RobinZ comments on Things You Can't Countersignal - Less Wrong

51 Post author: Alicorn 19 February 2010 12:18AM

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Comment author: RobinZ 19 February 2010 06:50:04PM *  2 points [-]

Another clarification example: If a community used what you know as a status symbol, would it be signaling or countersignaling to ask for an answer you didn't have?

Guessing in advance of Alicorn's reply (edit: ninja'd!): that reads to me as countersignaling unless there is a norm in favor of asking for information. Asking for an answer you didn't have here (for example) would not be read as a status signal unless the question were particularly wrongheaded.

Edit: An example I have read of but not seen firsthand is the classroom in Brazil where Feynman taught - in which none of his students were willing to show ignorance by asking questions in class.