So, I've recently been reading about various psychological conditions etc. and found the social desirability bias:
QuoteSocial desirability bias is a term used in scientific research to describe the tendency of respondents to reply in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others. This will generally take the form of overreporting "good" behavior or underreporting "bad" behavior. The effect
A hypothetical example of social desirability bias would be a study of sexual behavior, or of drug use. When confronted with the question "Do you masturbate? If so, how often?", a respondent may be influenced by the societal taboo of masturbation, and either lie (falsely claiming not to masturbate) or downright refuse to answer the question. When confronted with the question, "Do you use drugs/illicit substances?" the person may be influenced by the fact that controlled substances, including the more commonly-used marijuana, are generally illegal to take and looked down upon by some in the population; therefore, the person may feel prompted to either answer that they don't use drugs at all, or may feel compelled to at least play down the frequency of their use of such a drug, e.g., "I only smoke marijuana when my friends are around."
Now, one of the biggest things, I don't like about the common society is hypocrisy, which the social desirability bias pretty much is. What are your opinions on it? Feel fee to discuss it in here.
But now, the main reason, why I've started this thread. You see, one of my future careers, I have on the list is in the field of Psychology. Among the other things, what I like about it is that it opens a new dimension for self-improvement. So, after learning about the social desirability bias, I've asked myself: "Why don't I let other people ask me out about all my personal stuff?". And this place seems like a perfect place for my little experiment.
So, come on, ask me out. Here are the top topics and the top answers:
QuoteSexual behavior and fantasies, often sanitized, when admitted at all.
Personal income and earnings, often inflated.
Feelings of low self-worth and/or powerlessness, often denied.
Excretory functions, often approached uncomfortably, if discussed at all.
Compliance with medicinal dosing schedules, often inflated.
Religion, often either avoided or uncomfortably approached.
Patriotism, either overstated or, if denied, done so with a fear of other party's judgement.
Bigotry and intolerance, often denied, even if it exists within the responder.
Intellectual achievements, often inflated.
Physical appearance, either inflated or played down
Acts of real or imagined physical violence, often denied.
Indicators of "kindness" or "benevolence," often played down.
Illegal acts, often denied.
I'll try to make my answer as truthful and detailed, as possible, although I cannot trust myself completely.
Anyway, Spit it out!
Are you asking us to answer each of those points or just comment on this post in general?
I think it depends on who's asking you. In certain social situations it might not be wise to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth... you could end up with no friends. Let me give you an example: In my first few weeks of uni I wasn't finding it as easy to make friends as I had hoped it would be. But on one occasion I did find myself in a flat, playing this drinking game with some people I'd never met. Potential friends, perhaps. The game involved telling the truth. And when the question "How many times have you masturbated in the last 7 days?" came up, I was forced by my social situation to give an answer somewhat lower than the truth - nobody wants to be friends with someone who wanks all day.
However, if I was asked the same question in the context of scientific research I would feel obliged to give an accurate an answer as possible.
I like to think of myself as an honest man. And for most of the points on that list I would say I am normally pretty honest about - I never exaggerate my income, intellectual acheivements or physical appearance. If anything, I usually tend to put myself down in these departments. I never shy away from my religious beliefs (or lack therof). I've used drugs but only on a small handful of occasions (and that's not just me playing it down... I actually don't enjoy drugs, my limited experiences are all times I'd rather forget).
The only thing I might not always admit to regarding sexual fanatsies is that I do occasionally have a bit of a thing for she-males... don't ask me why, I'm not gay, but some of them are really hot... :P Again, I'd admit that to a scientific researcher, but not in most social circles (especially my folks).
I'll be totally honest with you, I don't really want to know.
To stupot: Umm...actually I wanted you to ask me the questions. That was an interesting outcome...
Quote from: Stupot on Thu 08/01/2009 19:45:11
In certain social situations it might not be wise to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth...
The point of this experiment for me is not to be afraid of someone learning something of this kind of stuff about me. You see, I think, that too many peole are afraid nowadays to be thought of as not normal. But normal people don't actually exist, because for everyone it means something else. It's all based on stereotypes and predjuces, which constantly change. Plus, a bit more self-confidence is never bad.
To eggie: I'm pretty sure, some people do.
