Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?
This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.
Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.
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Notes -
Any interest in bringing back the user viewpoint focus series? I'm willing to get it started but only if there's at least a few other users interested in following on.
I am intrigued by your idea and wish to subscribe to your newsletter. Seriously, I did a post once on my working life and I've got another one brewing on my experiences with my community from a small HOA-like perspective, but even so, I'm interested in contributing more to The Motte, it's just that IDK what the larger forum would find interesting and what it wouldn't.
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I’ll be honest, I was always terrified of being nominated for that. I have my particular areas of interest, about which I’ve done a moderate (by this forum’s standards) level of research; however, there are a ton of topics of interest to the Motte user base about which I know little to nothing, and thus have no valuable opinion. (What do I know about the future of LLMs? Why are you asking me?! I work a dead-end normie job! I’m just a guy!)
If we were to bring it back, I think it would need to focus on the selected user’s specific areas of interest, and maybe probe those in a sort of interview format. Otherwise it would just end up selecting for only the users who feel most confident at expounding upon the widest range of topics.
Why would you assume that to be the exception, rather than the rule? Even the local 'polymaths' have their lanes that they mostly stick to, and occasionally deviate from with a relatively bad take.
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Would a template for the user viewpoint focus make you more comfortable? Something like a 'two to three paragraph sketch of ideology, answers on a handful of proposed questions, particular areas of interest, any items you feel comfortable doing an AMA on?' That's just a dumb example, obviously.
Kudos on LLMs; I usually but not always minimize those threads because a contraction of white collar labor demand /= the apocalypse.
Yes, this could potentially work. Maybe also have that user select 3-5 of his or her Motte posts which are most representative of that user’s output, or about which that user is most proud, and maybe also have that user select either a specific post or, more broadly, an idea about which he or she has had a change of heart or been persuaded out of by another Motte poster. This could showcase not only that user but also highlight the value of the Motte as a place for genuinely valuable intellectual exchange.
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