3 ms·
I think you're missing the part where human nature isn't what you think it is. We aren't as smart and moral and fair as we tell ourselves we are. We are monkeys
by throwawaaarrgh 3y ago
I think you're missing the part where human nature isn't what you think it is. We aren't as smart and moral and fair as we tell ourselves we are. We are monkeys in fancy hats.
It's extremely easy to manipulate people into doing something against their own interests. Just play off of their baser motivations: fear, greed, envy, anger. People enjoy being angry and believing someone is trying to trick them, much more than they enjoy being happy and productive and rational. Negative emotions are just stronger.
- zingababba 3y agoManipulation is hardly required. Whenever 'best interests' are invoked I always think fondly back to the underground man's rant on the topic in Dostoevsky's Notes From Underground which I believe is some of the most fundamentally piercing insight into human behavior in existence. The most fundamental interest is ultimately doing whatever the hell I want at any given moment.