Techniques like the Delphi method are intended for groups that already exist and need to do some thinking.
I don’t think that’s the goal layed out in the first paragarph of the post. It ends with:
This makes it not only desirable to find ways to effectively get groups of rationalists to think together, but also increasingly necessary.
Getting groups of rationalists to think together is a goal where it’s important to design the system in a way that makes it easy and motivates participants to participate.
Okay, so that’s a sub-goal that I didn’t think about. I will think about this a little more.
Still, assuming that group exists and needs to do some thinking together, I think techniques like Delphi are fine.
Anyway, I assumed that LW’s groups are more cohesive and willing to cooperate in thinking exercises in groups (this is what I was thinking when I said “This makes it not only desirable to find ways to effectively get groups of rationalists to think together, but also increasingly necessary.”), but apparently it’s not as cohesive as I thought.
Successful online communities have a low bar to entry. As a result they aren’t as cohesize as a hierachical institution where you can simply order a group to make some decision via Delphi.
LessWrong is a network. It’s no hierachical institution and isn’t market driven.
I don’t think that’s the goal layed out in the first paragarph of the post. It ends with:
Getting groups of rationalists to think together is a goal where it’s important to design the system in a way that makes it easy and motivates participants to participate.
Okay, so that’s a sub-goal that I didn’t think about. I will think about this a little more.
Still, assuming that group exists and needs to do some thinking together, I think techniques like Delphi are fine.
Anyway, I assumed that LW’s groups are more cohesive and willing to cooperate in thinking exercises in groups (this is what I was thinking when I said “This makes it not only desirable to find ways to effectively get groups of rationalists to think together, but also increasingly necessary.”), but apparently it’s not as cohesive as I thought.
Successful online communities have a low bar to entry. As a result they aren’t as cohesize as a hierachical institution where you can simply order a group to make some decision via Delphi.
LessWrong is a network. It’s no hierachical institution and isn’t market driven.
If you want some high level understanding of the network paradigma, I recommend “In Search of How Societies Work” by David Ronfeld.