On 12/6/05, Martin Osterman stonewallgrant@gmail.com wrote:
Perhaps my newness to the encyclopedia (member as of March, 2005) has left me feeling naieve. However, I'm inclined to give Jimbo the benefit of the doubt. He says it's an experiment, so I'm inclined to go with that.
On what grounds do you suggest that this is a "permanent policy change" in the guise of an experiment?
Primarily because experiments are better designed. I think part of the problem is that what I'm thinking of as an experiment is different from how Jimbo's using the word. He's probably just using it to mean "I'm making a change and I'm not 100% certain of what will happen, even though I'm pretty sure it'll be good."
Whereas I expect "experiment" to mean "I'm making a change and I don't know what will happen, but I've put in place mechanisms to measure as many of its effects as I can, so that I will be able to determine whether it is good or not."
My suggestion is also based in a little appreciation for the immutability of human nature, which suggests that all institutions institutionalize, that is, tend towards restrictiveness, hierarchy, and centralization of control. Steps in that direction are rarely reversed. This is a small step, but its direction is clear.