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Is urgency really a dark pattern? To me it seems like basic sales and is present on everything from TV infomercials (buy now, limited stocks, only for the next

Is urgency really a dark pattern? To me it seems like basic sales and is present on everything from TV infomercials (buy now, limited stocks, only for the next 15 minutes + operators standing by) to brick and mortar sales that only last until the end of the week. Granted, it's a different version of urgency and the other stuff looks shady, but urgency isn't something I'd automatically put in the 'dark pattern' box.

harrybr 2y ago
It is perhaps more useful to consider “fake urgency” as defined here: https://www.deceptive.design/types/fake-urgency https://www.deceptive.design/types/fake-urgency
qkeast 2y ago
I’ve long felt that “dark pattern” isn’t the right term. It obscures the intent behind purposeful decisions made by real humans, by describing a malicious action as an abstract outcome. The use of urgency here is absolutely a manipulative pattern designed to influence user behaviour for the benefit of the manipulator.
- randomcarbloke 2y ago
  I wish there was more formalism around the idea of "dark patterns" it strikes me as a term for mechanistic configurations that encourage or elicit specific behaviours yet in practice it's more like intentionally hostile design/ux.
xbmcuser 2y ago
It is a dark pattern if unsubscribing is more inconvenient than subscribing. If I can get a subscription where you are able to verify my credit card information and my identity with a click of a button. Then I should be able to unsubscribe with the same 1 click. If you hamper me in any way from unsubscribing no matter if it is a speed bump or a road block both are dark patterns.
jampekka 2y ago
> Is urgency really a dark pattern? To me it seems like basic sales and is present on everything from TV infomercials (buy now, limited stocks, only for the next 15 minutes + operators standing by) to brick and mortar sales that only last until the end of the week. Those are dark patterns too. In many places such scams are illegal. It's a bit sad how people have started to just accept the pervasive and fundamental dishonesty and inefficiency of the market.

harrybr 2y ago

It is perhaps more useful to consider “fake urgency” as defined here: https://www.deceptive.design/types/fake-urgency https://www.deceptive.design/types/fake-urgency

qkeast 2y ago

I’ve long felt that “dark pattern” isn’t the right term. It obscures the intent behind purposeful decisions made by real humans, by describing a malicious action as an abstract outcome. The use of urgency here is absolutely a manipulative pattern designed to influence user behaviour for the benefit of the manipulator.

randomcarbloke 2y ago
I wish there was more formalism around the idea of "dark patterns" it strikes me as a term for mechanistic configurations that encourage or elicit specific behaviours yet in practice it's more like intentionally hostile design/ux.

xbmcuser 2y ago

It is a dark pattern if unsubscribing is more inconvenient than subscribing. If I can get a subscription where you are able to verify my credit card information and my identity with a click of a button. Then I should be able to unsubscribe with the same 1 click. If you hamper me in any way from unsubscribing no matter if it is a speed bump or a road block both are dark patterns.

jampekka 2y ago

> Is urgency really a dark pattern? To me it seems like basic sales and is present on everything from TV infomercials (buy now, limited stocks, only for the next 15 minutes + operators standing by) to brick and mortar sales that only last until the end of the week. Those are dark patterns too. In many places such scams are illegal. It's a bit sad how people have started to just accept the pervasive and fundamental dishonesty and inefficiency of the market.