[ExI] How Technology Hijacks People’s Minds

[William Flynn Wallace]

Doesn’t that seem odd that VIVR situations would be irresistible to some,
distasteful to others and neutral to the rest?  Who are the normal ones?
spike

While you are at it, you might as well ask the true name of God.

A few variables suggest themselves to me:

security (salary far more secure; conservatives more motivated by fear,;
probably many more 'types' here seeking security);

 introversion/extroversion; (extroverts seek stimulation and winning or
even losing generates that - introverts can be easily overstimulated;  some
gamblers say that it is the most exciting thing they do - introverted
neurotics too afraid; extroverted neurotics love any high level of
stimulation, even killing;

 variation in release of endorphins (everything else is variable, why not
this?);

 superstition ("I am on a roll";  "i have my lucky charm" and so on -
oddly, superstitions persist in the absence of winning -variable reward
working here);

ignorance (only one game in casinos can be beaten - 21; why do people think
they can beat the odds?  hope?  superstition?)

poverty - (personally I could not afford to gamble)

status - (people who win are thought of as better, more abler people than
losers, so some will gamble to look good - John Daly, the golfer, bragged
that he has lost more than 50 million dollars gambling - now you and I
would be ashamed of that, but not big John - big time gamblers get all
sorts of goodies from casinos)

I am sure my mind will think of more  bill w

On Mon, May 30, 2016 at 4:08 PM, spike <spike66 at att.net> wrote:

>
>
>
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> *From:* extropy-chat [mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org] *On
> Behalf Of *William Flynn Wallace
> *Sent:* Monday, May 30, 2016 1:35 PM
> *To:* ExI chat list <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [ExI] How Technology Hijacks People’s Minds
>
>
>
> >>…If you want to maximize addictiveness, all tech designers need to do
> is link a user’s action (like pulling a lever) with a variable reward….
> BillK
>
>
>
> >…Well well, the resurrection of B F Skinner.  I do wonder if the
> schedule is a variable ratio or a variable interval one?  Difference:  the
> ratio one depends on the number of responses (which of course is
> variable).  The interval one depends on the passage of time (which is
> variable).  I am guessing Variable Ratio, or VR…Bill w
>
>
>
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> A variable-interval-variable-reward (VIVR) situation somehow hijacks the
> mammalian brain’s pattern recognition routines.  Perhaps some psychology
> hipster can educate me on it.  Why is it that human brains vary so much on
> that?  Why do some brains really like VIVR systems (commission sales?) and
> others do not (salary guys?)
>
>
>
> The variation is extreme in my own family: my father in law finds
> slot-machine style gambling so pleasurable as to be addictive if he allowed
> himself to do it (his religion strictly forbids all gambling.)  I find all
> forms of gambling in general unpleasant and anxiety-producing, even though
> my atheism cares not.  I will do it under duress, such as someone offers me
> 20 to 1 odds where I estimate about 5 to 1.  (Atheism is like that, so
> apathetic on so many things.)  My bride is indifferent to gambling, finding
> it causes no particular emotion, positive or negative.
>
>
>
> Doesn’t that seem odd that VIVR situations would be irresistible to some,
> distasteful to others and neutral to the rest?  Who are the normal ones?
>
>
>
> spike
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> extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org
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