XiXiDu comments on An Outside View on Less Wrong's Advice - Less Wrong

60 Post author: Mass_Driver 07 July 2011 04:46AM

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Comment author: Wei_Dai 04 July 2011 02:49:42AM 7 points [-]

I sympathize with the overall thrust of this comment, that we should be skeptical of LW methods and results. I see lots of specific problems with the comment itself, but I'm not sure if it's worth pointing them out. Do the upvoters also see these problems, but just think that the overall point should be made?

To give a couple of examples, take the first and last sentences:

I think the recent surge in meetups shows that people are mainly interested to group with other people who think like them rather than rationality in and of itself.

I don't see how this follows. If people were interested in rationality itself, would they be less likely to organize or attend meetups? Why?

Which wouldn't even be necessary if we were dealing with interested researchers rather than people who ask others to take their ideas seriously.

(I guess "interested" should be "disinterested" here.) Given that except for a few hobbyists (like myself), all researchers depend on others taking their ideas seriously for their continued livelihoods, how does this sentence make sense?

Comment author: XiXiDu 04 July 2011 10:53:29AM *  3 points [-]

Given that except for a few hobbyists (like myself), all researchers depend on others taking their ideas seriously for their continued livelihoods, how does this sentence make sense?

Yes, but lesswrong is missing the ecological system of dissenting, mutually exclusive opinions and peer review. Here we only have one side that cares strongly about certain issues while those that only care about other issues tend to keep quiet about it as not to offend those who care strongly. That isn't the case in academic circles. And since those who care strongly refuse to enter the academic landscape, this won't change either.