I agree if their decision was voluntary and is a product of at least some reflection. Sometimes you’re mad at them precisely because they sign up for it.
From my perspective, when people make decisions, the decision involves many problems at once at different time scales. Some in the present, others in the future, or in the far future. Even if they calculate consequences correctly, there’s an action potential required. From the perspective of a different person, a decision might be simple—do x vs y and it requires little physical energy. But it’s not so simple at the level of the neurons. The circuit for making good decisions needs to be sufficiently developed, and the conditions for developing them are relatively rare.
One condition might be gradual exposure to increasing complexity in the problems that you solve, so that you can draw the appropriate conclusions, extract the lesson at each level of complexity, and develop healthy habits. But most people are faced with the full force of complexity of the world from the day they’re born. Imperfect upbringing, parents, environments, social circles.
When people make irrational decisions, in many cases I don’t believe it’s because they don’t know better.
I agree if their decision was voluntary and is a product of at least some reflection. Sometimes you’re mad at them precisely because they sign up for it.
From my perspective, when people make decisions, the decision involves many problems at once at different time scales. Some in the present, others in the future, or in the far future. Even if they calculate consequences correctly, there’s an action potential required. From the perspective of a different person, a decision might be simple—do x vs y and it requires little physical energy. But it’s not so simple at the level of the neurons. The circuit for making good decisions needs to be sufficiently developed, and the conditions for developing them are relatively rare.
One condition might be gradual exposure to increasing complexity in the problems that you solve, so that you can draw the appropriate conclusions, extract the lesson at each level of complexity, and develop healthy habits. But most people are faced with the full force of complexity of the world from the day they’re born. Imperfect upbringing, parents, environments, social circles.
When people make irrational decisions, in many cases I don’t believe it’s because they don’t know better.