LessWrong (Curated & Popular) “Everyone has a plan until they get lied to the face” by Screwtape
Nov 16, 2025
The discussion begins with the surprising emotional turmoil of being lied to, likening it to the shock of a punch. There's a deep dive into the balance between trust and skepticism, and the inherent vulnerability in assuming honesty from others. Real-world examples of deception, from social media to courtroom lies, underscore the risks of believing without verification. Techniques for training against deceit and strategies for rebuilding trust post-deception provide practical insights. The conversation wraps up with advice on taking a measured approach to decision-making after such betrayals.
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Trust As A Vulnerability
- Screwtape observes people assume others are basically trustworthy, creating a vulnerability to blatant lies.
- Focusing only on subtle epistemic errors leaves communities slow to detect intentional falsehoods.
College Hypervigilance Shaped Choices
- Screwtape recounts college hypervigilance where he reflexively patterned quick movements as incoming strikes.
- That experience led him to avoid certain careers like information security due to mental cost.
Bogus Witnesses In Court
- Screwtape summarizes the Alison Gu case where bogus witnesses acted as if it were a movie in court.
- He uses it to illustrate the extreme epistemic sabotage some people deploy and its toll on trust.
