That isn't a Happy Death Spiral. It is a disgraceful mindkiller, sure. But it isn't remotely happy, isn't encouraged by universal reward and absence of criticism. It certainly isn't treated with or caused by the kind of positive feedback Luke's post advocates.

Do you remember the online dating profile optimization thread? LessWrong went in Vladimir_M's words "healing crystal equivalent". That thread was a happy death spiral.

Also if you recall the critics in the relationship threads are getting tired and frustrated and just aren't showing up any more, someone even wrote out a full comment to that effect! Evaporative cooling dude. Sure we haven't had a relationship thread since Luke's part I., but its only a matter of time before someone brings it up and the critics won't be there any more.

I only bother because I'm a Charlie Sheen.