You know what, now that I think of it, people may be affected by social desirability bias not only when answering questions, but also when asking them. Like, as in "Would a normal person ask this kind of question? What will they think of me?".
I can be completely honest and tell you that I have no desire to know about your excretory functions.
Equally, I don't know you well enough to be interested in your views on religion or your personal income.
These questions are probably better off left to real-life friends...
QuoteThese questions are probably better off left to real-life friends...
But why would you want to know how much your buddy masturbates?
I can tell you I would get nowhere without hipocrisy. If I told everyone what I think straight out (and I'm not talking about my bad opinions on them or such things). If I told someone what movies I watch, what music I listen, what hobbies I have and even what I think, that would make me have like two or three friends. Others would simply consider me "weird" or at least "uninteresting" or "not a kind of my type". I CAN'T afford talking what I think to everyone. To be more exact, I can tell these things only to people that I know very well, and, if they know me very well. That way, I would be lost in the society without using hipocrisy. Sad, isn't it? :-\
QuoteHere are the top topics and the top answers:
In fact those topics are not working at all for the Forums.
1) Lack of social feedbacks. Never forget that's you are pretty far from us. We don't know your face and Whatsoever your answers can be, you won't fear walking in the street or going to school. You won't see our face nods in desaprobation, and you won't kill your chance with that cute girl arround the corner.
That's killing the experiment.
2) Taboos are relative to the group /sub-groupe you're in And oftenly sub-groups have stronger set of rules than the whole society arround. Plus,
AGSers are pretty open-minded by nature and the range of topics in gen-gen prove it.
so:
3) Any good questions will necessary touch taboo / social rules of AGS forums. That's can be bad! And I won't risk myself transgressing those (weak, but existent) sets of unwrited rules (EDIT : to ask you bad questions). :D
Quote
Now, one of the biggest things, I don't like about the common society is hypocrisy, which the social desirability bias pretty much is..
I don't think "hypocrisy" is a very accurate way of describing a person's reluctance or refusal to answer deeply personal questions the answers to which no one is entitled to know. I also think it's very naive to believe that one should furnish accurate details of one's personal life upon request. A wise person would refuse such requests and if that wasn't possible or practical then he would give inaccurate information and with-hold incriminating information.
For those of you who disagree with me please send me a PM with your full name, your social security number, and the account numbers and passwords of any bank or brokerage accounts you may have. Thanks! :=
* Banging on your chest and saying "I'll let you ask personal questions from me" is useless.
I mean, nobody really needs your green light to do this. Anyone could ask you anything without asking if you like it and you will reply same way - if not even less "playing-along-way" and more honest... to your own psychology, I mean, lying just as you described, dodging the topic, being hypocrite or whatver. Also, such an experiment would probably work better this way. Candid camera shows would suck if people knew about the camera, right?
<next paragraph has no direct target, or targetted at anyone reading this overall where I use "you" or "we" etc>
* Modern (western) world demands you to either think by standard or lie. Well, doesn't demand, but being banished from social group(s) or humankind overall isn't an option for most of us, so you have no choice, unless you really like the latter.
What do I mean here? Impotent all-tolerant penis- and opinionless euro-american way of thinking.
If I would say that I hate all the damn faggots, think they're sick and religious people are simply idiots, bowing and praying to a something that either doesn't exist or if does, it a sick psycho sadist...
...I'd better open an umbrella for shitstorm ahead and could easily expect a ban from different communities and civilization, and boxed with any of the ban groups, such as racists or any other hate group.
I'm not saying that all people are hypocrites, but I think not so many are the "perfect thinking, tolerant and accepting" samples of humankind we all try to be more or less.
But even if you think otherwise, but lie about being one of the "good" people and encourage others to be so, being a hypocrite shouldn't be so bad. After all, your personal opinion might not be more important than feelings of others or global peace and ethics level overall.
My very personal opinion is that this has gotten a bit too far though, robbing individual from any free thinking or right of expressing an opinion thus giving his bit in developing a civilization, so pardon me being too often "politically incorrect"... but you probably won't anyway.
* Internet? Quite anonymous people vs. personal questions?
Another point why this wouldn't work so well. I wouldn't give damn if someone, somewhere, whom I never probably meet knew about what I do behind closed doors.
It depends on experiment maker, of course too. There are SOME users that take AGS Community-reputation VERY seriously and have been totally devastated, furious and shitstormed me after I won an argument over some stupid debate. Like I made fools of them in national television or something.
