Sorry if I’m hijacking the thread, but I’m in much the same situation. New and don’t know what I’m doing. And not getting much feedback other than a couple random upvotes for seemingly nothing.
(Well, at least I’m past asking how to insert a hyperlink).
One question bugged me for a while now: what’s a “top level comment” and is it some kind of a privilege to make one? Is it the article itself, or a comment that’s not a reply to a comment? (Since no one got mad at me yet, I either haven’t made one, or nobody noticed).
Also: what’s the etiquette on editing after someone’s pointed out a flaw in my post? It reduces on verbal clutter if I just went back and edited, but might put the rest of the comments out of context. Especially if it’s a major reasoning flaw that you can’t just put in under “EDIT: ”
And also: if I accepted someone’s correction and edited, should I add to verbal clutter by posting “thanks,” or do my actions (edit + upvote) give enough evidence to the fact that I’m thankful?
I’m still in the process or reading the entirety of LW, hopefully before the links turn back to green and I lose track of what I’d read and what I hadn’t. I comment sometimes, but most of my idea flood stays back in MS Word, to ripen or to wither.
In general, upvotes indicate that somebody wants more of whatever it was, downvotes indicate somebody wants less of it. So if you’re not getting downvoted and nobody’s giving you flak, you’re fine.
Other than that, there’s not exactly an etiquette consensus. (Actually, even that much isn’t reliable; some people seem to use upvotes/downvotes to indicate agreement/disagreement instead. But they’re wrong.)
Editing history is annoying; I’d rather you not do it. Adding “EDIT: Oops; that was a major reasoning flaw” or whatever while leaving the original comment’s logic there to be read is AFAIC preferable.
Minimizing clutter is a local value, so pure “Thanks” comments probably won’t make you many friends, though it’s not a big deal either way.
Minimizing clutter is a local value, so pure “Thanks” comments probably won’t make you many friends, though it’s not a big deal either way.
Mostly agree. One note: Thanks comments that are thanking for information or arguments that causes an update of your pre-existing viewpoint are generally regarded as a good thing.
I would generalize this, though: signaling that I’ve willingly updated probability estimates based on new input is a (local) Good Thing, especially when it involves repudiating beliefs I previously held (rather than just marginal changes to my confidence level), whether I do it in thanks-comments or elsewhere.
One question bugged me for a while now: what’s a “top level comment” and is it some kind of a privilege to make one? Is it the article itself, or a comment that’s not a reply to a comment? (Since no one got mad at me yet, I either haven’t made one, or nobody noticed).
The first; a top level post is the article itself. Unless it has been changed recently, making a top level post in the main section takes 20 karma, while making a top level post in the discussion section is something anyone can do.
Also: what’s the etiquette on editing after someone’s pointed out a flaw in my post? It reduces on verbal clutter if I just went back and edited, but might put the rest of the comments out of context. Especially if it’s a major reasoning flaw that you can’t just put in under “EDIT: ”
Like TheOtherDave, I would prefer posts not be edited such that previous information was lost. You can write something like “EDIT: pointed out below that my argument is flawed because. of ” or “ETA: My argument is flawed because of , as made me aware of” at the end or beginning of your comment, or right before or after the section that is most adequate (use italics if you fear creating confusion between the edit and the rest of the post).
And also: if I accepted someone’s correction and edited, should I add to verbal clutter by posting “thanks,” or do my actions (edit + upvote) give enough evidence to the fact that I’m thankful?
So long as you are editing your post in response to someone else, adding a small note of gratitude there seems most appropriate.
One question bugged me for a while now: what’s a “top level comment” and is it some kind of a privilege to make one? Is it the article itself, or a comment that’s not a reply to a comment? (Since no one got mad at me yet, I either haven’t made one, or nobody noticed).
It is what you get when you click the “Add new article” button at the top right and well, yeah, it is an article itself. The privilege you need to post one is about 50 karma. Maybe 30. (Or, technically, be an SIAI donor and ask someone. But that happened only once and he was downvoted to oblivion.)
