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I'm not at all convinced that society is biased towards the more intelligent, as you are implying. In my experience other traits, the exaggerated sense of self

I'm not at all convinced that society is biased towards the more intelligent, as you are implying. In my experience other traits, the exaggerated sense of self superiority that the article discusses, a high drive to succeed, narcissism, lack of empathy etc take people further. Society (at least western society) is pre-disposed for these personality types to bubble higher. I would actually welcome measures that promote the more learned, less extroverted personality types to be given more responsibility making the bigger decisions.

mikrl 3y ago
These traits do seem to bring more success which often comes from exploiting others and being socially predatory. However, there is no free lunch, so these traits themselves must also be exploitable. What psychological profile would be most effective at exploiting and preying on narcissists? In a world of snakes, how can you be an effective mongoose?
- ponderings 3y ago
  > exploiting and preying on narcissists It one time struck me how lame it is to expect empathy from people who have to fake it. I'd much prefer to accept them for who they are. If you are kind and generous to them they consider you weak. If you scare or hurt them they respect you, they respect people who have power over them because they present all the interesting social challenges. If you poke them with a cattle prod then give them a beer their experience is almost like giving a normal person a beer. We should probably register them in a database along with as much personal information as possible. Not because it is useful (it might be) but because that is the kind of thing they respect. They will attempt to appeal to our empathy and cry about it to which we should respond with "ha-ha, sucks to be you." The DB can be used to find employment where their qualities are beneficial. I talk with a guy one time who kills cows 8 hours per day. His coworkers are happy they don't have to do it. He said the cows visit them in their dreams, looking at them with their big scared sad eyes after the first jab doesn't kill them. Cleaning up corpses after traffic accidents, defense lawyers for the indefensible, some military tasks, etc
- sgu999 3y ago
  I really like the tone of your comment! > What psychological profile would be most effective at exploiting and preying on narcissists? > In a world of snakes, how can you be an effective mongoose? I think they are pretty good at preying at each other. Bureaucrats, capitalists and politicians know how to put them to work by making them pine after a new job title, bigger salary, better social exposure etc.
smokel 3y ago
There are indeed other factors at play as well, but I don't see how that is an argument? The correlation between IQ and income is fairly well-studied. It is not linear, IQ is not trustworthy, and there are many exceptions, but do you really think that people who have an IQ below 80 get a chance at a high paying job in FAANG land?

mikrl 3y ago

These traits do seem to bring more success which often comes from exploiting others and being socially predatory. However, there is no free lunch, so these traits themselves must also be exploitable. What psychological profile would be most effective at exploiting and preying on narcissists? In a world of snakes, how can you be an effective mongoose?

ponderings 3y ago
> exploiting and preying on narcissists It one time struck me how lame it is to expect empathy from people who have to fake it. I'd much prefer to accept them for who they are. If you are kind and generous to them they consider you weak. If you scare or hurt them they respect you, they respect people who have power over them because they present all the interesting social challenges. If you poke them with a cattle prod then give them a beer their experience is almost like giving a normal person a beer. We should probably register them in a database along with as much personal information as possible. Not because it is useful (it might be) but because that is the kind of thing they respect. They will attempt to appeal to our empathy and cry about it to which we should respond with "ha-ha, sucks to be you." The DB can be used to find employment where their qualities are beneficial. I talk with a guy one time who kills cows 8 hours per day. His coworkers are happy they don't have to do it. He said the cows visit them in their dreams, looking at them with their big scared sad eyes after the first jab doesn't kill them. Cleaning up corpses after traffic accidents, defense lawyers for the indefensible, some military tasks, etc
sgu999 3y ago
I really like the tone of your comment! > What psychological profile would be most effective at exploiting and preying on narcissists? > In a world of snakes, how can you be an effective mongoose? I think they are pretty good at preying at each other. Bureaucrats, capitalists and politicians know how to put them to work by making them pine after a new job title, bigger salary, better social exposure etc.

smokel 3y ago

There are indeed other factors at play as well, but I don't see how that is an argument? The correlation between IQ and income is fairly well-studied. It is not linear, IQ is not trustworthy, and there are many exceptions, but do you really think that people who have an IQ below 80 get a chance at a high paying job in FAANG land?