[WikiEN-l] Link removal experiment

[Steve Summit]

Gwern Branwen wrote:
> ...Academics may have to adopt such an imposture, but I do not.
> As long as my 'snark' does not change the results - as it does not -
> I do not care.

Bully for you.

>> My view is that if such experiments are to be carried
>> out, it would be better if they were designed and conducted by those
>> able to restrain themselves from such snark.
>
> Better how?

Because, as a wise acquaintance recently told me, very simply:
Delivery matters.

There is a mainstream out there which, like it or not, adopts
and prefers a certain demeanor different from yours.  You may
pride yourself on not caring, on imagining that only the literal
truth of your argument matters, but to that mainstream, other
aspects *do* matter.  If they dislike your snarky attitude, they
reflexively mistrust both you and your argument -- and, to some
extent, the community you associate with.