Order of ideas: order of importance 1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣

In a very long and very boring post above, I've outlined some principles to order ideas effectively. The third principle—writing ideas in order of importance—might seem bit vague, but in reality it isn’t. So, here is another long and boring post.

Let's say you are describing this map. Which order sounds better?

1️⃣ The eruption destroyed much of the residential infrastructure as the lava flows buired many residential buildings. The port, despite remaining intact, ceased operations. What did not suffer any damage was the castle.

2️⃣ The eruption did not damage the castle. The port was not damaged either, but it ceased operations. Finally, what suffered the most was residential buildings, many of which were buried under lava.

The first one goes from to "most damaged" to "undamaged." The second one goes from "undamaged" to "most damaged."

The first description reads better for two reasons: 1. We associate volcano eruptions with damage, so it's better to start from damage. 2. We typically value human lives and safety more than buildings. The destruction of residential infrastructure implies potential danger to humans, hence its more significant importance.

Let's say you have an essay about machines being more intelligent than humans. Here are two versions of an imaginary mini-paragraph about the potential dangers.

1️⃣ One of the possible dangers of AI is that it will at one point get out of control and decide to harm or even obliterate humans. Another danger is that many people will lose jobs as these will be performed by machines. Finally, creative content will be much less interesting or original because it will be written by AI, which relies heavily on tropes and templates.

2️⃣ One possible downside is that creative content will be much less interesting or original in the AI era because AI relies heavily on tropes and templates. Another negative effect might be that many people will lose jobs as these will be performed by machines. The biggest possible danger, however, is that AI might get out of control and decide to harm or even obliterate humans.

The first one goes from "less likely but more dramatic" to "more likely but less dramatic" and the second one goes the other way around.

The second one is better. First, why make the reader worry right off the bat about something that is unlikely to happen, at least in the near future? Second, if machines do indeed obliterate all of us, then the other downsides are no longer important—-we won't care about jobs and art if we don't exist.

To conclude, the order of ideas matters. Order wisely. 1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣

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