5 ms·

> intellectual knowledge does not translate into behavior Wow I'd love to see some links supporting that, it feels hard to believe!

boomboomsubban 6y ago
Basically every gambler is an excellent example of that principle, though I have also not seen the research.
- _Microft 6y ago
  This might be a counter-example: the American Physical Society held a spring meeting in a casino in 1986 and it turned out to be the worst week that the casino had until then. Why? The physicists just did not play. http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2015/09/one-winning-move.html http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2015/09/one-winning-mo...
  - boomboomsubban 6y ago
    They would also have ample experience with chance that could overrule their intellectual knowledge.
- wombatmobile 6y ago
  Treatment for problem gamblers uses mathematics to prove they cannot beat system https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-30/new-approach-to-treating-problem-gamblers-uses-mathematics/5928796?nw=0 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-30/new-approach-to-treat...
  - imtringued 6y ago
    Okay now that we got the intellectual argument out of the way. Let's talk about the actual experience of gamblers: You're not playing against the house. You're playing against the other gamblers. This is highly prominent in Poker where you try to beat other players. Some gamblers told me about their weird theories about which machine will give them the fattest payouts because they analyzed which machines have been used the most and how to minimize the opportunity cost of their current wager by taking advantage of free services provided by the casino. They clearly aren't in it to stick it to the house. They are trying to outcompete other gamblers with their strategies even with a slot machine.
Pfhreak 6y ago
It makes intuitive sense to me. Studying a thing and practicing a thing are different. We practice fire drills for a reason. And you may have intellectual understanding of what plays to run on the football field but it doesn't make you a good quarterback.
sammorrowdrums 6y ago
If you haven't read 'Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow', give it a look. It is one of the most influential books I've ever read. That will explain it. I could reach out for my copy and look up citations, but probably searching on the author Daniel Kahneman would get you what you need.
nullserver 6y ago
You should say no to a purchase. Wife and kids will all melt down if you say no. The last meltdown ruined a weekend. The purchase isn’t that big a deal. But it’ll make other important bills late. But if you say yes, it’ll encourage the behavior. But you will also have a few days of peace. Knowing the right thing to do, and having the energy and will power to follow through are very different things.
- yarcob 6y ago
  I don't think this is actually an example where you really know what the right thing to do is. A) You can do what you think is right B) You can do what other person thinks is right It's not clear that either A or B is the correct choice.
  - TheOtherHobbes 6y ago
    It is when B is financially impossible and/or will lead to huge problems later and/or is only motivated by short-term desire which won't be satisfied by a passing whim. It's not a gendered problem, although of course it looks like it when the other half of the couple is demanding The Thing and you're the one saying "no". Or vice versa. Some actions are strategic, and some are whimsical. Whimsy is welcome and enjoyable when there are no strategic consequences, but not such a good idea when the consequences are obvious, predictable, and negative.
    - watwut 6y ago
      Just because you are the one who said no does not mean the other one is whimsy or buying stupid things. It really depends on whose non essential wishes are getting more funds in familly overall, whether there would be a strategic problem and so on. But if your partner is annoyed so much over how money are spend, something is very wrong. Because regardless of who is right or whether split is fair, you are building long term ressentment problem. The attitude of "I get to have last word them partner not liking it is childish meltdown" destroys relationships.
btilly 6y ago
I recommended 2 books because I know it from books, not random blog posts. But both books are classics.
qznc 6y ago
Quick self test: Do you eat healthy food, floss your teeth, get enough sleep, care about your relationships, and exercise somewhat? This is boring simple common sense advice everybody knows but I have not met anybody (myself included) who achieves it.
- roel_v 6y ago
  You don't know anyone who mostly eats healthy food, usually flosses, usually gets enough sleep, puts a reasonable amount of effort into their relationships and exercises somewhat? Or you don't know anyone who does all those things perfectly?

boomboomsubban 6y ago

Basically every gambler is an excellent example of that principle, though I have also not seen the research.

_Microft 6y ago
This might be a counter-example: the American Physical Society held a spring meeting in a casino in 1986 and it turned out to be the worst week that the casino had until then. Why? The physicists just did not play. http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2015/09/one-winning-move.html http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/2015/09/one-winning-mo...
- boomboomsubban 6y ago
  They would also have ample experience with chance that could overrule their intellectual knowledge.
wombatmobile 6y ago
Treatment for problem gamblers uses mathematics to prove they cannot beat system https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-30/new-approach-to-treating-problem-gamblers-uses-mathematics/5928796?nw=0 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-30/new-approach-to-treat...
- imtringued 6y ago
  Okay now that we got the intellectual argument out of the way. Let's talk about the actual experience of gamblers: You're not playing against the house. You're playing against the other gamblers. This is highly prominent in Poker where you try to beat other players. Some gamblers told me about their weird theories about which machine will give them the fattest payouts because they analyzed which machines have been used the most and how to minimize the opportunity cost of their current wager by taking advantage of free services provided by the casino. They clearly aren't in it to stick it to the house. They are trying to outcompete other gamblers with their strategies even with a slot machine.

Pfhreak 6y ago

It makes intuitive sense to me. Studying a thing and practicing a thing are different. We practice fire drills for a reason. And you may have intellectual understanding of what plays to run on the football field but it doesn't make you a good quarterback.

sammorrowdrums 6y ago

If you haven't read 'Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow', give it a look. It is one of the most influential books I've ever read. That will explain it. I could reach out for my copy and look up citations, but probably searching on the author Daniel Kahneman would get you what you need.

nullserver 6y ago

You should say no to a purchase. Wife and kids will all melt down if you say no. The last meltdown ruined a weekend. The purchase isn’t that big a deal. But it’ll make other important bills late. But if you say yes, it’ll encourage the behavior. But you will also have a few days of peace. Knowing the right thing to do, and having the energy and will power to follow through are very different things.

yarcob 6y ago
I don't think this is actually an example where you really know what the right thing to do is. A) You can do what you think is right B) You can do what other person thinks is right It's not clear that either A or B is the correct choice.
- TheOtherHobbes 6y ago
  It is when B is financially impossible and/or will lead to huge problems later and/or is only motivated by short-term desire which won't be satisfied by a passing whim. It's not a gendered problem, although of course it looks like it when the other half of the couple is demanding The Thing and you're the one saying "no". Or vice versa. Some actions are strategic, and some are whimsical. Whimsy is welcome and enjoyable when there are no strategic consequences, but not such a good idea when the consequences are obvious, predictable, and negative.
  - watwut 6y ago
    Just because you are the one who said no does not mean the other one is whimsy or buying stupid things. It really depends on whose non essential wishes are getting more funds in familly overall, whether there would be a strategic problem and so on. But if your partner is annoyed so much over how money are spend, something is very wrong. Because regardless of who is right or whether split is fair, you are building long term ressentment problem. The attitude of "I get to have last word them partner not liking it is childish meltdown" destroys relationships.

btilly 6y ago

I recommended 2 books because I know it from books, not random blog posts. But both books are classics.

qznc 6y ago

Quick self test: Do you eat healthy food, floss your teeth, get enough sleep, care about your relationships, and exercise somewhat? This is boring simple common sense advice everybody knows but I have not met anybody (myself included) who achieves it.

roel_v 6y ago
You don't know anyone who mostly eats healthy food, usually flosses, usually gets enough sleep, puts a reasonable amount of effort into their relationships and exercises somewhat? Or you don't know anyone who does all those things perfectly?