Hm, I read “A rationalist’s guide to male pattern baldness” and thought the post would be in the same genera as other lesswrong “guide” articles, and much less a personal blog-post. Most centrally the guide to rationalist interior decorating. I read the article with this expectation, and felt I mostly got duped. If it was for example just called “Escaping the Jungles of Norwood”, I just wounldn’t have read it, but if I did I would not be as upset.
I still maintain my criticism holds even for a personal blog post, but would not have strong downvoted it, just ignored it. Puns and playfulness can be good, but only when they add to the informational content (eg by making it more memorable), or as brief respites.
Hm, I read “A rationalist’s guide to male pattern baldness” and thought the post would be in the same genera as other lesswrong “guide” articles, and much less a personal blog-post. Most centrally the guide to rationalist interior decorating. I read the article with this expectation, and felt I mostly got duped. If it was for example just called “Escaping the Jungles of Norwood”, I just wounldn’t have read it, but if I did I would not be as upset.
I still maintain my criticism holds even for a personal blog post, but would not have strong downvoted it, just ignored it. Puns and playfulness can be good, but only when they add to the informational content (eg by making it more memorable), or as brief respites.