RomeoStevens comments on Petition: Off topic area - Less Wrong

41 [deleted] 13 May 2012 06:41PM

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Comment author: falenas108 14 May 2012 08:25:21PM 1 point [-]

Something that might make this less of a problem, if it does get implemented, is having two separate karma systems for the two areas. This way, standards for main/discussion sections can be maintained, while we can have the alternate discussions elsewhere (with a karma system of its own).

Comment author: RomeoStevens 14 May 2012 09:44:27PM 11 points [-]

or just not having karma in the off topic area.

also having a higher karma threshold to join the off topic discussion will cut down on random garbage.

Comment author: Vladimir_Nesov 14 May 2012 10:20:51PM 11 points [-]

also having a higher karma threshold to join the off topic discussion will cut down on random garbage.

I like this. Since quality is potentially a very serious problem with off-topic area, make something like 500 Karma points earned on LW Main a requirement for commenting in the off-topic area.

Comment author: komponisto 14 May 2012 10:36:35PM 10 points [-]

Agreed. After all, the point of the off-topic area would be to discuss "off" topics with people from LW.

Comment author: TheOtherDave 15 May 2012 03:43:45PM 8 points [-]

It would amuse me if this were done, and (as seems a likely consequence) LW participants who dislike the average level of quality in the Main and Discussion sections started having their rationality discussions in the Off-Topic section, where the discussion exclusively comprised people who have a track record of making comments the community finds (on balance) valuable.

It would stop amusing me if this were done, and (as seems a likely consequence) LW participants who feel deprived of their presumed right to participate in the Off-Topic section despite lacking such a track record start gaming the karma system so they can defeat the mod-boss and advance to the next level.

We are the reason we can't have nice things.

Comment author: radical_negative_one 15 May 2012 04:23:00PM *  0 points [-]

Ah, but perhaps there a simple fix for this: posts that would be on-topic for LessWrong are off-topic for the Off-Topic section. (edit: didn't see komponisto's comment)

Comment author: Vladimir_Nesov 14 May 2012 10:50:33PM *  10 points [-]

Another idea: Don't keep separate Karma records between Main/Discussion and Off-Topic, but only count negative Karma earned in the off-topic area towards the total.