In my view, downvoting this comment is a little harsh (the karma is −1 with 4 votes at the time I am writing this). I understand it could be more detailed, so it might not be worth upvoting (depending on one’s bar). However, downvoting on this basis discourages quick comments, and I think they could still be useful as long as they are not counterproductive or ill-intentioned. The above comment has seemingly been made in good faith, so I would not downvote.
Instead of downvoting, I think it is more productive to point out, as MakoYass did above, that it would be worth expanding the answer a bit. Writing something like “Interesting, would you please share a link expanding on that idea?” would only take about 10 s.
To help clarify your entirely reasonable concern, I’ve been shifting somewhat to short blurb comments because every time I share a longer more thoughtful article it almost immediately gets downvoted in to oblivion, and receives close to no feedback of any kind.
Members are clearly in no way obligated to engage my longer pieces, but if they don’t wish to read and engage those articles, ok, fair enough, but then it’s pretty much a waste of my time to write such articles.
If it were up to me, I’d contribute the most thoughtful posts I’m capable of, my fellow members would engage and challenge, and through an extensive process of challenge and counter challenge we would hopefully inch our way towards some more useful version of the truth. That’s what I came here to do, but you know, it takes two to tango.
I’ve been shifting somewhat to short blurb comments because every time I share a longer more thoughtful article it almost immediately gets downvoted in to oblivion, and receives close to no feedback of any kind.
Ah, that is unfortunate. I have just read this recent post from yours, and think that it may have been downvoted for the same reasons as your comment above (the post is more informative than the comment, but the typical post is also more informative than the typical comment, so the bar for not downvoting may be higher for posts).
If it were up to me, I’d contribute the most thoughtful posts I’m capable of, my fellow members would engage and challenge, and through an extensive process of challenge and counter challenge we would hopefully inch our way towards some more useful version of the truth.
This sounds like a great plan! I would encourage you to continue posting, and ask the EA Forum team for feedback before publishing (there is a feedback button at the bottom of the edition page). It may even be worth going through some your previous comments and posts together with them to assess what could be improved. I do not mean to suggest that your posts are being fairly/unfairly downvoted (I would not have downvoted the only one I have checked, but this is a small sample size, so I do not know). I just think the EA Forum team can help either way.
Thanks for your kind words, appreciated. How about this?
If anyone on the forum wishes to present themselves as being qualified to judge the quality of my posts, they can make a credible case as follows:
read the post
analyze the post
try to rip the post to shreds
and we’ll see what happens
Meaning no disrespect to anybody, just trying to respond honestly...
I don’t intend to ask the EA team for feedback because they have as yet not demonstrated (as above) that they are qualified to evaluate my posts, and it is they who implemented the silly voting system. And, they have already threatened to ban me over points I very explicitly did not make, as can be proven just by actually reading the post in question.
In addition, while I have no data to back this up, my sense from 27 years of doing this almost daily is that many or most members here are somewhere around a half to a third my age. If true, I don’t see why I should automatically judge them qualified to generate useful reputation data on my participation here.
All that said, I am having some good exchanges such as this in the comment section, which I appreciate. So for now I’ll stick to that, and let others write the posts.
I don’t intend to ask the EA team for feedback because they have as yet not demonstrated (as above) that they are qualified to evaluate my posts, and it is they who implemented the silly voting system.
I believe it is possible to request various types of feedback to the EAF team. I am confident they would be able to provide feedback e.g. on the tone and clarity of the post. For instance, the wording “silly voting system” in the sentence above feels unfriendly.
In addition, while I have no data to back this up, my sense from 27 years of doing this almost daily is that many or most members here are somewhere around a half to a third my age. If true, I don’t see why I should automatically judge them qualified to generate useful reputation data on my participation here.
I would say age is a poor predictor of insightful feedback, and that focussing on the content (of the posts and comments) is much more productive. Other options (besides the number of votes) include asking specific people (who may share an interest in the topics being discussed) or the EAF team for feedback.
