Very true.
In the interest of optimizing our rationality I think that we need to continue to call out instances “community distancing” such as the one exhibited by Silas above.
The reason for doing so? It lets the dissenters know that a community can tolerate and appreciate criticism but not the creation of a lone wolf character. Lone wolves do not contribute to a community and instead impede our advances in rationality by drawing conversations back to their status. As such, their status seeking should be pointed out and skepticism should be attached to their future postings.
Passive-aggressive comments in particular are troublesome because these types eventually find ways to disrupt substantive threads by reminding others of their loner status and their unacknowledged genius. Their resentment then leads to them mocking key figures in a community (note Silas’ comments to both Eliezer and Luke).
Perhaps LW needs a mini-sequence on acceptable and non-acceptable signaling within a rational community.
“I actually have no interest in supporting your research. ”
Eliezer might have to defend the Golden Boy here. This takes issue with Eliezer’s promotion of Luke.
“I think your contributions are overrated.”
Ouch! Silas is bringing the bitch slap.