“And Yet, Defend your Thoughts from AI Writing” by Michael Samoilov
Description
But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. A bad usage can spread by tradition and imitation, even among people who should and do know better. The debased language that I have been discussing is in some ways very convenient. Phrases like a not unjustifiable assumption, leaves much to be desired, would serve no good purpose, a consideration which we should do well to bear in mind, are a continuous temptation, a packet of aspirins always at one's elbow.
- George Orwell, Politics and the English Language (1946)
Before ChatGPTisms, sloppy writing was signposted by Orwellisms. There's a political kind (to euphemize “firebombing a village” vaguely as “neutralize unreliable elements”), but I’m interested in the mundane kind: lazy phrases you default to when you can’t articulate exactly what you mean.
For years, I visualized this as: your idea is shaped like a nuanced path, but without finding [...]
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Outline:
(01:44 ) I don't let AI compose ANY original writing for me.
(04:05 ) So, maybe use AI, but revise all the common signs?
(06:11 ) So, maybe use AI, but keep obvious signs in defiance?
(07:33 ) So, maybe use AI, but ask for outputs in a non-AI style?
(09:44 ) So what if I'm stuck! I'm not a luddite, I'll just use AI.
The original text contained 4 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.
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First published:
September 21st, 2025
Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ksCwps6YjsMFBkEFQ/and-yet-defend-your-thoughts-from-ai-writing
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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.
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