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Now that you have settled here on Lemmy. What is your impression of it? (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 years ago by FatTony@lemmy.world to c/casualconversation@lemmy.world

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To me it feels like a matured Reddit. (At least most of the time 🙃)

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[-] treadful@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 years ago

I think I know what you're saying, though maybe an example might help. But we're talking about comments on the Web here, not a scientific paper. Most of us can not be subject matter experts and must use inductive reasoning to get by in life. And often have to depend on other sources like articles from trusted sources or scientific papers we're not very equipped to vet to shape our understanding of the world.

Just saying maybe your expectations are too high for a public Web forum.

[-] pearable@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

I see what you mean. I'll try to give an example.

I tend to be skeptical of folks when I know they're incentivized monetarily, emotionally, or socially to believe a certain thing but I do my best not to discount them out of hand. I think most people have a tendency to write folks off completely when it's more useful to accept uncertainty. To know that a piece of information might be right even if it challenges my worldview. Unfortunately uncertainty is kinda hard work.

For instance, the US has a lot of incentive to make alternative economic systems seem awful. Anytime a pro US media source like Radio Free Asia says something negative about China. I have to accept that:

They've lied in the past
They're incentived to lie again
It's still possible they're telling the truth

I have to accept that balance.

This works well for situations that don't effect me personally. On the other hand, if there's a person who has a predatory reputation in my friend group, I don't have the luxury of giving them the benefit of the doubt. They are a present danger to myself and the people around me.