If you were one of those "I care too much about loads of (invisible?) AGS reputation"-people, experiment would work better, because you care too much about your secrets and lie etc
* Many of topics you named really don't matter to this or that person. For example, talking about my religion or patriotism wouldn't make me lie or cover in any situation. On other side, I wouldn't share my sexual fantasies so easily, or discuss my laziness.
Point is, I couldn't make a question about patriotism to ask for you experiment. I mean, a question that would make some results, make you uncomfortable or give anything to observe.
With patriotism example - my own opinion about patriotism is - "meh, I'm living in a country that tries hard to be a proud and innovative little European country, but is actually nothing but a rebellious, corrupt Russian border province". Feeling so about patriotism, I wouldn't even understand how this topic could be used in your experiment. This could apply to many of topics you provided. We might know what to ask, but not knowing you, we wouldn't know how to ask - to help you with the experiment.
LUniqueDan explained it too.
* If your profile is correct, it should be quite simple to predict most of your story anyway. 16-years old, living in a capital city? You're probably quite poor student - as a regular internet user, full of wicked sex fantasies and masturbating quite often - as a computer geek, suffering a bit under low-self worth - as an AGS user, looking for social acceptance - as a Latvian citizen, secretly a little bitter, but still proud patriot - as a computer geek and teenage man, you've imagined about getting those bullies at school, and as a gamer with gamerlike creativity, it was quite bloody fantasy - intolerance, escapism, illegal acts and religion can also quite well predicted by your age, nationality and computer hobby, which would be something like - you have some good friends and are generally more outgoing than typical "i make computer games"-guy", as Latvians do.
Also, you're quite intolerant at times, but don't go out drawing swastika, you chose computer because you can escape from real world, illegal acts are laughable, like watching some bad porn and feeling guilty afterwards, religion in this age depends on parent's, either they are and not.
But that's not psychology, that's my logic, so I might be totally off with this
:D am I?
Quote from: Oliwerko on Thu 08/01/2009 20:29:38
I can tell you I would get nowhere without hipocrisy...
But I don't want to archieve anything through hypocrisy. That just wouldn't be my archievement.
Now, many politics have archieved their status through hypocrisy. And now they fear that someone would learn about their dark secrets and uncover them to everyone. So, instead of living in fear, that someone would uncover something about you, you wouldn't want others to know, you can simply accept that and expose it by yourself. At least it leaves no work for blackmailers.
Quote from: LUniqueDan on Thu 08/01/2009 20:35:42
In fact those topics are not working at all for the Forums.
1) Lack of social feedbacks.
Never forget that's you are pretty far from us. We don't know your face and Whatsoever your answers can be, you won't fear walking in the street or going to school. You won't see our face nods in desaprobation, and you won't kill your chance with that cute girl arround the corner.
That's killing the experiment.
Well, firstly, practically all of the people, I know know that I'm using the same username all over the Internet. And most of them do have an access to it. The second thing is that this is only phase one of the experiment, set in a little enclosed conditions.
Quote from: LUniqueDan on Thu 08/01/2009 20:35:42
2) Taboos are relative to the group /sub-groupe you're in
And oftenly sub-groups have stronger set of rules than the whole society arround. Plus,
AGSers are pretty open-minded by nature and the range of topics in gen-gen prove it.
so:
3) Any good questions will necessary touch taboo / social rules of AGS forums.
That's can be bad! And I won't risk myself transgressing those (weak, but existent) sets of unwrited rules (EDIT : to ask you bad questions). :D
Sorry, I don't seem to understand. Please rephrase.
Quote from: RickJ on Thu 08/01/2009 21:11:41
I don't think "hypocrisy" is a very accurate way of describing a person's reluctance or refusal to answer deeply personal questions the answers to which no one is entitled to know.
Well, isn't the reason of this reluctance that the person is afraid to be viewed as "not normal"?
Quote from: RickJ on Thu 08/01/2009 21:11:41
I also think it's very naive to believe that one should furnish accurate details of one's personal life upon request. A wise person would refuse such requests and if that wasn't possible or practical then he would give inaccurate information and with-hold incriminating information.
For those of you who disagree with me please send me a PM with your full name, your social security number, and the account numbers and passwords of any bank or brokerage accounts you may have. Thanks!
