I vote no. An option for READERS to hid the names of posters/commenters might be nice, but an option to post something that you’re unwilling to have a name on (not even your real name, just a tag with some history and karma) does not improve things.
There is an option for readers to hide names. It’s in the account preferences. The names don’t show up unless you roll over them. I use it, to supplement my long-cultivated habit of always trying to read the content before the author name on every site[1].
As for anonymous posts, I don’t agree with your blanket dismissal. I’ve seen them work against groupthink on some forums (while often at the same time increasing the number of low-value posts you have to wade through). Admittedly Less Wrong doesn’t seem to have too much of a groupthink problem[2]. Anyway, there could always be an option for readers to hide anonymous posts.
Actually I’m not sure I had to cultivate it. Back in the days of Usenet, I had to learn to actually ever look at poster’s names to begin with. I do not think that I am normal in this.
Should LessWrong have an anonymous mode? When reading a post or comments, is it useful to have the username or does that introduce bias?
I had this thought after reading this review of LessWrong: https://nathanpmyoung.substack.com/p/lesswrong-expectations-vs-reality
Note that GreaterWrong has an anti-kibitzer mode.
I vote no. An option for READERS to hid the names of posters/commenters might be nice, but an option to post something that you’re unwilling to have a name on (not even your real name, just a tag with some history and karma) does not improve things.
There is an option for readers to hide names. It’s in the account preferences. The names don’t show up unless you roll over them. I use it, to supplement my long-cultivated habit of always trying to read the content before the author name on every site[1].
As for anonymous posts, I don’t agree with your blanket dismissal. I’ve seen them work against groupthink on some forums (while often at the same time increasing the number of low-value posts you have to wade through). Admittedly Less Wrong doesn’t seem to have too much of a groupthink problem[2]. Anyway, there could always be an option for readers to hide anonymous posts.
Actually I’m not sure I had to cultivate it. Back in the days of Usenet, I had to learn to actually ever look at poster’s names to begin with. I do not think that I am normal in this.
… which actually surprises me because at least some people do seem to buy into the “karma” gamification.