I’m sorry to hear about your issues with my writing style :-(
I have been consistently capitalising DOOM—and a few related terms—for quite a while. I believe these terms deserve special treatment—in accordance with how important everybody says they are—and ALL-CAPS is the most portable form of emphasis across multiple sites and environments. For the intended pronunciation of phrases like DOOM, SOON, see my DOOM video. It is not shouting. I rate the effect as having net positive value in the context of the intended message—and will put up with your gripes about it.
As for “groupies”—that does seem like an apt term to me. There is the charismatic leader—and then there is his fan base—which seems to have a substantial element of young lads. Few other terms pin down the intended meaning as neatly. I suppose I could have said “young fan base”—if I was trying harder to avoid the possibility of causing offense. Alas, I am poorly motivated to bother with such things. Most of the “insiders” are probably going to hate me anyway—because of my message—and the “us” and “them” tribal mentality.
Did you similarly give Yudkowsky a public ticking-off when he recently delved into the realm of BOLD ALL CAPS combined with ad-hominen insults? His emphasis extended to whole paragraphs—and his insults were considerably more personal—as I recall. Or am I getting special treatment?
I have been consistently capitalising DOOM—and a few related terms—for quite a while. I believe these terms deserve special treatment—in accordance with how important everybody says they are—and all-caps is the most portable form of emphasis across multiple sites and environments.
May I suggest as a matter of style that “Doom” more accurately represents your intended meaning of specific treatment and usage as a noun that isn’t just a description? Since ALL CAPS has the interpretation of mere shouting you fail to communicate your meaning effectively if you use all caps instead of Title Case in this instance. Consider ‘End Of The World’ as a superior option.
Did you similarly give Yudkowsky a public ticking-off when he recently delved into the realm of BOLD ALL CAPS combined with ad-hominen insults? His emphasis extended to whole paragraphs—and his insults were considerably more personal—as I recall. Or am I getting special treatment?
Let’s be honest. If we’re going to consider that incident as an admissible tu quoque to any Yudkowskian then we could justify just about any instance of obnoxious social behaviour thereby. I didn’t object to your comments here simply because I didn’t consider them out of line on their own merits. I would have no qualms about criticising actual bad behaviour just because Eliezer acted like a douche.
Mind you I am not CarlShuman and the relevance of hypocrisy to Carl’s attempt of a status slap is far greater than if it was an attempt by me. Even so you could replace “Or am I getting special treatment?” with “Or are you giving me special treatment?” and so reduce the extent that you signal that it is ok to alienate or marginalise you.
Title Caps would be good too—though “DOOM” fairly often appears at the start of a sentence—and there it would be completely invisible. “Doom” is milder. Maybe “DOOM” is too much—but I can live with it. After all, this is THE END OF THE WORLD we are talking about!!! That is pretty ###### important!!!
If you check with the THE END IS NIGH placards, they are practically all in ALL CAPS. I figure those folk are the experts in this area—and that by following their traditions, I am utilizing their ancient knowledge and wisdom on the topic of how best to get this critical message out.
A little shouting may help ensure that the DOOM message reaches distant friends and loved ones...
A little shouting may help ensure that the DOOM message reaches distant friends and loved ones...
Or utterly ignored because people think you’re being a tool. One or the other. (I note that this is an unfortunate outcome because apart from this kind of pointless contrariness people are more likely to acknowledge what seem to be valid points in your response to Carl. I don’t like seeing the conversational high ground going to those who haven’t particularly earned it in the context.)
Well, my CAPS are essentially a parody. If the jester capers in the same manner as the noble, there will often be some people who will think that he is dancing badly—and not understand what is going on.
You ignored the word ‘repetitive.’ As you say, you have a continuing policy of carelessness towards causing offense, i.e. rudeness. And no, I don’t think that the comment you mention was appropriate either (versus off-LW communication), but given that it was deleted I didn’t see reason to make a further post about it elsewhere. Here are some recent comment threads in which I called out Eliezer and others for ad hominem attacks.
...not as much as you ignored the words “consistently” and “for quite a while”.
