Some kind of internet forum that caters to the same crowd as LW (scientifically literate, interested in technology, roughly atheist or rationalist) but is just a place to chat about a variety of topics. I like the crowd here but sometimes it would be nice to talk more casually about stuff other than the stated purpose of this blog.
Stardestroyer.net fits that description somewhat, for values of “casually” that allow for copious swearing punctuating most disagreements. I haven’t posted there, but Kaj Sotala posts as Xuenay (apologies no apologies for stalking).
This is something I’d very much like as well. If you find anything, let me know. xkcd forums can be pretty good, though I haven’t been on there in a while.
I honestly keep hoping that subreddits will be implemented here sometime soon. Yes, “off-topic” discussion technically doesn’t fit the stated purpose of the site, but the alternative of having LWers interested in having off-topic discussion having to migrate off-site to some other discussion forum seems ridiculous to me.
Pharyngula. More atheist than rational, and more biology than technology, but it is definitely a community. It is a blog, but has an interesting feature called the endless thread which is kind of “collective stream of consciousness”. Check it out. And also look at other offerings in the science blogosphere. [Edit:supplied link.]
I would not suggest Pharyngula for this purpose. The endless thread is fun but the rationality level there is not very high. It is higher than that of a random internet forum but I suspect that many LWians would become quickly annoyed at the level at which arguments are treated as soldiers.
Agreed. Myers himself is way too political, and basically not nice. If anybody ever calls him on that, they get an insane level of vitriol and accusations stopping just short of being in league with the Vatican.
I’m looking for something that I hope exists:
Some kind of internet forum that caters to the same crowd as LW (scientifically literate, interested in technology, roughly atheist or rationalist) but is just a place to chat about a variety of topics. I like the crowd here but sometimes it would be nice to talk more casually about stuff other than the stated purpose of this blog.
Any options?
Stardestroyer.net fits that description somewhat, for values of “casually” that allow for copious swearing punctuating most disagreements. I haven’t posted there, but Kaj Sotala posts as Xuenay (apologies no apologies for stalking).
Examples of threads on LW-related topics:
Logic Fallacy reference thread Mk. 2
The Singularity in Sci-Fi (haven’t read)
Robots Learn How to Lie
Mini-FAQ on Artificial Intelligence (the thread that properly introduced me to SIAI)
This derailment about Three Worlds Collide
Rationality (short)
And the Winner for Most Probable God is… Azathoth?
Transhumanism: is it viable?
(Edited after first upvote; later edited again to add a link.)
This is something I’d very much like as well. If you find anything, let me know. xkcd forums can be pretty good, though I haven’t been on there in a while.
If all else fails, we can make one of our own.
I was thinking the same thing.
I honestly keep hoping that subreddits will be implemented here sometime soon. Yes, “off-topic” discussion technically doesn’t fit the stated purpose of the site, but the alternative of having LWers interested in having off-topic discussion having to migrate off-site to some other discussion forum seems ridiculous to me.
Pharyngula. More atheist than rational, and more biology than technology, but it is definitely a community. It is a blog, but has an interesting feature called the endless thread which is kind of “collective stream of consciousness”. Check it out. And also look at other offerings in the science blogosphere.
[Edit:supplied link.]
I would not suggest Pharyngula for this purpose. The endless thread is fun but the rationality level there is not very high. It is higher than that of a random internet forum but I suspect that many LWians would become quickly annoyed at the level at which arguments are treated as soldiers.
Agreed. Myers himself is way too political, and basically not nice. If anybody ever calls him on that, they get an insane level of vitriol and accusations stopping just short of being in league with the Vatican.
Truth, bro. It is pretty rowdy.