“Beware of Well-Written Posts” by alseph episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 17, 2026 · 7 MIN

“Beware of Well-Written Posts” by alseph

from LessWrong (30+ Karma)

Beware of when a post is so well-written that you can't put it down. Be wary of posts that are more visually attractive than average. Beware of posts that make you laugh out loud. Why? Because all of this is orthogonal to whether the post's argument is actually true and runs counter to the mission of rationality. The Company Man Yesterday, I read Tomás B.'s The Company Man. I was captivated on my first read, as I'm sure many others were. Had I been interrupted before I could scroll into the comments, I would have walked away thinking little more than "what a great post". But I did get to the comments. The first one was kyleherndon's: I did not enjoy this. I did not feel like I got anything out of reading this. However, this got curated and >500 karma... The best theory I can scrounge together is that this is "relatable" in some way to people in SF, like it conveys a vibe they are feeling? ... I didn't feel like I learned anything as a result... This forced me to ask myself: what did I actually learn from The Company Man? Science fiction, at its best [...] ---Outline:(00:29) The Company Man(01:54) True Affect(04:37) But Stories Are Good for Life The original text contained 1 footnote which was omitted from this narration. --- First published: April 15th, 2026 Source: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/YCSQAMHHNvsNC3HKc/beware-of-well-written-posts --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

NOW PLAYING

“Beware of Well-Written Posts” by alseph

0:00 7:19

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Accidental Accountant Regan Williams Hi, I'm Regan! I'm a CPA of 30+ years helping "accidental accountants" navigate tax & accounting issues with confidence! Here, we find solutions to common challenges bookkeepers, accountants and CPAs face. Don't see an answer to your question? Then ask! I'm here to help people like you. Two Recruiters: Zero Filter Two Recruiters At Two Recruiters: Zero Filter, we're on a mission to demystify the hiring process, share insider tips, and empower you to maneuver through the professional world with confidence. With more than 30 years of combined experience navigating the intricate web of job markets, talent acquisition, and career development, we're here to spill the tea on everything career related. But wait, there’s more! We will dive into many life topics that are interesting to us as well.  Get ready for a rollercoaster of insights, stories, and no-holds-barred advice!Join us for conversations that matter – where work, life, and authenticity collide in the most unexpected and rewarding ways. Capital Ideas Podcast Capital Group Want to learn how professional investors do it? The Capital Ideas podcast brings you the latest investment thinking from Capital Group, one of the world's largest investment management organizations. Each week we'll get inside the minds of portfolio managers, analysts and economists to break down market trends, macroeconomic forces, investing approaches and lessons learned from personal experience. Take 30 minutes and tap into the intellectual capital of Capital Group. Capital Client Group, Inc.All Capital Group trademarks mentioned are owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc., an affiliated company or fund. All other company and product names mentioned are the property of their respective companies.For full disclosures go to capitalgroup.com/global-disclosures. My Take On It with Your Angelic Karma® Your Angelic Karma Here we take a look at how the United States measures alongside other First World Nations. + taking a deep dive into the science -The Report

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of LessWrong (30+ Karma)?

This episode is 7 minutes long.

When was this LessWrong (30+ Karma) episode published?

This episode was published on April 17, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Beware of when a post is so well-written that you can't put it down. Be wary of posts that are more visually attractive than average. Beware of posts that make you laugh out loud. Why? Because all of this is orthogonal to whether the post's...

Can I download this LessWrong (30+ Karma) episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!