should produce above-average-quality discussions on these topics, rather than flee from them
“Above-average” is really not a very high bar to clear, and any discussion about which nothing more positive could be said than “it’s above average relative to the general population baseline” would be a sad thing indeed to see on LW.
That’s the kind of view that’s highly prone to self-flattery
No doubt. (Though, as it happens, I am perfectly happy to discuss many of the topics FrameBenignly listed, so suggesting that some people on LW might want to avoid them because “above average” doesn’t satisfy them doesn’t seem likely to be motivated by self-flattery.)
people get to know each other better and have an excuse for interacting. That’s what they signed up for in the first place.
That isn’t why I (or many people, I’d guess) signed up here. I don’t mean that there’s anything wrong with having conversations for those purposes; I do it too. But that isn’t what LW is for, and I hope it will stay that way.
“Above-average” is really not a very high bar to clear, and any discussion about which nothing more positive could be said than “it’s above average relative to the general population baseline” would be a sad thing indeed to see on LW.
It was clear in the context that I meant “however high above average that you’re willing to imagine”. I was describing a lower bound on the quality (i.e. I’m not expecting it to go to average and below), not an upper bound. Why even treat it as a comment on the upper bound?
That isn’t why I (or many people, I’d guess) signed up here. I don’t mean that there’s anything wrong with having conversations for those purposes; I do it too. But that isn’t what LW is for, and I hope it will stay that way.
That’s true. But I was referring to real life, because that’s where most such conversations take place.
“Above-average” is really not a very high bar to clear, and any discussion about which nothing more positive could be said than “it’s above average relative to the general population baseline” would be a sad thing indeed to see on LW.
No doubt. (Though, as it happens, I am perfectly happy to discuss many of the topics FrameBenignly listed, so suggesting that some people on LW might want to avoid them because “above average” doesn’t satisfy them doesn’t seem likely to be motivated by self-flattery.)
That isn’t why I (or many people, I’d guess) signed up here. I don’t mean that there’s anything wrong with having conversations for those purposes; I do it too. But that isn’t what LW is for, and I hope it will stay that way.
It was clear in the context that I meant “however high above average that you’re willing to imagine”. I was describing a lower bound on the quality (i.e. I’m not expecting it to go to average and below), not an upper bound. Why even treat it as a comment on the upper bound?
That’s true. But I was referring to real life, because that’s where most such conversations take place.