contrarian comments overwhelmingly end up with non-negative scores even if they're less than stellar.
Really? There are currently four discussion posts on Bayesian Epistemology versus Popper:
http://lesswrong.com/r/discussion/lw/54u/bayesian_epistemology_vs_popper/ http://lesswrong.com/r/discussion/lw/551/popperian_decision_making/ http://lesswrong.com/r/discussion/lw/552/reply_to_benelliott_about_popper_issues/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/3ox/bayesianism_versus_critical_rationalism/
These posts have attracted close to six hundred comments between them, yet the first three remain at around 0 to -1 and the last one at 4. The first three posts where written by curi, a Popperian critical of Bayesianism, who has also contributed a large number of quality comments, and probably many more comments than anyone else on LW during the same time period. So you've got this high quality commenter who has the skills to write a lot of good stuff very quickly and who is generating interest but who has fairly dismal kharma. Explain.
Personally, I don't think the votes are anything people should care about.
The first three posts where written by curi, a Popperian critical of Bayesianism, who has also contributed a large number of quality comments, and probably many more comments than anyone else on LW during the same time period. So you've got this high quality commenter who has the skills to write a lot of good stuff very quickly and who is generating interest but who has fairly dismal kharma. Explain.
Upvotes signal "I would like to see more like this," and downvotes signal "I would like to see less like this." Curi was upvoted to star...
My impression is that critiques of lesswrong mainstream positions and arguments for contrary positions are received well and achieve high karma scores when they are of very high quality. Similarly posts and comments that take lesswrong mainstream positions will still be voted down if they are of very low quality. But in between there seems to be a gulf: Moderately low quality mainstream comments will stay at 0 to -1 karma while contra-mainstream comments of (apparently) similar quality score solidly negative karma, moderately high quality mainstream comments achieve good positive karma while similar quality contra-mainstream comments stay at 0 to 2.
Do you share my impression? And if this is the case, should we try to do something about it?