I don’t think this is true. Speaking for myself, I’ve upvote quite frequently comments I disagree with in part or in whole. For example, I upvoted Hyena’s remark here even though I disagreed with it. (In fact, further discussion strongly supported Hyena’s claim. But my upvote came before that discussion.)
I have a fair number of other examples of this.
I don’t think that I’m at all unique in this. I’ve made multiple comments about why I think AI going foom is unlikely and discussing what I consider to be serious problems with cryonics. Almost every single one has been upvoted sometimes quite highly.
I’ve heard that we are supposed to upvote something if we want to see more like it on LessWrong. And that seems like a good rule of thumb. I usually upvote a post or comment before replying to it, because that typically means it’s a subject I want more discussion on. And I comment more often when I have a disagreement, or at least feel that something’s been left out.
Why do you sometimes upvote comments that you disagree with? Do you mean comments that make statements you agree with in support of positions you disagree with?
I mean positions that I disagree with but make me think. This includes arguments that I had not considered that seem worthwhile to consider even if they aren’t persuasive, and posts where even if the conclusions are wrong use interesting facts that I wasn’t aware of, or posts that while I disagree with parts have other good points in them. Sometimes I will upvote a comment I disagree with simply because it is a demonstration of extreme civility in a highly controversial issue (so for example some of the recent discussions on gender issues I was impressed enough with the cordiality and thoughtfulness of people arguing different positions that I upvoted a lot of the comments).
In general, if a comment makes me think and makes me feel like reading it was a useful way to spend my time, I’ll upvote it.
Of all the votes I’ve given I don’t recall thinking my being hungry, or distracted, or etc. was a deciding factor, but those things are reasons as much as my sensible half-rationalizations that are also real reasons.
I don’t think this is true. Speaking for myself, I’ve upvote quite frequently comments I disagree with in part or in whole. For example, I upvoted Hyena’s remark here even though I disagreed with it. (In fact, further discussion strongly supported Hyena’s claim. But my upvote came before that discussion.)
I have a fair number of other examples of this.
I don’t think that I’m at all unique in this. I’ve made multiple comments about why I think AI going foom is unlikely and discussing what I consider to be serious problems with cryonics. Almost every single one has been upvoted sometimes quite highly.
I’ve heard that we are supposed to upvote something if we want to see more like it on LessWrong. And that seems like a good rule of thumb. I usually upvote a post or comment before replying to it, because that typically means it’s a subject I want more discussion on. And I comment more often when I have a disagreement, or at least feel that something’s been left out.
Why do you sometimes upvote comments that you disagree with? Do you mean comments that make statements you agree with in support of positions you disagree with?
I mean positions that I disagree with but make me think. This includes arguments that I had not considered that seem worthwhile to consider even if they aren’t persuasive, and posts where even if the conclusions are wrong use interesting facts that I wasn’t aware of, or posts that while I disagree with parts have other good points in them. Sometimes I will upvote a comment I disagree with simply because it is a demonstration of extreme civility in a highly controversial issue (so for example some of the recent discussions on gender issues I was impressed enough with the cordiality and thoughtfulness of people arguing different positions that I upvoted a lot of the comments).
In general, if a comment makes me think and makes me feel like reading it was a useful way to spend my time, I’ll upvote it.
Of all the votes I’ve given I don’t recall thinking my being hungry, or distracted, or etc. was a deciding factor, but those things are reasons as much as my sensible half-rationalizations that are also real reasons.