I am talking about the information, a person doesn't want others to learn, because the person is ashamed of it, not because it would let them steal the person's money. The point of this experiment is to be rid of any shame, by understanding that there's nothing to be ashamed of and confirming one's faith in that by exposing the cause of the shame. Now, unless your bank password is: "1 luv p3n1s", it's not relevant.
Quote from: InCreator on Thu 08/01/2009 21:15:59
* Banging on your chest and saying "I'll let you ask personal questions from me" is useless.
I mean, nobody really needs your green light to do this. Anyone could ask you anything without asking if you like it and you will reply same way - if not even less "playing-along-way" and more honest... to your own psychology, I mean, lying just as you described, dodging the topic, being hypocrite or whatver. Also, such an experiment would probably work better this way. Candid camera shows would suck if people knew about the camera, right?
You're right here. So in here I'm trying to get used to, answering the "shameful" questions truthfully,to remove the reflex of dodging. It's not like i do it only in here, when such questions pops in an eye-to-eye conversation with friends or strangers, I also try to answer as truthfully as possible.
Quote from: InCreator on Thu 08/01/2009 21:15:59
<next paragraph has no direct target, or targetted at anyone reading this overall where I use "you" or "we" etc>
* Modern (western) world demands you to either think by standard or lie. Well, doesn't demand, but being banished from social group(s) or humankind overall isn't an option for most of us, so you have no choice, unless you really like the latter.
What do I mean here? Impotent all-tolerant penis- and opinionless euro-american way of thinking.
If I would say that I hate all the damn faggots, think they're sick and religious people are simply idiots, bowing and praying to a something that either doesn't exist or if does, it a sick psycho sadist...
...I'd better open an umbrella for shitstorm ahead and could easily expect a ban from different communities and civilization, and boxed with any of the ban groups, such as racists or any other hate group.
I'm not saying that all people are hypocrites, but I think not so many are the "perfect thinking, tolerant and accepting" samples of humankind we all try to be more or less.
But even if you think otherwise, but lie about being one of the "good" people and encourage others to be so, being a hypocrite shouldn't be so bad. After all, your personal opinion might not be more important than feelings of others or global peace and ethics level overall.
My very personal opinion is that this has gotten a bit too far though, robbing individual from any free thinking or right of expressing an opinion thus giving his bit in developing a civilization, so pardon me being too often "politically incorrect"... but you probably won't anyway.
Well you see, nobody can say that being a good person is doing this and this. At least I can't. I mean, how do we know, that feeding a starving homeless, or saving a child from the fire is "good"? Sure, you can say that the fuzz feelings, you get indicate that. Or that our ancestos have said that this and that is "good", just like their ancestors and their ancestors. But that's not enought for me. We don't know neither where from this definition of good has originated, nor if it has come to us through all the centuries, preserving it's original meaning.
Now, I'm not saying that any of you guys should follow my example, but I am willing to take the risk. Because I don't like the way society works right now. And I wish to change it.
Quote from: InCreator on Thu 08/01/2009 21:15:59
* Internet? Quite anonymous people vs. personal questions?
Another point why this wouldn't work so well. I wouldn't give damn if someone, somewhere, whom I never probably meet knew about what I do behind closed doors.
It depends on experiment maker, of course too. There are SOME users that take AGS Community-reputation VERY seriously and have been totally devastated, furious and shitstormed me after I won an argument over some stupid debate. Like I made fools of them in national television or something.
If you were one of those "I care too much about loads of (invisible?) AGS reputation"-people, experiment would work better, because you care too much about your secrets and lie etc
I can't say, that I care about my reputation that much, but as I've mentioned previously, in my answer to your post, I am trying to "train" myself right now, to remove the dodging reflex.
Quote from: InCreator on Thu 08/01/2009 21:15:59
* Many of topics you named really don't matter to this or that person. For example, talking about my religion or patriotism wouldn't make me lie or cover in any situation. On other side, I wouldn't share my sexual fantasies so easily, or discuss my laziness.
Point is, I couldn't make a question about patriotism to ask for you experiment. I mean, a question that would make some results, make you uncomfortable or give anything to observe.
