As I’m sure many would imagine, I think I disagree.
There are almost no examples of criticism clearly mattering (e.g. getting someone to significantly improve their project)
There’s a lot here I take issue with: 1. I’m not sure where the line is between “criticism” and “critique” or “feedback.” Would any judgements about a project that aren’t positive be considered “criticism”? We don’t have specific examples, so I don’t know what you refer to. 2. This jumps from “criticism matters” to “criticism clearly matters” (which is more easily defensible, but less important), to “criticism clearly mattering (e.g. getting someone to significantly improve their project)”, which is one of several ways that criticism could matter, clearly or otherwise. The latter seems like an incredibly specific claim that misses much of the discussion/benefits of criticism/critique/feedback.
I’d rate this post decently high on the “provocative to clarity” measure, as in it’s fairly provocative while also being short. This isn’t something I take issue with, but I just wouldn’t spend too much attention/effort on it, given this. But I would be a bit curious what a much longer and detailed version of this post would be like.
Rohin and Ben provided some examples that updated me upwards a little on critique posts being useful.
I think most of my points are fairly robust to the different definitions you gave so the line isn’t super important to me. This feels a bit nitpicky.
I don’t think that “criticism clearly mattering (e.g. getting someone to significantly improve their project)” is a very specific claim. I think that one of the main responses people would like to see to criticism of a specific project is for that project to change in line with the criticism. Unlike many of the other proposed benefits of criticism, it is a very empirical claim.
It suspect you think that this post should have been closer to “here are some points for and against criticism” on the EA Forum, but I don’t think posts need to be balanced or well-rounded like that, especially because, from my perspective, the forum is too pro-criticism but yeah, seems fine for you not to engage with this kind of content—I definitely don’t think you’re obliged to.
As I’m sure many would imagine, I think I disagree.
There’s a lot here I take issue with:
1. I’m not sure where the line is between “criticism” and “critique” or “feedback.” Would any judgements about a project that aren’t positive be considered “criticism”? We don’t have specific examples, so I don’t know what you refer to.
2. This jumps from “criticism matters” to “criticism clearly matters” (which is more easily defensible, but less important), to “criticism clearly mattering (e.g. getting someone to significantly improve their project)”, which is one of several ways that criticism could matter, clearly or otherwise. The latter seems like an incredibly specific claim that misses much of the discussion/benefits of criticism/critique/feedback.
I’d rate this post decently high on the “provocative to clarity” measure, as in it’s fairly provocative while also being short. This isn’t something I take issue with, but I just wouldn’t spend too much attention/effort on it, given this. But I would be a bit curious what a much longer and detailed version of this post would be like.
Rohin and Ben provided some examples that updated me upwards a little on critique posts being useful.
I think most of my points are fairly robust to the different definitions you gave so the line isn’t super important to me. This feels a bit nitpicky.
I don’t think that “criticism clearly mattering (e.g. getting someone to significantly improve their project)” is a very specific claim. I think that one of the main responses people would like to see to criticism of a specific project is for that project to change in line with the criticism. Unlike many of the other proposed benefits of criticism, it is a very empirical claim.
It suspect you think that this post should have been closer to “here are some points for and against criticism” on the EA Forum, but I don’t think posts need to be balanced or well-rounded like that, especially because, from my perspective, the forum is too pro-criticism but yeah, seems fine for you not to engage with this kind of content—I definitely don’t think you’re obliged to.