I feel like an easy way to get lots of upvotes is to make lots of vague critical comments about how EA isn’t intellectually rigorous enough, or inclusive enough, or whatever. This makes me feel less enthusiastic about engaging with the EA Forum, because it makes me feel like everything I’m saying is being read by a jeering crowd who just want excuses to call me a moron.
Could you unpack this a bit? Is it the originating poster who makes you feel that there’s a jeering crowd, or the people up-voting the OP which makes you feel the jeers?
As counterbalance...
Writing, and sharing your writing, is how you often come to know your own thoughts. I often recognise the kernel of truth someone is getting at before they’ve articulated it well, both in written posts and verbally. I’d rather encourage someone for getting at something even if it was lacking, and then guide them to do better. I’d especially prefer to do this given I personally know that it’s difficult to make time to perfect a post whilst doing a job and other commitments.
This is even more the case when it’s on a topic that hasn’t been explored much, such as biases in thinking common to EAs or diversity issues. I accept that in liberal circles being critical on basis of diversity and inclusion or cognitive biases is a good signalling-win, and you might think it would follow suit in EA. But I’m reminded of what Will MacAskill said about 8 months ago on an 80k podcast that he was awake thinking his reputation would be in tatters after posting in the EA forum, that his post would be torn to shreds (didn’t happen). For quite some time I was surprised at the diversity elephant in the room on EA, and welcomed when these critiques came forward. But I was in the room and not pointing out the elephant for a long time because I—like Will—had fears about being torn to shreds for putting myself out there, and I don’t think this is unusual.
I also think that criticisms of underlying trends in groups are really difficult to get at in a substantive way, and though they often come across as put-downs from someone who wants to feel bigger, it is not always clear whether that’s due to authorial intent or reader’s perception. I still think there’s something that can be taken from them though. I remember a scathing article about yuppies who listen to NPR to feel educated and part of the world for signalling purposes. It was very mean-spirited but definitely gave me food for thought on my media consumption and what I am (not) achieving from it. I think a healthy attitude for a community is willingness to find usefulness in seemingly threatening criticism. As all groups are vulnerable to effects of polarisation and fractiousness, this attitude could be a good protective element.
So in summary, even if someone could have done better on articulating their ‘vague critical comments’, I think it’s good to encourage the start of a conversation on a topic which is not easy to bring up or articulate, but is important. So I would say go on ahead and upvote that criticism whilst giving feedback on ways to improve it. If that person hasn’t nailed it, it’s started the conversation at least, and maybe someone else will deliver the argument better. And I think there is a role for us as a community to be curious and open to ‘vague critical comments’ and find the important message, and that will prove more useful than the alternative of shunning it.
Could you unpack this a bit? Is it the originating poster who makes you feel that there’s a jeering crowd, or the people up-voting the OP which makes you feel the jeers?
As counterbalance...
Writing, and sharing your writing, is how you often come to know your own thoughts. I often recognise the kernel of truth someone is getting at before they’ve articulated it well, both in written posts and verbally. I’d rather encourage someone for getting at something even if it was lacking, and then guide them to do better. I’d especially prefer to do this given I personally know that it’s difficult to make time to perfect a post whilst doing a job and other commitments.
This is even more the case when it’s on a topic that hasn’t been explored much, such as biases in thinking common to EAs or diversity issues. I accept that in liberal circles being critical on basis of diversity and inclusion or cognitive biases is a good signalling-win, and you might think it would follow suit in EA. But I’m reminded of what Will MacAskill said about 8 months ago on an 80k podcast that he was awake thinking his reputation would be in tatters after posting in the EA forum, that his post would be torn to shreds (didn’t happen). For quite some time I was surprised at the diversity elephant in the room on EA, and welcomed when these critiques came forward. But I was in the room and not pointing out the elephant for a long time because I—like Will—had fears about being torn to shreds for putting myself out there, and I don’t think this is unusual.
I also think that criticisms of underlying trends in groups are really difficult to get at in a substantive way, and though they often come across as put-downs from someone who wants to feel bigger, it is not always clear whether that’s due to authorial intent or reader’s perception. I still think there’s something that can be taken from them though. I remember a scathing article about yuppies who listen to NPR to feel educated and part of the world for signalling purposes. It was very mean-spirited but definitely gave me food for thought on my media consumption and what I am (not) achieving from it. I think a healthy attitude for a community is willingness to find usefulness in seemingly threatening criticism. As all groups are vulnerable to effects of polarisation and fractiousness, this attitude could be a good protective element.
So in summary, even if someone could have done better on articulating their ‘vague critical comments’, I think it’s good to encourage the start of a conversation on a topic which is not easy to bring up or articulate, but is important. So I would say go on ahead and upvote that criticism whilst giving feedback on ways to improve it. If that person hasn’t nailed it, it’s started the conversation at least, and maybe someone else will deliver the argument better. And I think there is a role for us as a community to be curious and open to ‘vague critical comments’ and find the important message, and that will prove more useful than the alternative of shunning it.