“Epistemic status” metadata plays two roles: first, it can be used to suggest to a reader how seriously they should consider a set of ideas. Second, though, it can have an effect on signalling games, as you suggest. Those who lack social confidence can find it harder to contribute to discussions, and having the ability to qualify statements with tags like “epistemic status: not confident” makes it easier for them to contribute without feeling like they’re trying to be the center of attention.
“Epistemic effort” metadata fulfills the first of these roles, but not the second; if you’re having a slow day and take longer to figure something out or write something than normal, then it might make you feel bad to admit that it took you as much effort as it did to produce said content. Nudging social norms towards use of “epistemic effort” over “epistemic status” provides readers with the benefit of having more information, at the potential cost of discouraging some posters.
“Epistemic status” metadata plays two roles: first, it can be used to suggest to a reader how seriously they should consider a set of ideas. Second, though, it can have an effect on signalling games, as you suggest. Those who lack social confidence can find it harder to contribute to discussions, and having the ability to qualify statements with tags like “epistemic status: not confident” makes it easier for them to contribute without feeling like they’re trying to be the center of attention.
“Epistemic effort” metadata fulfills the first of these roles, but not the second; if you’re having a slow day and take longer to figure something out or write something than normal, then it might make you feel bad to admit that it took you as much effort as it did to produce said content. Nudging social norms towards use of “epistemic effort” over “epistemic status” provides readers with the benefit of having more information, at the potential cost of discouraging some posters.