Paul Smaldino @psmaldino@qoto.org
- Website
- https://smaldino.com/wp
- @psmaldino
Paradigmatically promiscuous scientist. Modeler. Curmudgeon. Faculty at UC Merced and Santa Fe Institute.
Web: https://smaldino.com/wp/
Bluesky: @psmaldino.bsky.social
Joined Nov 2022
New paper on auditing Elon's early impact on Twitter.
- Hateful users became more hateful
- Hate increased dramatically
- There was no overall change in bots
Paper (accepted to ICWSM 2023) is here:
https://arxiv.org/abs/2304.04129
Paul Smaldino
boosted
For me, the best part of Twitter was the “closeness” to journalists and media venues. It’s the reason I’m still spending time here.
NPR’s decision to leave is the right one, but probably heralds the final erasure of what made Twitter a magical (good and bad) forum.
---
RT @gbrumfiel
NEW: NPR has decided it will no longer participate on Twitter due to inaccurate labelling of our main account.
Twitter doesn't make or break anything we …
https://twitter.com/gbrumfiel/status/1646142219202576384
I'm prepping a lecture on social learning strategies, and took the opportunity to revisit this scene that is irrevocably seared into my memory.
Here's my commentary on the very thought-provoking upcoming BBS paper by @amaatouq et al. Theories aren't just isolated explanations, they are linked into frameworks, and whether models are explanatory or just predictive makes a difference. https://psyarxiv.com/d3wmh
I posted a trascript of my conversation with ChatGPT, the best conversation anyone will ever have with an AI. https://smaldino.com/wp/how-many-potatoes-could-fit-in-a-pair-of-pants/
Paul Smaldino
boosted
Next was a fabulous podcast with @psmaldino and @add_hawk on the issues with value metrics and governance at the @sfiscience. There's deep conversation here of how KPIs can distort understanding, incentives, and who succeeds, and while I'd like to see more discussion of this in a non-scientific context (you need some coherent KPIs in companies) I still highly recommend it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD6hh3ZAxWE (3/12)
@Prof_BearB I’ve been similarly hesitant but at this point I think it’s got enough usage and support that I do see it as a good bet. One of my grad students is similarly all-in for it and has been very convincing.
@j2bryson in terms of pedagogy for social modeling, NetLogo has no real competitors, especially if you want embodied agents or structured populations. I generally encourage the grad students in my lab to use another tool for their research projects (which usually involve ABM). Most Python (with or without Mesa) or Julia (Agents.jl). I first learned with Java and MASON, which I don’t teach or encourage anymore.
@edhagen Nice. I’ve been really impressed with Agents.jl, but it’s always faster to not have all that overhead.
I'm really into learning Julia and Agents.jl (mastering these is my top summer goal), but I have really come around to loving NetLogo -- I wanted a stochastic block model with visualization, and made this from scratch in literally 5 minutes.
Paul Smaldino
boosted
Looking much forward to start working with the new colleagues, and an arrivederci to all the great people at the Centre for Culture and Evolution at Brunel University London
Btw, they opened *my* position (deadline 8th March - feel free to get in touch if you have any question):
https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/CXH095/lecturer-in-psychology-13272-1
@SendintheMonkey Sometimes you gotta speak truth to power.
@Prof_BearB I have a big tattoo of a tree on my shoulder. Trees are amazing.
Trees are cool.
Paul Smaldino
boosted
I went to pub quiz and all I got was this obsession with the idea that "My Best Friend's Girl" is sung from the perspective of an older, sadder Jessie.
Paul Smaldino
boosted
Here’s a new preprint w Zack Dunivin: Dynamics of covert signaling: Modeling the emergence and extinction of identity signals.
We use theoretical modeling to explore the dynamics of identity signals when their use is penalized by a hostile outgroup.
Depending on the benefits of coordination and expected costs of discovery by outgroups individuals, we should expect a wide range of dynamics for the emergence and persistence of identity signals.
Feedback much appreciated.
Here’s a new preprint w Zack Dunivin: Dynamics of covert signaling: Modeling the emergence and extinction of identity signals.
We use theoretical modeling to explore the dynamics of identity signals when their use is penalized by a hostile outgroup.
Depending on the benefits of coordination and expected costs of discovery by outgroups individuals, we should expect a wide range of dynamics for the emergence and persistence of identity signals.
Feedback much appreciated.
Paul Smaldino
boosted
Our preprint "Shifting the level of selection in science" should be an interesting read for anyone interested in recognition and rewards in science. We discuss how moving from rewarding individuals to rewarding teams could have important benefits for science.
I thought I'd remind you - our revision is stuck in review limbo due to the recent drama at Perspectives on Psychological Science, but it's a paper that I think deserves to be read as is.
- Website
- https://smaldino.com/wp
- @psmaldino
Paradigmatically promiscuous scientist. Modeler. Curmudgeon. Faculty at UC Merced and Santa Fe Institute.
Web: https://smaldino.com/wp/
Bluesky: @psmaldino.bsky.social
Joined Nov 2022
