Don't Shoot the Messenger
post by Vaniver · 2017-04-19T22:14:45.585Z · LW · GW · Legacy · 13 commentsThis is a link post for https://srconstantin.wordpress.com/2017/04/10/dont-shoot-the-messenger/
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comment by lmn · 2017-04-22T07:52:03.447Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
Of course, the there is a game theoretic reason to shoot the messenger. The whole point of doing so is to burn a bridge. The original meaning of the term is:
Originally in military sense of intentionally cutting off one's own retreat (burning a bridge one has crossed) to commit oneself to a course of action
Ancient battles, and probably to large extend in modern battles as well, were won or lost on moral. When a large part of your army panicked and ran your side was almost certain to loose. Furthermore, whoever was the last to run would be the first one killed when the enemy overran your position. Thus, if you were afraid the soldier next you would run, you were likely to run as well. Burning the bridge behind you was one way to resolve the game theoretic dilemma. Running cannot save your life, so you might as well hold the line.
Metaphorically burning a bridge by killing the messenger serves the same purpose. By publicly killing Sauron's messenger Aragorn is reassuring his allies that he's not going to betray them by cutting a deal with Sauron that leaves them out to dry.
Replies from: Lumifer, username2↑ comment by username2 · 2017-04-22T19:25:03.365Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
Furthermore Aragorn et al specifically saw this conflict as a one-shot dilemma that had to be definitely resolved with the absolute destruction of Sauron. They already knew what negotiated peace with the enemy looked like (Saruman) and were not willing to risk that outcome, or any other outcome that would result in the rise of Sauron again. This is why they risk everything by making a frontal assault on Mordor against overwhelming odds. Killing the messenger / burning bridges is perfectly in line with the character motivations here and actually a point where the original source material fails.
comment by lmn · 2017-04-21T18:55:39.385Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
Unlike the author, I've never found it "very counterintuitive to think about a future that might last a long time". Am I unusual in this repect or is he?
Replies from: juliawise, Raemon, WalterL↑ comment by juliawise · 2017-04-22T01:27:27.458Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
Yeah, I remember around 2007 a friend saying her parents weren't sure whether it was right for them to have children circa 1983, because they thought nuclear war was very likely to destroy the world soon. I thought that was so weird and had never heard of anyone having that viewpoint before, and definitely considered myself living in a time when we no longer had to worry about apocalypse.
Replies from: username2, DanArmak↑ comment by DanArmak · 2017-05-20T15:10:56.499Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
I don't understand that viewpoint for a different reason. Suppose you believe the world will be destroyed soon. Why is that a reason not to have children? Is it worse for the children to live short but presumably good lives than not to live at all?
Replies from: juliawise↑ comment by juliawise · 2017-05-22T19:31:52.374Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
I think it was sensible of them to at least evaluate the question, particularly if they thought their children might live in a nuclear wasteland rather than dying. Given that I heard this from their daughter, they did indeed decide to have children (at the advice of their priest, who reasoned as you do that a short life was better than none.)