I think we are better off using something as close to off-the-shelf as possible, modified only via intended configuration hooks.
The thing is, the modern web doesn’t particularly care about high quality discussion.
Most places where people comment expect you to write something short and brainless, or even not write anything at all but just like it and share it. 1000000 likes on Facebook are much more immediately monetizable than 10 thoughtful comments on LW.
And the technology that powers all this stuff is adapted to handling a flood of super low quality comments and likes. If we want something high quality, we may need to innovate a bit on the tech side, for example by controlling downvotes, adding more nuanced reactions, etc etc.
At the same time I agree that we shouldn’t go overboard. But I can totally see a fork of Reddit with a sane DB schema being a start.
The thing is, the modern web doesn’t particularly care about high quality discussion.
Most places where people comment expect you to write something short and brainless, or even not write anything at all but just like it and share it. 1000000 likes on Facebook are much more immediately monetizable than 10 thoughtful comments on LW.
And the technology that powers all this stuff is adapted to handling a flood of super low quality comments and likes. If we want something high quality, we may need to innovate a bit on the tech side, for example by controlling downvotes, adding more nuanced reactions, etc etc.
At the same time I agree that we shouldn’t go overboard. But I can totally see a fork of Reddit with a sane DB schema being a start.