John_Maxwell_IV comments on Some rationality tweets - Less Wrong

43 Post author: Peter_de_Blanc 30 December 2010 07:14AM

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Comment author: Tesseract 31 December 2010 03:00:39AM *  19 points [-]

There's a certain style distinct to many didactic quotes: they express claims in a wise-sounding but opaque way, so that they automatically appear deep without requiring the reader to actually think about them. This can cloak empty language and doubtful claims in a veneer of impressiveness -- not to mention being uncommunicative if the ideas really are good.

It looks to me like these match that style. The ideas here could be both true and interesting, but making them into aphorisms (to fit Twitter) removes the explanation and examples that would convince me they're true and interesting. As it is, they sound meaningless to me -- the medium totally obscures the message.

I'd be interested in a post exploring some of these ideas, but tweets seem to me to be a format utterly unsuited to the topic.

[Also, I really think that this should not be on the front page. If even commenters have to puzzle over many of these, it's not a good choice for the general audience.]

Comment author: John_Maxwell_IV 31 December 2010 06:32:49AM 21 points [-]

The real problem with pithy quotes is that if you disagree with the quote, it's hard to argue without appearing unpithy.

(How was that for a pithy quote?)