The negative karma came about because I built the post in such a way as to utilize the tendency on Less Wrong to fight hypotheticals, and then I called them out on it in a very rude and condescending way, and also because at least one individual came to the conclusion that I was actively attempting to make people less rational. Shrug It’s not something I’m terribly concerned with, on account that, in spite of the way it went, I’m willing to bet those who participated learned more from this post than they otherwise would have.
The means, in this case, don’t violate any of my ethics checks, so I don’t see any need to justify them, and nobody suggested my ethics in this case were off. The sole accusation of defection was on a misinterpretation of my behavior, that I was trying to make people less rational.
It’s more a statement that I think the post was effective for its intended purposes, so I’m not too concerned about re-evaluating my methodology.
I should have separated that out into two paragraphs for clarity, I suppose.
Is that “the end justifies the means”?
The means, in this case, don’t violate any of my ethics checks, so I don’t see any need to justify them, and nobody suggested my ethics in this case were off. The sole accusation of defection was on a misinterpretation of my behavior, that I was trying to make people less rational.
It’s more a statement that I think the post was effective for its intended purposes, so I’m not too concerned about re-evaluating my methodology.
I should have separated that out into two paragraphs for clarity, I suppose.