One, that post gives a position statement but no real argument. Two, actively encouraging fools can be worth punishing even if “failing to castigate” them is not. Three, replies to fools can be worth downvoting for being valueless even when they are not worth downvoting for the sake of incentives. (The reason stupid ideas get replies is not because replies to stupid ideas have the most value. The reason stupid ideas get replies is because people have things to say about them, and people feel an urge to reply when they have things to say. But we don’t want this site to focus around stupid ideas. We want it to focus around smart ideas.)
It’s easy when it’s obvious. But what do you do with more murky cases, like PJ Eby’s as-I-see-it woo? People who criticize do a public service by disambiguating whether an idea is stupid or not for those to whom it’s not obvious, and you’d do well to encourage those people even if you yourself are certain enough.
One, that post gives a position statement but no real argument. Two, actively encouraging fools can be worth punishing even if “failing to castigate” them is not. Three, replies to fools can be worth downvoting for being valueless even when they are not worth downvoting for the sake of incentives. (The reason stupid ideas get replies is not because replies to stupid ideas have the most value. The reason stupid ideas get replies is because people have things to say about them, and people feel an urge to reply when they have things to say. But we don’t want this site to focus around stupid ideas. We want it to focus around smart ideas.)
It’s easy when it’s obvious. But what do you do with more murky cases, like PJ Eby’s as-I-see-it woo? People who criticize do a public service by disambiguating whether an idea is stupid or not for those to whom it’s not obvious, and you’d do well to encourage those people even if you yourself are certain enough.