Bad call. You don’t exactly have an unlimited supply of people who have a solid handle on the formative LW mindset and principles from 15 years ago and who are still actively participating on the forums, and latter-day LessWrong doesn’t have as much of a coherent and valuable identity to stand firmly on its own.
A key idea in the mindset that started LessWrong is that people can be wrong. Being wrong can exist as an abstract thing to begin with, it’s not just an euphemism for poor political positioning. And people in positions of authority can be wrong. Kind, well-meaning, likable people can be wrong. People who have considerate friendly conversations that are a joy to moderate can be wrong. It’s not always easy to figure out right and wrong, but it is possible, and it’s not always socially harmonious to point it out loud, but it used to be considered virtuous still.
A forum that has principles in its culture is going to have cases where moderation is annoying around something or someone who doggedly sticks to those principles. It’s then a decision for the moderators whether they want to work to keep the forum’s principles alive or to have a slightly easier time moderating in the future.
the supply sure has a lot more people who still exist and don’t come here much anymore, and I’m hopeful we’ll see some coming back now. Hey Duncan, (edit: although, if duncan does come back, I won’t go easy on his ideas, I’ll just try to respect his time about it. “I think you’re wrong, here’s why, (if true) I appreciate your effort sharing the claims, (if true) I won’t go many rounds unless it seems to be leading us to an insight”
I’m pretty sure people drifted away because of a more complex set of dynamics and incentives than “Said might comment on their posts” and I don’t expect to see much of a reversal.
I think in my whole life I have once seen a person come back because another person left, and they didn’t stay long anyway. Broadly speaking I don’t think this ever works.
Bad call. You don’t exactly have an unlimited supply of people who have a solid handle on the formative LW mindset and principles from 15 years ago and who are still actively participating on the forums, and latter-day LessWrong doesn’t have as much of a coherent and valuable identity to stand firmly on its own.
A key idea in the mindset that started LessWrong is that people can be wrong. Being wrong can exist as an abstract thing to begin with, it’s not just an euphemism for poor political positioning. And people in positions of authority can be wrong. Kind, well-meaning, likable people can be wrong. People who have considerate friendly conversations that are a joy to moderate can be wrong. It’s not always easy to figure out right and wrong, but it is possible, and it’s not always socially harmonious to point it out loud, but it used to be considered virtuous still.
A forum that has principles in its culture is going to have cases where moderation is annoying around something or someone who doggedly sticks to those principles. It’s then a decision for the moderators whether they want to work to keep the forum’s principles alive or to have a slightly easier time moderating in the future.
the supply sure has a lot more people who still exist and don’t come here much anymore, and I’m hopeful we’ll see some coming back now. Hey Duncan, (edit: although, if duncan does come back, I won’t go easy on his ideas, I’ll just try to respect his time about it. “I think you’re wrong, here’s why, (if true) I appreciate your effort sharing the claims, (if true) I won’t go many rounds unless it seems to be leading us to an insight”
I’m pretty sure people drifted away because of a more complex set of dynamics and incentives than “Said might comment on their posts” and I don’t expect to see much of a reversal.
I think in my whole life I have once seen a person come back because another person left, and they didn’t stay long anyway. Broadly speaking I don’t think this ever works.