I’m pretty intimidated about posting, since you guys all seem so smart and knowledgeable, but here goes.
So I take the quality of this post along with this statement to indicate LW is not being friendly enough. I think we’re currently losing more than we’re gaining by being discouraging to newbies and lurkers. One suggestion I have that is probably unrealistic would be integrating the LW chatroom into the main site somehow so that people could get to it via a link from the front page. Chat feels like much less of a commitment than posting to even an open thread.
OP: good post. Don’t worry about not being “up to snuff.”
I’ll just say the intimidation factor for me stems more from my own utter lack of scientific knowledge than any unfriendliness on your guys’ part. A visible chat room would definitely be a nice feature though!
Yes, but that is many clicks and button presses away. Making it a one click process would funnel lots of lurkers there where they could ask questions or talk about posts in a less permanent way.
In general, I think the bar for posts in Discussion is way too high. After all, if you want to have a discussion, the only thing you really need is a question.
Edit: Obviously there’s value in starting off a discussion with something more than just a question, and that all else equal, you’d prefer to start the discussion with more rather than less. But I still get the impression that the general atmosphere is to hold Discussion posts to way too high a standard.
One suggestion I have that is probably unrealistic would be integrating the LW chatroom
Agreed. I hope to do some work on the site in the next year or so (I’m not a good enough developer yet).
So I take the quality of this post along with this statement to indicate LW is not being friendly enough. I think we’re currently losing more than we’re gaining by being discouraging to newbies and lurkers. One suggestion I have that is probably unrealistic would be integrating the LW chatroom into the main site somehow so that people could get to it via a link from the front page. Chat feels like much less of a commitment than posting to even an open thread.
OP: good post. Don’t worry about not being “up to snuff.”
Thanks :)
I’ll just say the intimidation factor for me stems more from my own utter lack of scientific knowledge than any unfriendliness on your guys’ part. A visible chat room would definitely be a nice feature though!
I do not use it, but I found these links in wiki:
Less Wrong IRC Chatroom
Official Rules of the Unofficial Lesswrong IRC
Yes, but that is many clicks and button presses away. Making it a one click process would funnel lots of lurkers there where they could ask questions or talk about posts in a less permanent way.
ABSOLUTELY!
In general, I think the bar for posts in Discussion is way too high. After all, if you want to have a discussion, the only thing you really need is a question.
Edit: Obviously there’s value in starting off a discussion with something more than just a question, and that all else equal, you’d prefer to start the discussion with more rather than less. But I still get the impression that the general atmosphere is to hold Discussion posts to way too high a standard.
Agreed. I hope to do some work on the site in the next year or so (I’m not a good enough developer yet).