suppose it’s true that Less Wrong is the highest-quality relatively-general-interest forum on the web. In that case, we’re sitting on a big opportunity to grow Less Wrong into the “standard” general-interest discussion hub for people with high intelligence and high metacognition (shorthand: “intellectual elites”).
I’m skeptical. Suppose it is true—it doesn’t follow that there’s a realistic possibility of broadening the appeal, much less making it the “standard” general-interest discussion hub. I think there are dozens of reasons it’s unlikely, but off the top of my head: there are many publications and forums already motivated to do so who have deeper pockets, and it is incredibly hard to corral contributors in such a way that they generate high value content for you without wanting to captain their own ships.
But that’s supposing it’s true. An outside observer might reasonably see a little bit of hubris in the claim that LW is the highest-level discussion forum on the entire internet. And I think it’s pretty obvious that it’s not general interest. It’s a very narrow set of interests: cognitive bias, AI, philosophy, cryogenics, philanthropy, evo psych, economics, lifehacking. And those interests are approached from a very unique ideological perspective—most people just aren’t into cryogenics, whether that’s rational or not. Even people very interested in one or more of these topics may not be interested in the others, and they’re very likely to be interested in other topics, which LW does not have room for. Such as celebrity gossip, or sous-vide cooking, or hip hop.
a little bit of hubris in the claim that LW is the highest-level discussion forum on the entire internet
But… can you name any higher-level discussions forums for me? Those who tell me LW isn’t the best discussion hub always fail to point me to a better one.
You realize best and better are subjective in this case, right? I mean, you could maybe make an argument about “higher-level” being objective, but you’re never going to win that fight. People will just walk away, which is the higher-level response.
EDSBS and Power and Bulk focus on college football and powerlifting, respectively. TNC’s Horde pulls in commentary on everything from the Thirty Years War to Egypt’s current conflict. They all shade into occasional discussions of Poetry and the Human Condition. I’m not a contributing member at any of these sites, so I don’t have a dog in this fight. But LW is not even the only site with extensive, didactic, deeply felt fanfiction. All forums developed past a certain point express their values through epic.
I read a tiny fraction of the internet, like most of us, so I’m sure there are myriad discussions out there I would enjoy even more.
There’s no disputing taste, and higher-level sounds a lot like an expression of taste to me so, by all means, enjoy LW. This seems like a great place for people interested in the things LW is interested in. I would totally buy a claim that this is the best forum for rationalist transhumanists interested in AI. Just remember, whenever you think that everyone would acknowledge your place’s awesomeness if only they knew about it, that, as is true for each person, The Place Where You Are From Sucks.
Even granting the premise (LW as the highest-level general discussion forum on the internet), the question remains of how that compares to all the other venues out there. And, honestly, it still doesn’t come close to what I can get at a good academic conference, or even over dinner with colleagues. Your competition isn’t Reddit, it’s all the places where elites (however constructed) are already hanging out and minimizing noise. For this, focus is a feature, not a bug.
Even for the internet, you pointed out the value of more focused forums (which is where I’ll generally go for higher level discussion). But I don’t consider this place “relatively-general-interest”. I come here when I want FAI or rationality discussions. So, one suggestion would be to consider that your goal of strengthening the general interest aspect might be ignoring your strengths.
I’m skeptical. Suppose it is true—it doesn’t follow that there’s a realistic possibility of broadening the appeal, much less making it the “standard” general-interest discussion hub. I think there are dozens of reasons it’s unlikely, but off the top of my head: there are many publications and forums already motivated to do so who have deeper pockets, and it is incredibly hard to corral contributors in such a way that they generate high value content for you without wanting to captain their own ships.
But that’s supposing it’s true. An outside observer might reasonably see a little bit of hubris in the claim that LW is the highest-level discussion forum on the entire internet. And I think it’s pretty obvious that it’s not general interest. It’s a very narrow set of interests: cognitive bias, AI, philosophy, cryogenics, philanthropy, evo psych, economics, lifehacking. And those interests are approached from a very unique ideological perspective—most people just aren’t into cryogenics, whether that’s rational or not. Even people very interested in one or more of these topics may not be interested in the others, and they’re very likely to be interested in other topics, which LW does not have room for. Such as celebrity gossip, or sous-vide cooking, or hip hop.
But… can you name any higher-level discussions forums for me? Those who tell me LW isn’t the best discussion hub always fail to point me to a better one.
I think you mean “cryonics.”
Yes, I meant cryonics. Thanks.
You realize best and better are subjective in this case, right? I mean, you could maybe make an argument about “higher-level” being objective, but you’re never going to win that fight. People will just walk away, which is the higher-level response.
EDSBS and Power and Bulk focus on college football and powerlifting, respectively. TNC’s Horde pulls in commentary on everything from the Thirty Years War to Egypt’s current conflict. They all shade into occasional discussions of Poetry and the Human Condition. I’m not a contributing member at any of these sites, so I don’t have a dog in this fight. But LW is not even the only site with extensive, didactic, deeply felt fanfiction. All forums developed past a certain point express their values through epic.
I read a tiny fraction of the internet, like most of us, so I’m sure there are myriad discussions out there I would enjoy even more.
There’s no disputing taste, and higher-level sounds a lot like an expression of taste to me so, by all means, enjoy LW. This seems like a great place for people interested in the things LW is interested in. I would totally buy a claim that this is the best forum for rationalist transhumanists interested in AI. Just remember, whenever you think that everyone would acknowledge your place’s awesomeness if only they knew about it, that, as is true for each person, The Place Where You Are From Sucks.
Even granting the premise (LW as the highest-level general discussion forum on the internet), the question remains of how that compares to all the other venues out there. And, honestly, it still doesn’t come close to what I can get at a good academic conference, or even over dinner with colleagues. Your competition isn’t Reddit, it’s all the places where elites (however constructed) are already hanging out and minimizing noise. For this, focus is a feature, not a bug.
Even for the internet, you pointed out the value of more focused forums (which is where I’ll generally go for higher level discussion). But I don’t consider this place “relatively-general-interest”. I come here when I want FAI or rationality discussions. So, one suggestion would be to consider that your goal of strengthening the general interest aspect might be ignoring your strengths.