This includes using different usernames so we can’t be traced back here.
I just wanted to note here: Wei_Dai, in the past, you’ve noted that having to keep track of usernames vs real names is fairly cognitively intensive. But I do think having separate and deliberately obfuscated usernames is one of the important things for maintaining more independent thinking here. (I suspect someone brought that up last time, but you might have a different vantage point on the subject now)
I did say “unless they’re deliberately trying to keep their physical identities secret”, which covers this? Or are you suggesting that having something in between just using real names and maintaining full separation between online and physical identities is useful?
“In that post, it seemed like you were thinking of ‘keep identities secret’ as a rare thing some people might want to do’, and I think the framing of this post suggests something more like ’keeping identities secret is in fact a sensible default, and whether our culture nudges you towards or away from it is a pretty high level decision, and if you’re worried about LW as a whole being safe from political machines, it probably makes sense to default harder to anonymity.”
I just wanted to note here: Wei_Dai, in the past, you’ve noted that having to keep track of usernames vs real names is fairly cognitively intensive. But I do think having separate and deliberately obfuscated usernames is one of the important things for maintaining more independent thinking here. (I suspect someone brought that up last time, but you might have a different vantage point on the subject now)
A bit off topic, but does LW have username pinging?
Not right now, although we may add it after switching to a new editor.
I did say “unless they’re deliberately trying to keep their physical identities secret”, which covers this? Or are you suggesting that having something in between just using real names and maintaining full separation between online and physical identities is useful?
The update I was suggesting was something like:
“In that post, it seemed like you were thinking of ‘keep identities secret’ as a rare thing some people might want to do’, and I think the framing of this post suggests something more like ’keeping identities secret is in fact a sensible default, and whether our culture nudges you towards or away from it is a pretty high level decision, and if you’re worried about LW as a whole being safe from political machines, it probably makes sense to default harder to anonymity.”