With patriotism example - my own opinion about patriotism is - "meh, I'm living in a country that tries hard to be a proud and innovative little European country, but is actually nothing but a rebellious, corrupt Russian border province". Feeling so about patriotism, I wouldn't even understand how this topic could be used in your experiment. This could apply to many of topics you provided. We might know what to ask, but not knowing you, we wouldn't know how to ask - to help you with the experiment.
LUniqueDan explained it too.
The topics were mentioned in the Wikipedia article on the social desirability bias, so it is likely that they work for most people. But I guess, you're right, you need to know the person, to ask him/her this kind of question. That's one of the reasons for the experiment, I'm trying to find my weak spots.
Quote from: InCreator on Thu 08/01/2009 21:15:59
* If your profile is correct, it should be quite simple to predict most of your story anyway. 16-years old, living in a capital city? You're probably quite poor student - as a regular internet user, full of wicked sex fantasies and masturbating quite often - as a computer geek, suffering a bit under low-self worth - as an AGS user, looking for social acceptance - as a Latvian citizen, secretly a little bitter, but still proud patriot - as a computer geek and teenage man, you've imagined about getting those bullies at school, and as a gamer with gamerlike creativity, it was quite bloody fantasy - intolerance, escapism, illegal acts and religion can also quite well predicted by your age, nationality and computer hobby, which would be something like - you have some good friends and are generally more outgoing than typical "i make computer games"-guy", as Latvians do.
Also, you're quite intolerant at times, but don't go out drawing swastika, you chose computer because you can escape from real world, illegal acts are laughable, like watching some bad porn and feeling guilty afterwards, religion in this age depends on parent's, either they are and not.
But that's not psychology, that's my logic, so I might be totally off with this
:D am I?
.
Well, yes and no. I go to school and I'm still living with my parents and, I'm pretty sure, my life isn't poor, at least there's always been enough money for everything. Home access to the Internet should be at least one of the indications of that.
I do masturbate almost every day, but as for wicked sex fantasies, I find myself wondering: "Why does someone think this is sexy?" quite often, during the search for arousing material.
I could call myself a computer geek, although there's still quite alot for me to learn in this field, but my self-respect is very high, especially during the Computer lessons, when everyone pleads me for help.
I can say that I've got completely no feelings about Latvia. neither patriotic, nor anti-patriotic. I guess, I've heard so much from both sides, that I've decided to leave both of them alone.
I practically never go out, no matter, how many times I've been asked to by the many people who are my friends.
I consider myself quite tolerant to anything and I've never had an urge to draw a swastika.
The illegal acts are laughable indeed, and usually commited by accident.
I was baptised as Christian when I was born, and I didn't take too much interest in the religions until the teen age, when, after learning a bit I've decided to become an atheist, a bit later a metaphysicist and a metasophist. Right now I consider myself just a free philosopher without any allegiance. I could talk a lot about any religion, but never truly believe in any of them.
So far when I'm gleaning from this is that you REALLY WANTED to tell someone how often you masturbated and simply COULDN'T CONTAIN YOURSELF!
Nothing too wrong with that, but next time if you could phrase it in the style of a broadway showtune it might make the information less boring for the people who have to hear it.
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Quote from: RickJ on Yesterday at 01:11:41pm
I don't think "hypocrisy" is a very accurate way of describing a person's reluctance or refusal to answer deeply personal questions the answers to which no one is entitled to know.
Well, isn't the reason of this reluctance that the person is afraid to be viewed as "not normal"?
Absolutely not! What you refer to as "being normal" is in reality just "being average". I don't know why anyone would set their aspirations so low?
Personal information can be used to hurt, steal from, or destroy someone's life. This may come as a shock to you but there are evil people in the world who would do things just for the enjoyment of watching you suffer.
Quote
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Quote from: RickJ on Yesterday at 01:11:41pm
I also think it's very naive to believe that one should furnish accurate details of one's personal life upon request. A wise person would refuse such requests and if that wasn't possible or practical then he would give inaccurate information and with-hold incriminating information.
For those of you who disagree with me please send me a PM with your full name, your social security number, and the account numbers and passwords of any bank or brokerage accounts you may have. Thanks!
I am talking about the information, a person doesn't want others to learn, because the person is ashamed of it, not because it would let them steal the person's money. The point of this experiment is to be rid of any shame, by understanding that there's nothing to be ashamed of and confirming one's faith in that by exposing the cause of the shame. Now, unless your bank password is: "1 luv p3n1s", it's not relevant.