Make a post if you think you have something significant to say. This is the discussion section, not the main page so the standards aren’t particularly high.
Top level comment means the top level that’s a comment, so yes it is a reply to an article (as opposed to another comment). No particular privilege required AFAIK.
Sorry if I’m hijacking the thread, but I’m in much the same situation. New and don’t know what I’m doing. And not getting much feedback other than a couple random upvotes for seemingly nothing.
(Well, at least I’m past asking how to insert a hyperlink).
One question bugged me for a while now: what’s a “top level comment” and is it some kind of a privilege to make one? Is it the article itself, or a comment that’s not a reply to a comment? (Since no one got mad at me yet, I either haven’t made one, or nobody noticed).
Also: what’s the etiquette on editing after someone’s pointed out a flaw in my post? It reduces on verbal clutter if I just went back and edited, but might put the rest of the comments out of context. Especially if it’s a major reasoning flaw that you can’t just put in under “EDIT: ”
And also: if I accepted someone’s correction and edited, should I add to verbal clutter by posting “thanks,” or do my actions (edit + upvote) give enough evidence to the fact that I’m thankful?
I’m still in the process or reading the entirety of LW, hopefully before the links turn back to green and I lose track of what I’d read and what I hadn’t. I comment sometimes, but most of my idea flood stays back in MS Word, to ripen or to wither.
So how will I know if I’m doing something wrong?
Oh, and I operate by Croker’s Rules, so just tell me.
In general, upvotes indicate that somebody wants more of whatever it was, downvotes indicate somebody wants less of it. So if you’re not getting downvoted and nobody’s giving you flak, you’re fine.
Other than that, there’s not exactly an etiquette consensus. (Actually, even that much isn’t reliable; some people seem to use upvotes/downvotes to indicate agreement/disagreement instead. But they’re wrong.)
Editing history is annoying; I’d rather you not do it. Adding “EDIT: Oops; that was a major reasoning flaw” or whatever while leaving the original comment’s logic there to be read is AFAIC preferable.
Minimizing clutter is a local value, so pure “Thanks” comments probably won’t make you many friends, though it’s not a big deal either way.
The evidence suggests that LessWrongians especially want more jokes.
Yeah, and a lot more discussion of Harry Potter fanfic.
(shrug) Revealed preferences are what they are, not what we necessarily would like them to be.
Mostly agree. One note: Thanks comments that are thanking for information or arguments that causes an update of your pre-existing viewpoint are generally regarded as a good thing.
Agreed.
I would generalize this, though: signaling that I’ve willingly updated probability estimates based on new input is a (local) Good Thing, especially when it involves repudiating beliefs I previously held (rather than just marginal changes to my confidence level), whether I do it in thanks-comments or elsewhere.
Thanks.
The first; a top level post is the article itself. Unless it has been changed recently, making a top level post in the main section takes 20 karma, while making a top level post in the discussion section is something anyone can do.
Like TheOtherDave, I would prefer posts not be edited such that previous information was lost. You can write something like “EDIT: pointed out below that my argument is flawed because. of ” or “ETA: My argument is flawed because of , as made me aware of” at the end or beginning of your comment, or right before or after the section that is most adequate (use italics if you fear creating confusion between the edit and the rest of the post).
So long as you are editing your post in response to someone else, adding a small note of gratitude there seems most appropriate.
It is what you get when you click the “Add new article” button at the top right and well, yeah, it is an article itself. The privilege you need to post one is about 50 karma. Maybe 30. (Or, technically, be an SIAI donor and ask someone. But that happened only once and he was downvoted to oblivion.)
Make a post if you think you have something significant to say. This is the discussion section, not the main page so the standards aren’t particularly high.
Top level comment means the top level that’s a comment, so yes it is a reply to an article (as opposed to another comment). No particular privilege required AFAIK.