MarkusRamikin comments on Rationality Market Research - Less Wrong

59 Post author: Raemon 14 July 2011 07:41PM

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Comment author: MarkusRamikin 14 July 2011 09:20:46PM *  7 points [-]

This is pretty cool stuff. Upvoted for multiple reasons.

If I may please make a suggestion: I'd avoid suggesting the answers to your subjects. If they don't mention Spock (or some other stereotype you're prepared to knock down), you don't need to mention Spock. Just listen to what they actually are saying, even (especially?) when it's something you didn't predict.

Also, you probably already know this, but at least two of your cases kinda felt like that so I'll say it anyway: avoid being a Jehova's Witness. Or at least a clumsy JW. By this I mean, in my experience they start with "what do you think about [some world/morality issue x]?" and jump too quickly to telling you that they have the answers. Most people probably don't walk away feeling positively about your message if you give them the impression that you only pretended to be interested in what they actually thought, but merely wanted to preach.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert in any of the sciences or professions that would make me qualified to opine on things like this. The above is just what seems to make sense to me.

Comment author: Raemon 14 July 2011 09:25:46PM 4 points [-]

Definitely agree with your points.

I did realize the "don't use negative words when they haven't mentioned them yet" but kept doing it by accident, and I was very much aware of the clumsy JW issue. Dealing with those issues requires me to override some natural tendencies which can only be done with practice.