Your principle may have some merit but the example is a terrible one. That post was an experimental trolling attempt that was summarily downvoted to oblivion. If anything the fact that the author couldn’t get himself taken seriously on that post when some of his others actually make headway suggests that lesswrong doesn’t have too much of a vulnerability in that particular regard.
I think this post is a good example, and I now agree with Will that pushing people to confront such questions is harmful.
Why is this harmful?
I know I would appreciate it if someone pointed out whenever I wasn’t taking an idea seriously, or when I wasn’t letting my beliefs fully propagate.
Your principle may have some merit but the example is a terrible one. That post was an experimental trolling attempt that was summarily downvoted to oblivion. If anything the fact that the author couldn’t get himself taken seriously on that post when some of his others actually make headway suggests that lesswrong doesn’t have too much of a vulnerability in that particular regard.