Everything people do isn’t entirely about status, or we couldn’t survive.
I don’t have a handle on how status and useful actions interact with each other. If I had some idea of how to approach the subject (and I do think it’s important), maybe I’d have an article for Main.
Everything people do isn’t entirely about status, or we couldn’t survive.
I agree.
Yet, almost every human interaction has this… uhm… parallel communication channel where status is communicated and transferred. If you ignore it for a while, unless you make a big blunder, nothing serious happens. But in long term the changes accumulate, and at some moment it will bite you. (Happened to me a few times, then I started paying more attention. Probably still less attention than would be optimal.)
Also, some people care about status less (this probably correlates with the autistic spectrum), but some people care more. Sometimes you have to interact with the latter, and the result of the interaction may depend on your status.
I prefer environments where I don’t have to care about status fights, but they are merely “bubbles” in the large social context.
Exactly. And I really like Hanson’s blog, even though he’s sometimes wrong, because he’s very often right, and because even when he isn’t, he says what he thinks no matter how weird it sounds.
Well, as social animals, status evaluation is deeply embedded in our biological firmware. I suppose it’s only because our psychological unity of consciousness is so far removed from the basic process of the brain that we can find status irritating.
Is he wrong though? Sometimes I feel I’m getting tired of humanity, because it makes everything about status.
Outside view: scientists often think their models apply to everything. Hanson is very insightful, but not immune to this, I think.
I think Hanson considers it his role to try to argue that his models fit everywhere and make the best possible case that the models apply.
I think you would sometimes get different answers from him if you would bet with him.
Everything people do isn’t entirely about status, or we couldn’t survive.
I don’t have a handle on how status and useful actions interact with each other. If I had some idea of how to approach the subject (and I do think it’s important), maybe I’d have an article for Main.
I agree.
Yet, almost every human interaction has this… uhm… parallel communication channel where status is communicated and transferred. If you ignore it for a while, unless you make a big blunder, nothing serious happens. But in long term the changes accumulate, and at some moment it will bite you. (Happened to me a few times, then I started paying more attention. Probably still less attention than would be optimal.)
Also, some people care about status less (this probably correlates with the autistic spectrum), but some people care more. Sometimes you have to interact with the latter, and the result of the interaction may depend on your status.
I prefer environments where I don’t have to care about status fights, but they are merely “bubbles” in the large social context.
Exactly. And I really like Hanson’s blog, even though he’s sometimes wrong, because he’s very often right, and because even when he isn’t, he says what he thinks no matter how weird it sounds.
It is a bit unfortunate though that talking about status can turn what would have been a productive fact-based discussion in to a status competition.
Well, you know the old saying: if your only tool is game theory, everything will look like signaling.
Well, as social animals, status evaluation is deeply embedded in our biological firmware.
I suppose it’s only because our psychological unity of consciousness is so far removed from the basic process of the brain that we can find status irritating.