It perhaps also fulfills that story-role, yes. Nonetheless, it shouldn't be contrary to your expectations, if you apply a little wisdom.
I find in my own case that the things which bug me about others are things which deeply bug me about myself. Whenever I find my heart beating a little harder and my brow a little furrowed, I try to relax, and take a deep breath, and see what it is within me which resonates so strongly against the error that I have seen. I am normally quite patient with error, and this usually causes my impatience.
Personally, I feel this "what is wrong with me" redirection is a much deeper lesson than the fact that harsh moderation can help keep a community together. First off, it is a discipline which can help keep us together, as opposed to the communities we moderate. And second, because the original lesson comes embedded in a much deeper truth, which Eliezer doesn't seem to acknowledge. I would like to spend a moment on this:
The deeper truth is that love is transformative, that to love is to change both yourself and your beloved. The original post just notes that if a moderator isn't moderating, they aren't loving their community. True enough. It is important, however, to understand that transformation is not sufficient for love: that we all know people who do use their authority too far.
Well-kept gardens don't die due to pacifism. That's stupid -- if they did, then they weren't "well-kept". But they die because they don't get the love that they need. It doesn't matter how much you pull the weeds if you forget to water the roots and fertilise the soil.
To any of you who wish to know whether they love their job, I will simply add the poignant questions: when did you last transform it? And when did it last transform you?
I find in my own case that the things which bug me about others are things which deeply bug me about myself. Whenever I find my heart beating a little harder and my brow a little furrowed, I try to relax, and take a deep breath, and see what it is within me which resonates so strongly against the error that I have seen. I am normally quite patient with error, and this usually causes my impatience.
Personally, I feel this "what is wrong with me" redirection is a much deeper lesson than the fact that harsh moderation can help keep a community together. First off, it is a discipline which can help keep us together, as opposed to the communities we moderate. And second, because the original lesson comes embedded in a much deeper truth, which Eliezer doesn't seem to acknowledge. I would like to spend a moment on this:
The deeper truth is that love is transformative, that to love is to change both yourself and your beloved. The original post just notes that if a moderator isn't moderating, they aren't loving their community. True enough. It is important, however, to understand that transformation is not sufficient for love: that we all know people who do use their authority too far.
Well-kept gardens don't die due to pacifism. That's stupid -- if they did, then they weren't "well-kept". But they die because they don't get the love that they need. It doesn't matter how much you pull the weeds if you forget to water the roots and fertilise the soil.
To any of you who wish to know whether they love their job, I will simply add the poignant questions: when did you last transform it? And when did it last transform you?