- Accurate Ranking System: nlite employs a randomized pairwise-comparison-based approach to rank submitted content. This method avoids the bias inherent in like/dislike–based approaches, where early submissions often receive disproportionate visibility and votes. In contrast, nlite's randomized approach ensures that all submitted arguments are evaluated, even those submitted late. (Learn more)
- Concise, Well-organized Topic Pages: Topic pages are concise and organized making the investigation process significantly more efficient.
Video Tutorials
We strongly recommend watching all three short videos below to gain a clear understanding of how topics are investigated on nlite.
Part 1: Overview
Part 2: How to Create a Topic?
Part 3: How to Interact with an Existing Topic?
Getting Started
The basics
nlite [enlight
] is an online platform designed to systematically investigate controversial topics by identifying the top arguments for all sides. The idea is that, once the top arguments for all sides are identified, it becomes much easier to cut through the noise and decide which side makes more sense overall. Getting started with the platform is straightforward. To start investigating a controversial topic, click add_circle New Topic in the top navigation bar. You will then be asked to enter a title and a short description for the topic. Initially, you can stick to the default values for all other inputs.
Once the topic page is created, users can add viewpoints to it. Typically, the topic creator adds at least two opposing viewpoints themselves. Next, they will share the URL of the page with their audience—such as a group of friends, coworkers, or the general public.
The audience can then submit arguments for the listed viewpoints by clicking the Submit Argument button below each viewpoint (see the figure below). Submitted arguments will appear as yellow boxes under the respective viewpoint. The color yellow represents the goal of arguments: to enlighten society.
The platform also allows users to submit counterarguments to existing arguments using the Submit Counter button below each argument. Submitted counters will be displayed as green boxes below the respective argument. The color green reflects a friendly and good-faith attempt to highlight a point that the argument submitter might have overlooked.
Argument Ranking
The platform relies on user feedback for both submitting and ranking arguments. To help evaluate arguments previously submitted for a viewpoint, click the Evaluate Arguments button beneath it. (Each viewpoint has its own instance of this button — see the figure below.)
Similarly, the platform relies on user feedback for both submitting and ranking counters that challenge existing arguments. To help evaluate counters submitted to a given argument, click the Evaluate Counters button found beneath it.
Each topic page displays a ranked list of the top arguments for each viewpoint, updated continuously based on the latest feedback. It also highlights the single top counter identified for each argument.
The elements described here are illustrated in the sample topic page below. For more details on how the platform operates, we highly recommend watching the three videos above. Also, check out the About section.
What makes nlite special?
Typical Workflow
Helping New Users Get Started
If you've created a topic page and want to share it with an audience new to nlite, we recommend sharing the following image to help them get started quickly. (Copy image to clipboard
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Overview