collective-intl

We're using prediction markets to improve our product, by crowdsourcing suggestions with betting.

I'm a Manifold cofounder. Ask me anything!

Can't handle discussion and evidence opposing your worldview?

That's the mark of a weak mind.

If only we could shut down all contrary evidence to the expert consensus. That would totally lead to a better world.

The truth is really the opposite. Diversity of opinion, contrary arguments, and unusual new ideas are the engine of progress.

This article, and Substack in general, is a great example of how true progress is made. It could be wrong, maybe even it likely is wrong if it contradicts the consensus, but damn the consensus! This is not a safe space where we only discuss approved ideas! The point of research is to find flaws in the consensus. How is that possible if contrary ideas can never be discussed?

Think like a scientist! And have the decency to allow others to form their own opinion rather than forcing one on them.

Think: What has been gained by censorship versus what has been lost?

You are simply on the wrong side of history if you don't enthusiastically support free discussion, especially for the ideas that are marginalized. The better policy is affirmative action for disfavored ideas.

This is, unfortunately, the left's view of the undiscussable: ignorant quackery.

But a real heterodox environment can foster discussion on real ways the current consensus is lacking.

Like whether reopening schools last Fall was a good idea, as many Republican states did. (I think it was.)

Or whether challenge trials for the vaccines should be allowed. (Could have saved thousands of lives.)

Or discussion of how Covid originated. If you remember, this truly was undiscussable last year.

We should never be so confident that we hush up alternative ideas. We make a better society by seeking out how the status quo can be wrong.

The USA was founded on the idea of limited government. It was very successful!

Government only gets bigger over time. Even early 20th century America had a tiny fraction of our budget and regulations today.

How can we stop all the flag killing on HN? It's 90% censorship.

Thank you. Unbelievable how many people would rather no one try anything new at all.

This article and the responses show the worst of HN -- bad faith attacks, no attempt to give the benefit of the doubt, no engagement with the underlying vision, unwarranted pessimism.

Why not ask what niche this tech excels in, or what impact a refined version could have? Most projects fail -- that's obvious -- but how might this one succeed?

In short, why so much negativity? The more you default to these views, the likelier it is you and everyone around you will never accomplish anything.

This is the poison that is destroying Hacker News and likewise many startups before they have even been imagined.

You mean politics that's not on your side.

+1

I don't know why you are being downvoted, I think HN's flagging system is another way we are being censored.

Just this summer, I remember multiple articles with important, true contributions to our understanding of covid that got flagged.

We are losing the ability to consider multiple sides of an issue.