Well the obvious way to avoid shame is to not commit shameful acts in the first place and do only those things in which one can be proud of. The idea that you can rid yourself of shame by bragging about shameful things you have done is just simply retarded.
The people who have achieved this goal are commonly referred to as sociopaths. There was a recent thread on the subject in this forum (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=36340.msg476798#msg476798).
Perhaps you won't see my point until someone decides to use the information you provided to take you down a few notches. Good luck.
QuoteWell you see, nobody can say that being a good person is doing this and this.
Wrong. That's the main reason I sometimes get really punk and anarchic about the human society.
Globally accepted moral and ethic standards are sometimes most oppressive things for me. Maybe not themselves, but that pressure - to follow them.
You see, human society is built on pack mentality and power of strongest. Like it's common among mammals and predators overall.
You might think what you want, but there will always be rules for you, robbing you from your right for nature and this planet - or living as other animals overall,
free. Land is divided between men and they tell you where to go and not. That's called countries and nations. Want to pick a spot on planet and go there? Not gonna happen.
Try to resist and rest of the Pack sends people to either kill you, injure you, or imprison you (called law enforcement). If one group of Pack decides to grab land from your Pack, the Pack gives you a weapon and forces you to kill the attackers. Resist and it's graveyard ending again.
Want to walk around naked, live in forest and eat bugs? Not gonna happen neither. Pack locks you up whenever you decide to do something it finds not appropriate. So, your life in human civilization is actually very preset and there is very little to do about it. In history class, we learn and remember the people who actually shook the whole system or made huge changes in that system that has otherwise been very solid in thousands of years.
Even for living on the land you're allowed to live on, you have to give a share of your belongings to the pack. That's called taxes.
If we step back and try to summarize those facts, you're practically paying to the mankind for your right to be alive and have even this small amount of freedom you are allowed to. Sure, there's forgotten places on earth, and maybe living in a deep jungle would give you mentioned freedom, but mostly it's as I described.
That's the system. And the system decides everything, right and wrong, good and bad.
You might have your own little rebellion, but when you realize how much humankind actually owns you and is able to decide your freedom and life, this really doesn't matter much. So, evade taxes, spit on beggar or commit a crime. What does it count in the big picture? What change would it make? You are still playing along with all other rules of the Pack.
Pretty well put. There is not much space for differences in one's taste/opinions/wants given in the society. You don't stick to the "rules"? You get consumed by the society you live in. This partial "freedom" is not so free as it may seem. It goes, as InC said from ethical and moral standards to even closer everyday experiences. People simply force you to conform to what is expected from you. You're not expected to deviate in opinions/taste/wants and if you do, you're "weird". That's it. That's one of the things very high on my "hates" list.
Quote from: InCreator on Thu 08/01/2009 21:15:59
There are SOME users that take AGS Community-reputation VERY seriously and have been totally devastated, furious and shitstormed me after I won an argument over some stupid debate.
Can I... can I too win an internet debate? :'(
Quote from: Eggie on Fri 09/01/2009 16:12:15
So far when I'm gleaning from this is that you REALLY WANTED to tell someone how often you masturbated and simply COULDN'T CONTAIN YOURSELF!
Nothing too wrong with that, but next time if you could phrase it in the style of a broadway showtune it might make the information less boring for the people who have to hear it.
That's one way to name it. Sorry, but I don't like brodway, plus it wasn't boring for me. Thereby, I win!
Quote from: RickJ on Fri 09/01/2009 16:29:16
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Quote from: RickJ on Yesterday at 01:11:41pm
I don't think "hypocrisy" is a very accurate way of describing a person's reluctance or refusal to answer deeply personal questions the answers to which no one is entitled to know.
Well, isn't the reason of this reluctance that the person is afraid to be viewed as "not normal"?
Absolutely not! What you refer to as "being normal" is in reality just "being average". I don't know why anyone would set their aspirations so low?
Well, I don't think a standart person would be able to truthfully answer any of the "shameful" questions, because that would change others' opinion of him/her from "average" to something else. And this does prove that the person still wants to be viewed as an average person.
Sometimes people even lie when asked such question in an anonymous survey. That means that the person doesn't even to accept him/herself that he/she isn't "average".
