I wrote a post called Our Cult is not Exclusive Enough, because it isn’t, and it would be better if more of us were more fully indoctrinated. Somehow I missed the irony in changing my words to make LW more palatable to outsiders in a post about how I wish there were less outsiders around.
There’s a difference between holding high standards for newcomers who want to become community members, and discouraging new people from joining the community. If we flip legitimate heuristics for filtering cranks from reasonable thinkers, we’re liable to filter out people who would be valuable community members. I don’t think we want that.
But darn if there hasn’t been a lot of social pressure to use the ROT13′d “phyg” sitewide, so that LW is not linked to the term “cult” in web searches. In any case, my question was tongue-in-cheek and kinda snarky. I’m aware there was never any sort of official policy preventing it.
That’s definitely a good point. I mostly bring up this stuff when he tries to get me to watch his favorite videos, because he gets really offended when I politely refuse to watch videos I don’t expect to appreciate.
I think there’s nothing wrong with indoctrination materials? It helps to have words that mean the same thing that everyone can use to understand each other!
I am more worried about turning into … rock band groupies? Like the “omg omg omg omg omg omg omg he looked at me!!” effect. While that’s probably normal to some degree, I think that’s what eventually turns into the halo effect and legitimate admiration leaks into areas where it doesn’t belong.
Less wrong is a cult. I am a cult organizer. Deal with it.
I think there’s nothing wrong with indoctrination materials? It helps to have words that mean the same thing that
everyone can use to understand each other!
Less Wrong already has a “Google problem” with the phyg word. Would you mind typing “phyg” instead?
Amazing. I keep telling you, your choices are mainstream academia or Objectivism.
I regret starting that.
I wrote a post called Our Cult is not Exclusive Enough, because it isn’t, and it would be better if more of us were more fully indoctrinated. Somehow I missed the irony in changing my words to make LW more palatable to outsiders in a post about how I wish there were less outsiders around.
I have accepted the truth. Less wrong is a cult. I am a cult organizer. Deal with it.
As for your actual article, the approach seems good. beware of other optimizing your brother. I like your list of things to do.
There’s a difference between holding high standards for newcomers who want to become community members, and discouraging new people from joining the community. If we flip legitimate heuristics for filtering cranks from reasonable thinkers, we’re liable to filter out people who would be valuable community members. I don’t think we want that.
Does this mean we can use the C-word now?
Not using the word “cult” is not a rule in this forum, never has been (and btw nor would I like it to ever so become).
But darn if there hasn’t been a lot of social pressure to use the ROT13′d “phyg” sitewide, so that LW is not linked to the term “cult” in web searches. In any case, my question was tongue-in-cheek and kinda snarky. I’m aware there was never any sort of official policy preventing it.
I regret prompting you to change your words rather than removing them entirely.
I still think it’s inappropriate use of the term.
That’s definitely a good point. I mostly bring up this stuff when he tries to get me to watch his favorite videos, because he gets really offended when I politely refuse to watch videos I don’t expect to appreciate.
I think there’s nothing wrong with indoctrination materials? It helps to have words that mean the same thing that everyone can use to understand each other!
I am more worried about turning into … rock band groupies? Like the “omg omg omg omg omg omg omg he looked at me!!” effect. While that’s probably normal to some degree, I think that’s what eventually turns into the halo effect and legitimate admiration leaks into areas where it doesn’t belong.
Amazing. I keep telling you, your choices are mainstream academia or Objectivism.