TheOtherDave comments on Neurological reality of human thought and decision making; implications for rationalism. - Less Wrong

3 Post author: Dmytry 22 January 2012 02:39PM

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Comment author: TheOtherDave 24 January 2012 02:49:56PM 0 points [-]

I meant by comparison to the strategy of leaving the correction in a comment rather than a PM, which has the same post-improving benefits without the multiple-inbox-entries inconvenience.

Admittedly, it has the added cost of creating a comment that lots of other people expend marginal time reading (which as you say also translates to some cost to me, even supposing I'm indifferent to the inconvenience of others, in terms of the reception my posts get).

OTOH, the PM strategy has the added cost-to-others of having N times as many people take the time to write such a comment, being unaware of their predecessors.Admittedly, the cost of that to me is lower. Actually, it might even be a benefit to me, since once I correct the error they pointed out it's quite likely they'll think better of me than if I hadn't made the error to begin with.

Comment author: wedrifid 24 January 2012 03:00:24PM 0 points [-]

I meant by comparison to the strategy of leaving the correction in a comment rather than a PM, which has the same post-improving benefits without the multiple-inbox-entries inconvenience.

You're right of course. The cost to other people is far higher if they all message you. All for the slight benefit to you of not being publicly criticized.

Comment author: TheOtherDave 24 January 2012 03:05:32PM 0 points [-]

Which may not even be a benefit. Being criticized publicly, and publicly responding to that criticism in a socially admired fashion, can be a net status gain.

Comment author: wedrifid 24 January 2012 03:08:25PM *  1 point [-]

Milking that kind of thing for status takes finesse but it is possible. Also useful for enhancing likability for those who already have high status.

Comment author: TheOtherDave 24 January 2012 03:25:51PM 2 points [-]

(nods) Of course, for high-status individuals who are good at this particular maneuver it's also an opportunity to reinforce the public-criticism social norm, which increases their comparative advantage within the community.