I think the main thing is the confidence level it takes to post something. In most conversations, people only seem to post when they’re relatively confident. In brainstorming, you could propose ideas that you’re not as confident about.
Another thing that is sort of different is the intention. In brainstorming, the intention is to explore different possibilities in search of finding a good solution. In normal discussions, it seems to be mostly about sharing information and discussing the logical inferences people have made.
While I recognise anyone’s right to believe that brainstorming is fun; I have never held that belief, never enjoyed brainstorming and never found it useful for anything at all. Perhaps there are others that also do not find it effective (like me) or perhaps no one has championed a thread of it before. All the same—give it a go. Good luck.
I don’t see much brainstorming on LW. Brainstorming seems like a useful and fun thing to do.
What makes brainstorming specifically different from, say, any given discussion in a comment thread or on an Open Thread?
I think the main thing is the confidence level it takes to post something. In most conversations, people only seem to post when they’re relatively confident. In brainstorming, you could propose ideas that you’re not as confident about.
Another thing that is sort of different is the intention. In brainstorming, the intention is to explore different possibilities in search of finding a good solution. In normal discussions, it seems to be mostly about sharing information and discussing the logical inferences people have made.
It might be worth starting a brainstorming thread in discussion, with some rules about lowering the criticism level.
It would be like the stupid questions threads.
We do you think that LW is a good place for brainstorming?
What kind of brainstorming discussion would you consider to be useful on LW?
Because there are smart people that like to think about (important) things.
A lot of stuff. What comes to my mind immediately:
Startup ideas.
Ideas to promote rationality.
Ways to make this site better.
While I recognise anyone’s right to believe that brainstorming is fun; I have never held that belief, never enjoyed brainstorming and never found it useful for anything at all. Perhaps there are others that also do not find it effective (like me) or perhaps no one has championed a thread of it before. All the same—give it a go. Good luck.