I think this could benefit from being expanded. I can only assume you’re referring to the democratization of access to knowledge. It’s not at all obvious why this is something we need to prepare for or why it would introduce any non-obvious qualitative changes in the world rather than just generally making it go a bit faster.
The knowledge explosion, our relationship with it, our ability (or not) to control it.
In my view, downvoting this comment is a little harsh (the karma is −1 with 4 votes at the time I am writing this). I understand it could be more detailed, so it might not be worth upvoting (depending on one’s bar). However, downvoting on this basis discourages quick comments, and I think they could still be useful as long as they are not counterproductive or ill-intentioned. The above comment has seemingly been made in good faith, so I would not downvote.
Instead of downvoting, I think it is more productive to point out, as MakoYass did above, that it would be worth expanding the answer a bit. Writing something like “Interesting, would you please share a link expanding on that idea?” would only take about 10 s.
Thanks Vasco,
To help clarify your entirely reasonable concern, I’ve been shifting somewhat to short blurb comments because every time I share a longer more thoughtful article it almost immediately gets downvoted in to oblivion, and receives close to no feedback of any kind.
Members are clearly in no way obligated to engage my longer pieces, but if they don’t wish to read and engage those articles, ok, fair enough, but then it’s pretty much a waste of my time to write such articles.
If it were up to me, I’d contribute the most thoughtful posts I’m capable of, my fellow members would engage and challenge, and through an extensive process of challenge and counter challenge we would hopefully inch our way towards some more useful version of the truth. That’s what I came here to do, but you know, it takes two to tango.
Ah, that is unfortunate. I have just read this recent post from yours, and think that it may have been downvoted for the same reasons as your comment above (the post is more informative than the comment, but the typical post is also more informative than the typical comment, so the bar for not downvoting may be higher for posts).
This sounds like a great plan! I would encourage you to continue posting, and ask the EA Forum team for feedback before publishing (there is a feedback button at the bottom of the edition page). It may even be worth going through some your previous comments and posts together with them to assess what could be improved. I do not mean to suggest that your posts are being fairly/unfairly downvoted (I would not have downvoted the only one I have checked, but this is a small sample size, so I do not know). I just think the EA Forum team can help either way.
Thanks for your kind words, appreciated. How about this?
If anyone on the forum wishes to present themselves as being qualified to judge the quality of my posts, they can make a credible case as follows:
read the post
analyze the post
try to rip the post to shreds
and we’ll see what happens
Meaning no disrespect to anybody, just trying to respond honestly...
I don’t intend to ask the EA team for feedback because they have as yet not demonstrated (as above) that they are qualified to evaluate my posts, and it is they who implemented the silly voting system. And, they have already threatened to ban me over points I very explicitly did not make, as can be proven just by actually reading the post in question.
In addition, while I have no data to back this up, my sense from 27 years of doing this almost daily is that many or most members here are somewhere around a half to a third my age. If true, I don’t see why I should automatically judge them qualified to generate useful reputation data on my participation here.
All that said, I am having some good exchanges such as this in the comment section, which I appreciate. So for now I’ll stick to that, and let others write the posts.
I believe it is possible to request various types of feedback to the EAF team. I am confident they would be able to provide feedback e.g. on the tone and clarity of the post. For instance, the wording “silly voting system” in the sentence above feels unfriendly.
I would say age is a poor predictor of insightful feedback, and that focussing on the content (of the posts and comments) is much more productive. Other options (besides the number of votes) include asking specific people (who may share an interest in the topics being discussed) or the EAF team for feedback.
I think this could benefit from being expanded. I can only assume you’re referring to the democratization of access to knowledge. It’s not at all obvious why this is something we need to prepare for or why it would introduce any non-obvious qualitative changes in the world rather than just generally making it go a bit faster.
Hi Mako,
This article explains what I’m referring to:
https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/kbfdeZbdoFXT8nuM6/our-relationship-with-knowledge