Sam Harris Podcast #207

[lausten]

Thanks. I usually like Sam, so it’s weird when he makes so many logic errors. Makes me worry he’s given me other bad info.

[mriana]

Last I knew, he charged to listen to his podcasts, so I haven’t gotten to listen to them. I’d like to, but not if he’s going to charge. That said, Sam’s not perfect and has written things that don’t seem right logically and I don’t always agree, but I can’t think of these things off the top of my head.

@timb

but we must also see the world from black persons’ perspectives as best we can. I am not sure of Sam Harris’s ability to do that very well.

I don’t think he can.

@timb

Next I have some problems with the lengths he goes to support the idea that the effects of actual and systemic racism and racial bias, are rather minimal, in reality. He explains that only 1 in 10K arrests results in a cop killing someone. And he suggests that most of these are not products of racism. It seems that he may think that few of them have an element of racism.

This is a prime example. He doesn’t have a clue as to what he’s talking about.

@timb

He talks about saying that naturally calling the cops when you have a break in, being called “white privilege” is crazy. But I didn’t hear him talk about the perspective of black people hesitating to call the cops because they fear the cops almost as much as a home invader.

Black people really do not like calling the cops. Their experience is that it never goes well for them, so their fear isn’t exaggerated. It comes for generations of experiences.

Given what I’m reading here, I’m not sure I actually want to hear one of his podcasts.

Lausten, I don’t think I could have said it better myself.