On mailing list sociodynamics (was Re: bit.lshift and performance - luabitop v.s. lua-5.2.0-work4)

[Mike Pall <mikelu-1010@...>]

KHMan wrote:
> *yawn* oh cool, looks like I successfully pressed some buttons
> [...]
> So it was just conversational bait, and not in any sense
> targeting anything.
> [...]
> So I have said my spiel, I'll let you guys have all the fun now ;-)

This is a bit disconcerting coming from someone who a) is regarded
as an old-timer on this list and b) has repeatedly complained this
Summer about the discussion quality on the list. Resorting to
irrational behavior is unlikely to be helpful.

To counter this movement, anyone feeling the same might want to
take a look at these two essays:

http://blog.bumblebeelabs.com/social-software-sundays-2-the-evaporative-cooling-effect/
http://lesswrong.com/lw/c1/wellkept_gardens_die_by_pacifism/

And also remind yourself of the Dunning-Kruger effect (and its
cure), when you get annoyed by the quality of some discussions.

--Mike