I do say what I mean. For instance, right now you are causing me irritation—by apparently pointlessly wasting my time and trying to drag me into the gutter. On the one hand, thanks for bothering with feedback… …but on the other, please go away now, Carl—and try to find something more useful to do than bickering here with me.
I’m sorry to hear about your issues with my writing style :-(
I have been consistently capitalising DOOM—and a few related terms—for quite a while. I believe these terms deserve special treatment—in accordance with how important everybody says they are—and ALL-CAPS is the most portable form of emphasis across multiple sites and environments. For the intended pronunciation of phrases like DOOM, SOON, see my DOOM video. It is not shouting. I rate the effect as having net positive value in the context of the intended message—and will put up with your gripes about it.
As for “groupies”—that does seem like an apt term to me. There is the charismatic leader—and then there is his fan base—which seems to have a substantial element of young lads. Few other terms pin down the intended meaning as neatly. I suppose I could have said “young fan base”—if I was trying harder to avoid the possibility of causing offense. Alas, I am poorly motivated to bother with such things. Most of the “insiders” are probably going to hate me anyway—because of my message—and the “us” and “them” tribal mentality.
Did you similarly give Yudkowsky a public ticking-off when he recently delved into the realm of BOLD ALL CAPS combined with ad-hominen insults? His emphasis extended to whole paragraphs—and his insults were considerably more personal—as I recall. Or am I getting special treatment?
May I suggest as a matter of style that “Doom” more accurately represents your intended meaning of specific treatment and usage as a noun that isn’t just a description? Since ALL CAPS has the interpretation of mere shouting you fail to communicate your meaning effectively if you use all caps instead of Title Case in this instance. Consider ‘End Of The World’ as a superior option.
Let’s be honest. If we’re going to consider that incident as an admissible tu quoque to any Yudkowskian then we could justify just about any instance of obnoxious social behaviour thereby. I didn’t object to your comments here simply because I didn’t consider them out of line on their own merits. I would have no qualms about criticising actual bad behaviour just because Eliezer acted like a douche.
Mind you I am not CarlShuman and the relevance of hypocrisy to Carl’s attempt of a status slap is far greater than if it was an attempt by me. Even so you could replace “Or am I getting special treatment?” with “Or are you giving me special treatment?” and so reduce the extent that you signal that it is ok to alienate or marginalise you.
Title Caps would be good too—though “DOOM” fairly often appears at the start of a sentence—and there it would be completely invisible. “Doom” is milder. Maybe “DOOM” is too much—but I can live with it. After all, this is THE END OF THE WORLD we are talking about!!! That is pretty ###### important!!!
If you check with the THE END IS NIGH placards, they are practically all in ALL CAPS. I figure those folk are the experts in this area—and that by following their traditions, I am utilizing their ancient knowledge and wisdom on the topic of how best to get this critical message out.
A little shouting may help ensure that the DOOM message reaches distant friends and loved ones...
Or utterly ignored because people think you’re being a tool. One or the other. (I note that this is an unfortunate outcome because apart from this kind of pointless contrariness people are more likely to acknowledge what seem to be valid points in your response to Carl. I don’t like seeing the conversational high ground going to those who haven’t particularly earned it in the context.)
Well, my CAPS are essentially a parody. If the jester capers in the same manner as the noble, there will often be some people who will think that he is dancing badly—and not understand what is going on.
There will be others who understand perfectly and think he’s doing a mediocre job of it.
You ignored the word ‘repetitive.’ As you say, you have a continuing policy of carelessness towards causing offense, i.e. rudeness. And no, I don’t think that the comment you mention was appropriate either (versus off-LW communication), but given that it was deleted I didn’t see reason to make a further post about it elsewhere. Here are some recent comment threads in which I called out Eliezer and others for ad hominem attacks.
...not as much as you ignored the words “consistently” and “for quite a while”.
I do say what I mean. For instance, right now you are causing me irritation—by apparently pointlessly wasting my time and trying to drag me into the gutter. On the one hand, thanks for bothering with feedback… …but on the other, please go away now, Carl—and try to find something more useful to do than bickering here with me.