological behaviorist, unfashionable though that may be. I spent many essays fruitlessly attempting to explain to my lecturers why they were wrong.

Though to be honest I found Walden Two (which I started but did not finish) unintentionally hilarious. Sorry. :sad: I always think the best and clearest point of entry into Skinner's work is his 1950 paper "Are Theories of Learning Necessary?"; especially the first and final sections. You don't really need to read the middle part unless you're interested in the technical details of operant conditioning.

More recently I started a philosophy degree out of interest. The "Favorite Philosophers" you'll find on my profile reflect the fact that I think it's still far too soon for me to meaningfully choose any actual philosophers. The ones I feel most drawn to (like Camus) are still people I know only (or primarily) at second hand.

There's a thread on whether the "A" theory of time means time travel is impossible. I have some ideas on that question myself, so I've been thinking of joining that.

There are also a bunch of ideas I have in various states of readiness for posting. These are primarily my own reactions to the stuff I've been taught in my coursework, and so range from Kantian deontology to logical fatalism.

But... I'm still getting the hang of this place.
Shawn June 07, 2019 at 11:57 #295324
Reply to Theologian

What are your thoughts about Ludwig Wittgenstein? You'll find his name dropped around here like crazy.
Theologian June 07, 2019 at 11:59 #295325
Reply to Wallows

Aside from him being a beery old swine, you mean?

I'm interested, but honestly, I don't know enough to say. I have thought of tackling the Tractatus at some point.
Shawn June 07, 2019 at 12:00 #295326
Quoting Theologian
Aside from him being a beery old swine, you mean?


Haha, you either love him or hate him, I suppose. And by love, I mean intense adoration.

Quoting Theologian
I'm interested, but honestly, I don't know enough to say. I have thought of tackling the Tractatus at some point.


Have a look: https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/3558/ongoing-tractatus-logico-philosophicus-reading-group/p1
Theologian June 07, 2019 at 12:05 #295329
Reply to Wallows

So far my philosophical studies are quite limited. I did Philosophy of Psychology (really a philosophy of mind course) and Formal Logic in my undergraduate degree. And I recently finished first year philosophy as part of my current degree (two units down, two HD's - Yay me! :razz: ). But... HD's or not, as you might expect, there are still huge gaps in my knowledge of the discipline as a whole.
Shawn June 07, 2019 at 12:08 #295330
Reply to Theologian

Awesome possum. Looking forward to any new topics of yours.
Theologian June 07, 2019 at 12:10 #295331
Reply to Wallows

Why thank you! I'll try not to disappoint! :wink:
Theologian June 07, 2019 at 12:16 #295333
Reply to Wallows

Incidentally, I have a question for you that I've been thinking about. If you're a big fan of Wittgenstein, I imagine you have more than a passing acquaintance with the philosophy of language. My question is, to what extent has that sub-discipline dealt with the relationship between syntax and logic?

I ask because it seems to me that important philosophical arguments are often ultimately points of grammar.

Which could well be a thread in itself!
Shawn June 07, 2019 at 12:25 #295337
Quoting Theologian
My question is, to what extent has that sub-discipline dealt with the relationship between syntax and logic?


The answer to the question, in my opinion, lies within the field of pragmatics, which eventually became a field of science from the womb of philosophy. Definitely an unsung hero that Peirce was.
Theologian June 07, 2019 at 12:32 #295338
Reply to Wallows
Hmm... will have to look into this. Cheers.

Alternatively, I might just start a thread on the subject, go out on a limb, and see if anyone can saw me off! =P