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TimS comments on Overcoming bias guy meme | quickmeme - Less Wrong Discussion

4 Post author: saliency 13 March 2013 04:56PM

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Comment author: TimS 14 March 2013 01:57:43AM 1 point [-]

What's abusive about it? You'd rather he lose more karma from a mistake that he's already learned from?

It appears that the original comment was made with the intent of immediately retracting it. "Learning from a mistake" is not a reasonable description of that behavior. But Larks' solution is not a good idea because two wrongs don't make a right (in this circumstance).

That said, I agree with you that retraction of a comment that one is surprised is heavily down-voted or otherwise learns later is wrong is a very reasonable reaction.

Comment author: Larks 14 March 2013 11:48:06AM -1 points [-]

two wrongs don't make a right (in this circumstance).

What else do you suggest we do when people defect in n-player prisoners' dilemmas? (Or do you doubt the relevance of the comparison?)

Comment author: TimS 14 March 2013 03:56:51PM 1 point [-]

Maybe I just overvalue karma. But I like the local norm that posts stand or fall on their own merits, not bad things the author has done elsewhere. The original criticism by Vladimir_Nesov was sufficient punishment, and even if it wasn't, the next obvious intervention (the one you described) just seems excessive to me. Likewise, I think the downvotes you received for raising the question is more negative stimuli than necessary, given evand's comment.