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TimS comments on Open Thread, January 1-15, 2013 - Less Wrong
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Comments (333)
What exactly is the function of the Rationality Quotes threads? They seem like nothing more that a litmus test for local orthodoxy.
They are repositories for quotes that resonate with and/or amuse us. It might be a little too easy to get karma that way, admittedly, but I think they are nice to have around.
Sources of karma don't bother me. It just seems like the standards for voting in that thread - both comments and replies - is really different than the rest of the site. Not looser, but different.
It seems like I'm always surprised but the vote totals there - both upvotes and downvotes, when I think I have a feel for what folks like in the rest of the site.
One of their functions is to act as a kind of litmus test for local orthodoxy.
This is local orthodoxy?
"X is a good test for Y" does not imply "every part of X reflects Y."
I don't think you and Jayson are agreeing.
I don't think it's a test for orthodoxy. Take the quote: "To see is to forget the name of the thing one sees.” ― Paul Valéry with 13 upvotes while I write it.
The position that gets articulated in that quote isn't orthodox on LessWrong. There are a bunch of quotes that are interesting instead of just making an orthodox point.
I don't think that quote is irrational, for basically the reasons TheOtherDave said.
I didn't claim that it's irrational. I claim that it's not orthodox rationality.
Take a quote that makes a more orthodox point: "The social sciences are largely hokum." --Sheldon Cooper
That quote is voted -2. That quote makes a point in which many members of the community believe but it doesn't make that point in a way that's interesting.
I think your original quote is rational, as this community defines the term. I think the Big Bang Theory quote is not rational - in part because of denotative implications.
I think Jabberslythe is probably right when he says the purpose is celebrating in-group feelings. I'm not sure I approve of that purpose.
They trigger the ingroup fuzzies really well for me. I think quotes inspire me as well sometimes and it's otherwise hard to find quotes that inspire in the right direction.
The purpose is clearly articulated in the first one.
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Now I'm really confused.