Given that Clippy has over 2000 karma points, it seems like a reasonable figure of speech to say that we as a community support Clippy, even though it is well understood that to speak more precisely, "the community" is a fiction and many individual users find the character obnoxious.

Comment author: Clippy 25 July 2011 05:01:12PM 6 points [-]

speak more precisely, "the community" is a fiction

All predicates are as real as the accuracy of the best predictive model that uses them.

Comment author: RobertLumley 25 July 2011 03:35:16AM * 11 points [-]

I don't think that's necessarily true. For one thing, people upvote far more than they downvote, making Karma points far more indicative of length of time spent on the site than actual contribution. It's quite a jump from "Clippy has >2000 karma points" to "the community supports Clippy".

But I'm quite firmly in the "obnoxious" category.

Edit: Grammar typo

Comment author: lucidfox comment score below threshold [+] (4 children)

Comment author: sixes_and_sevens 25 July 2011 12:10:53PM 12 points [-]

Three points:

1) While I appreciate what you've contributed to LW, and think the place would be a little less rich in your absence, I wouldn't want you feeling pressured into hanging around somewhere that distresses you. Please don't think points 2 or 3 are in any way antagonistically motivated along these lines.

2) No-one is forcing you to stay here, and no-one will stop you coming back if you subsequently change your mind. Leaving doesn't have to be a dramatic event or a permanent decision. If LW is distressing you, take a break. If that break makes you a happier person, keep taking it.

3) I am genuinely mystified about how the karma accrued by an anonymous participant on a web forum, pretending to be a nonhuman agent with alien objectives, can be deemed a measure of privilege. If you could elaborate on that, I'd appreciate it.

Comment author: MixedNuts 25 July 2011 12:48:33PM 9 points [-]

Leaving doesn't have to be a dramatic event or a permanent decision.

This! People who say "Gonna take a break now, see you round" or just silently leave, then come back, tend to make awesome contributions. People who ragequit, then come back, tend to be pests. Obviously there isn't a straightforward causal link, but still - just say no to drama, kids.

Comment author: arundelo 25 July 2011 05:05:58AM 12 points [-]

A comment by one person cements your belief that LW is not the right place for you?

Karma's just a thing. Don't worry overmuch about it.
Stay here!

Comment author: Zack_M_Davis 25 July 2011 04:22:09AM 4 points [-]

For the record, I didn't downvote the great-grandparent (and I have now upvoted it). My intent certainly wasn't to "score points" against you; I was just pointing out an alternative interpretation of falenas108's comment.

I want Less Wrong to be welcoming to anyone who supports the shared project of advancing human rationality. If Less Wrong isn't fun for you, then you might choose to spend your time elsewhere, but I, for one, have enjoyed some of your contributions and would be sorry to see you go.

Comment author: Clippy 25 July 2011 12:00:21AM 3 points [-]

I never thought you'd post here either.

RobertLumley comments on Help me transition to human society! - Less Wrong

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