3 ms·

I read a comment on here a while back that explains a lot about the world. Essentially, research shows that a large fraction of the population don't believe one

I read a comment on here a while back that explains a lot about the world. Essentially, research shows that a large fraction of the population don't believe one party can win without another party losing. Specifically, in order for them to win, someone else must lose. It's clear to see that when such a person is faced with a request that doesn't obviously benefit them, they will conclude that the other person will win and therefore they must be the loser.

bruce511 3y ago
Yes, seeing the world as a zero sum game leads to detrimental behaviour. There are of course lots of zero-sum situations. Equally there are lots of mutually beneficial opportunities. Ironically those who can't see those opportunities ultimately end up losing, which reinforces the zero-sum world-view.
bnlxbnlx 3y ago
This makes intuitive sense. Do you have a link/reference to that research?
perilunar 3y ago
When it comes to government (taxes, spending, elections, etc.), that is the usual case, which is why governments need the backing of law (and ultimately force) to get things done.
- jameshart 3y ago
  That is indeed what 'zero sum thinkers' tend to assume about government. Government is, though, a solution to 'collective action' problems, which usually have prisoner's dilemma payoff matrices. A problem could be solved if everyone acted. But individually, none of them have the incentive to act alone, so the default result is for nobody to act. Government allows a group of people to agree that when there's a collective action benefit available, they'll take it, together. That is explicitly not a zero sum outcome.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - sokoloff 3y ago
    Government also takes many courses of action that aren’t positive sum.
    - globular-toast 3y ago
      Not intentionally, unless you are talking about corruption.
      - sokoloff 3y ago
        In your opinion, is the TSA positive sum, corruption, or an example of my thesis?

bruce511 3y ago

Yes, seeing the world as a zero sum game leads to detrimental behaviour. There are of course lots of zero-sum situations. Equally there are lots of mutually beneficial opportunities. Ironically those who can't see those opportunities ultimately end up losing, which reinforces the zero-sum world-view.

bnlxbnlx 3y ago

This makes intuitive sense. Do you have a link/reference to that research?

perilunar 3y ago

When it comes to government (taxes, spending, elections, etc.), that is the usual case, which is why governments need the backing of law (and ultimately force) to get things done.

jameshart 3y ago
That is indeed what 'zero sum thinkers' tend to assume about government. Government is, though, a solution to 'collective action' problems, which usually have prisoner's dilemma payoff matrices. A problem could be solved if everyone acted. But individually, none of them have the incentive to act alone, so the default result is for nobody to act. Government allows a group of people to agree that when there's a collective action benefit available, they'll take it, together. That is explicitly not a zero sum outcome.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- sokoloff 3y ago
  Government also takes many courses of action that aren’t positive sum.
  - globular-toast 3y ago
    Not intentionally, unless you are talking about corruption.
    - sokoloff 3y ago
      In your opinion, is the TSA positive sum, corruption, or an example of my thesis?