TheManxLoiner's Shortform

post by TheManxLoiner · 2024-12-20T10:30:14.908Z · LW · GW · 5 comments

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comment by TheManxLoiner · 2024-12-20T10:30:15.026Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

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

Replies from: SaidAchmiz, Dagon
↑ comment by Dagon · 2024-12-20T16:37:26.178Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

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.

Replies from: jbash, Viliam
↑ comment by jbash · 2024-12-20T18:07:27.852Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

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.

  1. 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. ↩︎

  2. ... which actually surprises me because at least some people do seem to buy into the "karma" gamification. ↩︎

↑ comment by Viliam · 2024-12-22T16:00:41.205Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

You can create another account to make an anonymous comment. But it's inconvenient.

(Not sure whether this is an argument for or against anonymous commenting.)