Orthodox Privilege (2020)
Many commenters reflect on Paul Graham’s notion of “orthodox privilege” — the hidden advantages enjoyed by people whose views align with whatever is currently considered mainstream or acceptable. They connect this to concepts like the Overton window, cancel culture, and preference falsification, arguing that social and professional penalties for taboo beliefs push dissenting opinions underground rather than eliminating them. Others counter that some taboos are necessary to protect social cohesion or vulnerable groups, and note that power, class, and institutional incentives often shape which ideas are labeled orthodox in the first place.
Nature of Orthodoxy and Conformity
- Several comments question whether truly “orthodox” people (no controversial beliefs) exist; many suspect people either hide unorthodox views or simply lack opinions on most topics.
- Others argue being anywhere inside the Overton window already makes one orthodox; unorthodoxy is more than just being slightly off-center.
- Conformity is framed as a common life strategy: aligning with the strongest or dominant group for safety, at the cost of truth or morality.
- Some see “normality incentive” as socially valuable for cohesion; others emphasize the personal cost to nonconformists.
Historical Analogies and Postmodernity
- The essay is linked to ideas about recurring persecution patterns (Salem, Nazism, McCarthyism) and to genealogy-style analysis of how ideas arise.
- There is debate over whether events like McCarthyism are truly “witch hunts,” since communists existed while witches (as supernaturally powerful beings) did not.
- Some argue modern culture over-relies on analogies (e.g., calling opponents “Nazis”), which can distort instead of clarify.
- Postmodernism/postmodernity is variously blamed for relativism and praised for exposing the historical roots of today’s “weird new orthodoxy.”
Politics, Media, and Culture-War Framing
- Strong disagreement over which side currently defines orthodoxy: some say progressive ideas dominate culture, academia, and tech; others call that view myopic or context-dependent.
- Multiple comments note HN itself is seen both as a progressive echo chamber and as right-leaning, suggesting “left/right” is an oversimplified axis.
- There is concern about media and Hollywood selectively depicting villains and victims to fit contemporary ideological narratives.
Speech, Taboos, and the Overton Window
- Many accept that some true claims are socially unsayable; racism and sexism are cited as areas where some views would get one “instantly banned.”
- Others warn that taboo-laden discourse can resemble soft authoritarianism: debate appears free but is bounded by invisible limits.
- Real-world examples are contentious: some argue speech like “free Palestine” or “white lives matter” can get you fired; others dispute how widespread this is.
- Several see orthodoxy privilege as overlapping with power and class privilege; critics caution against reducing the issue to personalities.
Independent Thought vs Group Alignment
- Commenters note how knowing someone’s stance on one issue often predicts their entire bundle of views; “independent” thinkers may just invert a party line.
- A proposed test for independence is actively comparing news across diverse outlets, though others call that unrealistic or incomplete.
- Preference falsification is discussed: people privately hold unorthodox views while publicly signaling orthodoxy for safety or harmony.
Critiques of the Essay’s Framing and Prescriptions
- Some think “mainstream privilege” or “conservative bias” are clearer labels than “orthodox privilege.”
- Several like the focus on blind spots but see the conclusion (asking orthodox people to be “polite” to those with unsayable beliefs) as weak or paradoxical, since the orthodox may not recognize there’s anything to be polite about.
- Others defend some degree of censorship or self-censorship, arguing that fully unconstrained speech and “all truths spoken aloud” may destabilize society or enable harmful self-fulfilling prophecies.
- It remains unclear which specific unsayable truths the essay’s author personally has in mind; suggestions to list examples are rejected as likely to derail discussion.