the “Sequences” are quite long and anyone who tries to argue is told to “read the Sequences”. Anyone who disagrees even after reading the Sequences is often considered too stupid to understand them.
I have to disagree that this “smugness” even remotely reaches the level that is characteristic of a cult.
As someone who has frequently expressed disagreement with the “doctrine” here,
I have occasionally encountered both reactions that you mention. But those sporadic reactions are not much of a barrier to criticism—any critic who persists here will eventually be engaged intelligently and respectfully, assuming that the critic tries to achieve a modicum of respect and intelligence on his own part. Furthermore, if the critic really engages with what his interlocutors here are saying, he will receive enough upvotes to more than repair the initial damage to his karma
Yes. LessWrong is not in fact hidebound by groupthink. I have lots of disagreement with the standard LessWrong belief cluster, but I get upvotes if I bother to write well, explain my objections clearly and show with my reference links that I have some understanding of what I’m objecting to. So the moderation system—“vote up things you want more of”—works really well, and I like the comments here.
This has also helped me control my unfortunate case of asshole personality disorder elsewhere I see someone being wrong on the Internet. It’s amazing what you can get away with if you show your references.
I have to disagree that this “smugness” even remotely reaches the level that is characteristic of a cult.
As someone who has frequently expressed disagreement with the “doctrine” here, I have occasionally encountered both reactions that you mention. But those sporadic reactions are not much of a barrier to criticism—any critic who persists here will eventually be engaged intelligently and respectfully, assuming that the critic tries to achieve a modicum of respect and intelligence on his own part. Furthermore, if the critic really engages with what his interlocutors here are saying, he will receive enough upvotes to more than repair the initial damage to his karma
Yes. LessWrong is not in fact hidebound by groupthink. I have lots of disagreement with the standard LessWrong belief cluster, but I get upvotes if I bother to write well, explain my objections clearly and show with my reference links that I have some understanding of what I’m objecting to. So the moderation system—“vote up things you want more of”—works really well, and I like the comments here.
This has also helped me control my unfortunate case of asshole personality disorder elsewhere I see someone being wrong on the Internet. It’s amazing what you can get away with if you show your references.