Quote from: RickJ on Fri 09/01/2009 16:29:16
Personal information can be used to hurt, steal from, or destroy someone's life. This may come as a shock to you but there are evil people in the world who would do things just for the enjoyment of watching you suffer.
You are right. So, for me, the best way to prevent this is to leave nothing that could be hurt, stolen or destroyed. I've figured this some time ago: If someone enjoys doing something that makes you suffer, show him/her, that it actually causes no suffering in you. Even better, if it pleases you.
Quote from: RickJ on Fri 09/01/2009 16:29:16
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I am talking about the information, a person doesn't want others to learn, because the person is ashamed of it, not because it would let them steal the person's money. The point of this experiment is to be rid of any shame, by understanding that there's nothing to be ashamed of and confirming one's faith in that by exposing the cause of the shame. Now, unless your bank password is: "1 luv p3n1s", it's not relevant.
Well the obvious way to avoid shame is to not commit shameful acts in the first place and do only those things in which one can be proud of. The idea that you can rid yourself of shame by bragging about shameful things you have done is just simply retarded.
The people who have achieved this goal are commonly referred to as sociopaths. There was a recent thread on the subject in this forum (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=36340.msg476798#msg476798).
Perhaps you won't see my point until someone decides to use the information you provided to take you down a few notches. Good luck.
Well, in that way one would have to prevent oneself from thinking, because a certain opinion, or fetish could also be "shameful". My idea is that one needs to prove to oneself that it's nothing big and nothing "shameful". And the way I can prove to myself that I don't care about is by exposing it.
Now, about being a sociopath. Yes, I may be one, but what's so bad about it? I mean, there are two types of people: The ones who work, and the ones who let others do the work for them. Guess, which one I wish to be?
Now, I'm really willing to see what comes out of this. And what will be my final reaction.
Quote from: InCreator on Fri 09/01/2009 17:38:09
That's the system. And the system decides everything, right and wrong, good and bad.
You might have your own little rebellion, but when you realize how much humankind actually owns you and is able to decide your freedom and life, this really doesn't matter much. So, evade taxes, spit on beggar or commit a crime. What does it count in the big picture? What change would it make? You are still playing along with all other rules of the Pack.
Well, what I'm trying to do, no matter how cheesy it sounds, is to beat the system. I mean, the system (I'm talking here about the system, not about the individual people) does accept the gay rights, although it stated that they sould be killed on the spot some time ago. The system is against slavery, although it was all for it some time ago. The examples could continue...The point is that, they prove that the rules of what is accepted and what is not can indeed be changed. And although, right now I'm only trying to change the part of the system, which is me, I'm willing to see, what I can do for the whole Humanity in the future.
Quote from: bicilotti on Sat 10/01/2009 12:18:18
Can I... can I too win an internet debate? :'(
It's easy, you just have to be the last user who posts in the thread.
@Lionmonkey : I'll give more examples.
1) Lack of social feedbacks.
Even if the Social desirability bias apply here :
- You gain almost nothing being desirable here.
- You loose almost nothing not being.
By opposition of
- Telling something non-desirable in the 1st minutes of a 4 hours long family diner.
- Telling something non-desirable at work.
- Telling something non-desirable in a potentialy dangerous situation.
- Telling something non-desirable when it's also illegal to do so.
2) Taboos are relative to the group /sub-groupe you're in.
- I don't know how you can really estrapolate this experiment to what you called "The system"
- Forums are made for discussions. It's not like starting a radical debate about a taboo subject with a stranger at the train station.
- All groups have there own set of rules who sometimes differ radically of the 'System' arround them.
so:
3) Any good questions will necessary touch taboo / social rules of AGS forums.
If you really want to test your own ability to escape the Social desirability bias answering nasty questions then the list of topics you submitted was pretty sterile here.
Who mind about your body fluids? Try instead :
:= Praising the use of Lensflare.
:= Explaining why l33tspeak are a great way of expression.
:= Bitching on Chris Jones.
:= Maintaining that RON should die.
:= Posting poems about DragonRose, The Ivy, MashPotato, Kinoko, Sylvr or Pilf.
Those subjects are directly linked to the AGS Forums group 'taboos', rules and way of behavior.
Now, don't be annoying and post about those! :D
Because of 1) that will prove nothing. And because of 2) that will be effectively nasty and we like you.
