4 ms·

It's not so much as worrying about their personal (gang, group, person) reputation, but rather the reputation of kidnappers in general. Kidnapping is a busines

It's not so much as worrying about their personal (gang, group, person) reputation, but rather the reputation of kidnappers in general. Kidnapping is a business. I would assume people who kidnap others do it more than once. If you want your industry (kidnapping) to continue to exist/be profitable, then would-be-payers must know that they are likely going to get the person(s) back.

MaxBarraclough 8y ago
Then you have a prisoner's dilemma, no? To the individual gang, wouldn't it be safer to 'defect'? Edit or would it be more a tragedy-of-the-commons?
- jacobush 8y ago
  Don't you think that a big chunk, say a majority, of kidnappers would rather not kill anyone and also hold themselves in rather high regard, like "a man of my word" and such things. Maybe we could call "honor" a built-in game theory heuristic we humans have? After all, we are hardwired to be social.
  - MaxBarraclough 8y ago
    > kidnappers would rather not kill anyone and also hold themselves in rather high regard, like "a man of my word" and such You're assuming a certain value-set here. If instead their highest value is to appear ruthless to their peers (think prison, or for that matter the Dothraki), then no.
    - jacobush 8y ago
      Still, that could work out. "I'll kill anyone - if I said I will."
    - verytrivial 8y ago
      Well, I think the only value-set they are disclosing here is their desire for money. Assuming nothing "goes wrong", taking the money then reneging on the deal will not get them any more money, and may attract the interest of other kidnappers who have a longer term view.
      - MaxBarraclough 8y ago
        > taking the money then reneging on the deal will not get them any more money Unless they reason that killing hostages is safer than releasing them, on account of 'no loose ends'. > may attract the interest of other kidnappers who have a longer term view Assuming a highly chaotic environment, this seems unlikely.

MaxBarraclough 8y ago

Then you have a prisoner's dilemma, no? To the individual gang, wouldn't it be safer to 'defect'? Edit or would it be more a tragedy-of-the-commons?

jacobush 8y ago
Don't you think that a big chunk, say a majority, of kidnappers would rather not kill anyone and also hold themselves in rather high regard, like "a man of my word" and such things. Maybe we could call "honor" a built-in game theory heuristic we humans have? After all, we are hardwired to be social.
- MaxBarraclough 8y ago
  > kidnappers would rather not kill anyone and also hold themselves in rather high regard, like "a man of my word" and such You're assuming a certain value-set here. If instead their highest value is to appear ruthless to their peers (think prison, or for that matter the Dothraki), then no.
  - jacobush 8y ago
    Still, that could work out. "I'll kill anyone - if I said I will."
  - verytrivial 8y ago
    Well, I think the only value-set they are disclosing here is their desire for money. Assuming nothing "goes wrong", taking the money then reneging on the deal will not get them any more money, and may attract the interest of other kidnappers who have a longer term view.
    - MaxBarraclough 8y ago
      > taking the money then reneging on the deal will not get them any more money Unless they reason that killing hostages is safer than releasing them, on account of 'no loose ends'. > may attract the interest of other kidnappers who have a longer term view Assuming a highly chaotic environment, this seems unlikely.