However, this kind of bias may be instrumentally useful:
I agree, but I think there is another bias at work—not understanding one’s own motivations. In this case, Zohar doesn’t seem to understand why exactly he wants to be inducted so badly. People have a tendency to choose the most flattering explanations for their own actions and desires and believe them. Or at least to avoid thinking about the unflattering but likely true motivations.
(In this case, I suspect what’s really going on is that Zohar is worried that he has serious mental problems and the IDF is basically the bearer of bad news. )
Anyway, in life it is often useful to conceal your true motivations from other people. Not only that, there are times it might be helpful to conceal your true motivations from yourself.
Addressing the motivations of him directly when he makes a choice to not be open about them would be bad form.
But in general people are seldom completly open when they speak about personal issues on the internet. I also do have a mental model of him and in general of why people want to go to the armed forces.
Addressing the motivations of him directly when he makes a choice to not be open about them would be bad form.
But you just did that. If you don’t want to discuss his motivations, fine. But in that case you shouldn’t contradict my hypothesis.
But in general people are seldom completly open when they speak about personal issues on the internet.
Agree. Did I suggest otherwise?
I also do have a mental model of him and in general of why people want to go to the armed forces.
Well you also need to have a mental model of why people say they want to go into the armed forces. But you don’t want to discuss it—fine. My point stands.
Anyway, if you want to engage with me you will need to be clear about your position. If you play “hide the ball” again I’m going to close things out pretty quickly this time.
I agree, but I think there is another bias at work—not understanding one’s own motivations. In this case, Zohar doesn’t seem to understand why exactly he wants to be inducted so badly. People have a tendency to choose the most flattering explanations for their own actions and desires and believe them. Or at least to avoid thinking about the unflattering but likely true motivations.
(In this case, I suspect what’s really going on is that Zohar is worried that he has serious mental problems and the IDF is basically the bearer of bad news. )
Anyway, in life it is often useful to conceal your true motivations from other people. Not only that, there are times it might be helpful to conceal your true motivations from yourself.
I don’t think that’s the case. It’s rather that he’s reluctant to publically state them on LW.
Why do you think so?
Addressing the motivations of him directly when he makes a choice to not be open about them would be bad form.
But in general people are seldom completly open when they speak about personal issues on the internet. I also do have a mental model of him and in general of why people want to go to the armed forces.
But you just did that. If you don’t want to discuss his motivations, fine. But in that case you shouldn’t contradict my hypothesis.
Agree. Did I suggest otherwise?
Well you also need to have a mental model of why people say they want to go into the armed forces. But you don’t want to discuss it—fine. My point stands.
Anyway, if you want to engage with me you will need to be clear about your position. If you play “hide the ball” again I’m going to close things out pretty quickly this time.