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I'm so sad to see Nowak involved given that his lab's research on evolutionary dynamics is outstanding. It's depressing too to see how many people Epstein infl

by api 7y ago

I'm so sad to see Nowak involved given that his lab's research on evolutionary dynamics is outstanding. It's depressing too to see how many people Epstein influenced and was associated with. It's impossible that none of them knew about his sex abuse "habit." I guess it's just like with Ponzi-like financial bubbles and cooked corporate finance (e.g. Enron and now apparently GE): when the money is flowing people go along and don't ask questions. It seems to be even deeper though. I wonder if humans have a cognitive bias where when we're getting money/resources from someone we "un-see" things that could damage that relationship? There's a character I've read about over in the UK named Jimmy Saville that seemingly got away with serial sex abuse (of virtually all ages) for his entire life. Same explanation apparently: he raised and donated a lot of money and generally threw a lot of money around.

seiferteric 7y ago
Marvin Minsky is apparently another one.
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coldtea 7y ago
>I wonder if humans have a cognitive bias where when we're getting money/resources from someone we "un-see" things that could damage that relationship? Don't assume it's merely about the money. Many people respond equally well to offerings of sex servants...
nostrademons 7y ago
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!" -- Upton Sinclair Money definitely influences peoples' perceptions and actions - if it didn't, we wouldn't have such societal institutions as salaries, bail, alimony, tax incentives, and campaign donations. People who don't play the reciprocity game ("if I give you something, I expect at least friendly relations") rapidly find themselves socially isolated.
sitkack 7y ago
To reinforce the lore (and spread some Twain), http://www.paulgraham.com/cornpone.html http://www.paulgraham.com/cornpone.html

by api 7y ago

seiferteric 7y ago

Marvin Minsky is apparently another one.

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coldtea 7y ago

>I wonder if humans have a cognitive bias where when we're getting money/resources from someone we "un-see" things that could damage that relationship? Don't assume it's merely about the money. Many people respond equally well to offerings of sex servants...

nostrademons 7y ago

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!" -- Upton Sinclair Money definitely influences peoples' perceptions and actions - if it didn't, we wouldn't have such societal institutions as salaries, bail, alimony, tax incentives, and campaign donations. People who don't play the reciprocity game ("if I give you something, I expect at least friendly relations") rapidly find themselves socially isolated.

sitkack 7y ago

To reinforce the lore (and spread some Twain), http://www.paulgraham.com/cornpone.html http://www.paulgraham.com/cornpone.html