Scott Alexander examines why compelling but unlikely stories on large internet platforms are probably lies, despite our reluctance to believe so. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the prevalence of seemingly incredible stories on large internet platforms like Reddit. He proposes that, given the massive user base, even a small percentage of trolls or liars can produce numerous convincing but false stories. This principle extends to viral news stories, blog posts, and even scientific research, where the most interesting or surprising results are disproportionately likely to be false. Despite understanding this logically, Scott notes that it's psychologically difficult to dismiss these stories as lies, and he explores possible reasons for this cognitive dissonance. Shorter summary

Scott shares various interesting links and studies, covering topics from education research and IQ testing to controversial social issues and scientific discoveries, while adding his commentary on each. Longer summary

This is a collection of interesting links with Scott's commentary. The links cover a wide range of topics including education research showing long-term effects of good teachers, studies about IQ test motivation, controversial social policies, viral stories that turned out to be hoaxes, and scientific discoveries. Scott provides context and critical analysis for each link, often connecting them to broader themes about social movements, research methodology, and policy effectiveness. The post ends with some interesting scientific findings about inherited memories in mice and a personal request for accommodation in New York. Shorter summary