I have been assuming that EAF follows the same norm as LW with regard to downvotes, namely that it means “I’d like to see fewer comments like this one.” Just in case EAF follows a different norm, I did a quick search and happened across a comment by Khorton herself (which was highly upvoted, so I think is likely representative of typical understanding of downvotes on EAF):
In order of frequency:
-I strong downvote spam (weekly)
-I downvote people for antisocial behaviour, like name calling (monthly)
-I sometimes downvote comments that are obviously unhelpful or wrong (I’ll usually explain why, if no one else has) (every couple of months)
-I occasionally downvote posts if I don’t think they’re the type of thing that should be on the Forum (for example, they’re very poorly written, very incorrect, or offensive) (a couple times a year)
So it seems basically the same, i.e., a downvote means that on net the voter would prefer not to see a comment like it on the forum. Given that some people may not be very good at or very motivated to express sympathy in connection with stating an alternative hypothesis, this seems equivalent to saying that she would prefer such people not post such alternative hypotheses on the forum.
And if Dale totally ignores this advice, the penalty is… mild social disapproval from Khorton and lots of upvotes from other people, as far as I can tell.
Sure, this seems to be the current norm, but as Khorton’s comment had garnered substantial upvotes before I disagreed with it (I don’t remember exactly but I think it was comparable to Dale’s initial comment at that point), I was worried about her convincing others to her position and thereby moving the forum towards a new norm.
Anyway, I do agree with “I think it’s good for people to point out ways that criticism can be phrased more sympathetically” and would have no objections to any comments along those lines. I note however that is not what Khorton did and her comment in fact did not point out any specific ways that Dale’s comment could have been phrased more sympathetically.
I have been assuming that EAF follows the same norm as LW with regard to downvotes, namely that it means “I’d like to see fewer comments like this one.” Just in case EAF follows a different norm, I did a quick search and happened across a comment by Khorton herself (which was highly upvoted, so I think is likely representative of typical understanding of downvotes on EAF):
So it seems basically the same, i.e., a downvote means that on net the voter would prefer not to see a comment like it on the forum. Given that some people may not be very good at or very motivated to express sympathy in connection with stating an alternative hypothesis, this seems equivalent to saying that she would prefer such people not post such alternative hypotheses on the forum.
Sure, this seems to be the current norm, but as Khorton’s comment had garnered substantial upvotes before I disagreed with it (I don’t remember exactly but I think it was comparable to Dale’s initial comment at that point), I was worried about her convincing others to her position and thereby moving the forum towards a new norm.
Anyway, I do agree with “I think it’s good for people to point out ways that criticism can be phrased more sympathetically” and would have no objections to any comments along those lines. I note however that is not what Khorton did and her comment in fact did not point out any specific ways that Dale’s comment could have been phrased more sympathetically.