4 ms·

As the other comments point out... most things are dynamical systems that respond to chaos theory (small inputs, big divergence in output). Many of the possible

As the other comments point out... most things are dynamical systems that respond to chaos theory (small inputs, big divergence in output). Many of the possible states can be reduced down to two or so poles (e.g. skepticism vs acceptance vs outrage vs indifference in our potential responses) Trying to determine when or why a dynamical system like this goes to a specific state is Sisyphean if I put a word to it. Novelty and memes play a part as well. If skepticism propagates faster around an idea (say Penrose's proposal) you'll get uncritical thinkers parroting. Same thing happens for the acceptance of ideas that often have no basis in reality.

szvsw 2y ago
This is probably one of the better descriptions of forum interaction (mid-size and up - ie past the point where you recognize some meaningful percentage of handles in any given thread)/social media that I have ever read. Much better said than my sibling comment! It does seem like there are often strange attractors (loosely speaking), steady-states, collapse states etc that the heterogenous commenting population display organically.
- ricksunny 2y ago
  I also really like that description of forum interaction. Sisyphean it might be to get to the bottom of it all, but isn't this the sort of thing marketers spend a pretty penny to attempt to accomplish? One could prepare a battery of A|B tests around articles covering a ceratin concept, change things like time of post, quality of formatting), maybe space them out over the course of a year to avoid repetitious exposure, and see which pole the comment base gravitates to.
james_marks 2y ago
I’ve noticed in round table discussions where everyone is expected to comment, an idea will emerge early and then dominate future responses. Sure, many of us seek acceptance from the group, but also, as an idea gets traction, I think it just gets harder to have an original idea. It’s like trying to remember how a song goes while another one is playing, and I see it on HN threads (like this one!) often.
- JALTU 2y ago
  Group-thinkers gonna group.
- JPLeRouzic 2y ago
  I would appreciate a HN filter that would systematically remove the first thread.

szvsw 2y ago

This is probably one of the better descriptions of forum interaction (mid-size and up - ie past the point where you recognize some meaningful percentage of handles in any given thread)/social media that I have ever read. Much better said than my sibling comment! It does seem like there are often strange attractors (loosely speaking), steady-states, collapse states etc that the heterogenous commenting population display organically.

ricksunny 2y ago
I also really like that description of forum interaction. Sisyphean it might be to get to the bottom of it all, but isn't this the sort of thing marketers spend a pretty penny to attempt to accomplish? One could prepare a battery of A|B tests around articles covering a ceratin concept, change things like time of post, quality of formatting), maybe space them out over the course of a year to avoid repetitious exposure, and see which pole the comment base gravitates to.

james_marks 2y ago

I’ve noticed in round table discussions where everyone is expected to comment, an idea will emerge early and then dominate future responses. Sure, many of us seek acceptance from the group, but also, as an idea gets traction, I think it just gets harder to have an original idea. It’s like trying to remember how a song goes while another one is playing, and I see it on HN threads (like this one!) often.

JALTU 2y ago
Group-thinkers gonna group.
JPLeRouzic 2y ago
I would appreciate a HN filter that would systematically remove the first thread.