This is because we care about incentivising new content, rather than surfacing the best
Does this go for comments also? I find this a bit perverse and think you have your incentives a little off but it’s definitely nuanced and I see both sides.
Ah, this isn’t true of the Forum in general, just this competition. On the Forum in general, I care about people reading and discussing ideas which might change their minds for the better—this includes text that’s already been written but hasn’t been much read or discussed. For this competition, I want to generate new discussion of the ideas contained in the book, and ideally find some new Forum authors. Therefore, the competition is focused on new content.
Does this go for comments also? I find this a bit perverse and think you have your incentives a little off but it’s definitely nuanced and I see both sides.
Ah, this isn’t true of the Forum in general, just this competition. On the Forum in general, I care about people reading and discussing ideas which might change their minds for the better—this includes text that’s already been written but hasn’t been much read or discussed. For this competition, I want to generate new discussion of the ideas contained in the book, and ideally find some new Forum authors. Therefore, the competition is focused on new content.