Better?
Quote from: DanPosting poems about DragonRose, The Ivy, MashPotato, Kinoko, Sylvr or Pilf.
I thought chicks dug poetry. :D
Quote from: LUniqueDan on Sat 10/01/2009 16:25:45
:= Posting poems about DragonRose, The Ivy, MashPotato, Kinoko, Sylvr or Pilf.
Those subjects are directly linked to the AGS Forums group 'taboos', rules and way of behavior.
So if I were to say:
MashPotato is a bee,
and as a bee she has a knee,
nay! Six of them, all very well,
I really think that's rather swell!
that would be actually touching an AGS taboo? Coo, I am teh evulz!
Ghost, you sociopath! :'(
Nah, I was more making an image. D'you remember when that noob told NighFable how cute he find her? Like in the middle of nowhere.
(I dug gen-gen, but was unable to find the post I have in mind)
It was not a rule per se, but when he realised that he just hit the whole Social desirability thingy he flied away and never post again.
Quote from: LUniqueDan on Sat 10/01/2009 16:25:45
@Lionmonkey : I'll give more examples.
1) Lack of social feedbacks.
Even if the Social desirability bias apply here :
- You gain almost nothing being desirable here.
- You loose almost nothing not being.
By opposition of
- Telling something non-desirable in the 1st minutes of a 4 hours long family diner.
- Telling something non-desirable at work.
- Telling something non-desirable in a potentialy dangerous situation.
- Telling something non-desirable when it's also illegal to do so.
While you may be right, I have always viewed the Internet like this: if you put some information in there, there's a pretty fair chance, everyone in the world will soon find it, inculding everyone you know. While this may not be the reality, it is in my mind, so it does emulate for me the situations you've mentioned.
Actually, I'd like to know, why is some information "non-desirable" in the first place. Because it makes many people lie about it and hide the truth, making them feel a disgust and hate to themselves, which creates even more psychological disorders.
So why is this or that disgusting or evil? We cannot really be sure that anything is. Then why are we binding these constraints on ourselves, making our lives hard and minds crippled?
Quote from: LUniqueDan on Sat 10/01/2009 16:25:45
2) Taboos are relative to the group /sub-groupe you're in.
- I don't know how you can really estrapolate this experiment to what you called "The system"
- Forums are made for discussions. It's not like starting a radical debate about a taboo subject with a stranger at the train station.
- All groups have there own set of rules who sometimes differ radically of the 'System' arround them.
so:
3) Any good questions will necessary touch taboo / social rules of AGS forums.
If you really want to test your own ability to escape the Social desirability bias answering nasty questions then the list of topics you submitted was pretty sterile here.
Who mind about your body fluids? Try instead :
:= Praising the use of Lensflare.
:= Explaining why l33tspeak are a great way of expression.
:= Bitching on Chris Jones.
:= Maintaining that RON should die.
:= Posting poems about DragonRose, The Ivy, MashPotato, Kinoko, Sylvr or Pilf.
Those subjects are directly linked to the AGS Forums group 'taboos', rules and way of behavior.
Now, don't be annoying and post about those! :D
Because of 1) that will prove nothing. And because of 2) that will be effectively nasty and we like you.
Better?
I repeat myself, but I must, so I am in the first place trying to find out why this or that topic is presumed forbidden and causes the social desirability bias, making the people hide their own true self.
Now, while I accept your comand not to express this true self of mine in relation to the topics, you called out, I'd still like to learn more about why do they have such status.
Please go on.
This is boring crap!
Go write essays about it!
Leave us aloooooooooooooooooooone!!
How d'ya like my social desirability nooooow!!
Quote from: Eggie on Thu 22/01/2009 23:38:43
This is boring crap!
Go write essays about it!
Leave us aloooooooooooooooooooone!!
How d'ya like my social desirability nooooow!!
Holy moo cows, somebody wrote a post in here that makes 100% perfect sense to me! :D
(apart from Ghost's poem, of course)
Good job Eggie!
Quote from: Eggie on Thu 22/01/2009 23:38:43
This is boring crap!
Go write essays about it!
Leave us aloooooooooooooooooooone!!
How d'ya like my social desirability nooooow!!
See? Doesn't it feel great to stop hiding your true opinion and express what you really think?