Nothing to do about it, but it might be worth a discussion posts along the lines of “LessWrong has become somewhat more stupid lately, don’t take the downvotes too personally”.
I have the reverse message. I say be willing just take them personally when appropriate. I don’t really mind people having a personal problem with me but if people sincerely negatively evaluate comments that I consider high quality then that distresses me. After all if I hear “Fuck you! You’re a dick.” then the subject matter is subjective and they may have a point. If I hear “You’re wrong!” then I may, after double checking, actually have to evaluate the accuser as being poor at thinking. Too much of that just leads to contempt and bitterness.
It’s not like LessWrong was ever that elite anyway; too much evaporative cooling which resulted in a lot of people who strongly agree with Eliezer even when he’s wrong and even when they don’t know why he’s right.
(Old-Timer Topper:) That’s nutthin! Do you actually think kids these days have read enough rationality literature—from Eliezer or otherwise—for them to be able to even know which beliefs to take on faith without knowing why? I don’t see much in the way of (correct) application of rationality principles for me to be declaring as done without basis.
I have the reverse message. I say be willing just take them personally when appropriate. I don’t really mind people having a personal problem with me but if people sincerely negatively evaluate comments that I consider high quality then that distresses me. After all if I hear “Fuck you! You’re a dick.” then the subject matter is subjective and they may have a point. If I hear “You’re wrong!” then I may, after double checking, actually have to evaluate the accuser as being poor at thinking. Too much of that just leads to contempt and bitterness.
(Old-Timer Topper:) That’s nutthin! Do you actually think kids these days have read enough rationality literature—from Eliezer or otherwise—for them to be able to even know which beliefs to take on faith without knowing why? I don’t see much in the way of (correct) application of rationality principles for me to be declaring as done without basis.