Comments on: Dan Ariely: Confronting Irrationality http://www.radioopensource.org/dan-ariely-confronting-irrationality/ Christopher Lydon in conversation on arts, ideas and politics Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:09:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dr. Seuss http://www.radioopensource.org/dan-ariely-confronting-irrationality/#comment-92596 Dr. Seuss Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:58:38 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1254#comment-92596 Recently at Barns & Noble I went through some pages of <i>Predictably Irrational.</i> I couldn’t figure out what Dan Ariely was talking about. It was “ghostly”. It made me think a bit about nothing. I admit that I briefly considered buying the book. There was something about the title. Who thinks of themselves as predictable? No one. It is always “the other guy”. Who thinks of themselves as irrational? No one etc. The double whammy of the title almost persuaded me into thinking that if I only read this book, I would finally be in possession of the weapons to point at “the other guy”. Then, while listening to the interview I suddenly realized that Ariely is telling me that the sky is blue, and then went on to attempt to reinvent the wheel. <i>Predictably Irrational</i> will momentarily capture our very short attention spans through the inveiglement of tiny “connections” between intentional laziness and freedom, consumerism, and the recycling – albeit not very eloquently – of early 20th century behavioral economics. What will the book reveal about us and our culture? Nothing … with the exception of causing us to resound “oh WOW, that’s cool, look how <i>that</i> works” – in an attempt to bedazzle us with some creative typing. On obesity Ariely says “Eat slower”. On vegetables Ariely says buy more so that you’ll “Eat more of them”. On the Israeli Palestinian conflict Ariely’s wisdom reveals that they “Need a third party” to help them resolve their issues because they are incapable of resolving it themselves. You don’t say. “Third party” … hmm, where have I heard that before? Rome or Paris? With or without coffee? Offering something for free as an added incentive? The genius is overflowing. “Obama and Hillary and Hillary plus Obama looked like the Rome wit coffee” … “Makes Rome wit coffee looks more attractive”. When are we going to have coffee with Obama? Rome with coffee, and when people meet for coffee. That’s a lot ‘a coffee in one interview. “Dragged through the trash … the mud, I guess is the expression”, says Ariely. <i>Characteristics</i> – three syllables? Can one say “Money lost under the bridge”? I guess one can – LOL. <i>Predictably Irrational</i> will, predictably, disappear from our lives and our vocabulary, hopefully, as soon as possible. Recently at Barns & Noble I went through some pages of Predictably Irrational. I couldn’t figure out what Dan Ariely was talking about. It was “ghostly”. It made me think a bit about nothing. I admit that I briefly considered buying the book. There was something about the title. Who thinks of themselves as predictable? No one. It is always “the other guy”. Who thinks of themselves as irrational? No one etc. The double whammy of the title almost persuaded me into thinking that if I only read this book, I would finally be in possession of the weapons to point at “the other guy”. Then, while listening to the interview I suddenly realized that Ariely is telling me that the sky is blue, and then went on to attempt to reinvent the wheel. Predictably Irrational will momentarily capture our very short attention spans through the inveiglement of tiny “connections” between intentional laziness and freedom, consumerism, and the recycling – albeit not very eloquently – of early 20th century behavioral economics. What will the book reveal about us and our culture? Nothing … with the exception of causing us to resound “oh WOW, that’s cool, look how that works” – in an attempt to bedazzle us with some creative typing.

On obesity Ariely says “Eat slower”.

On vegetables Ariely says buy more so that you’ll “Eat more of them”.

On the Israeli Palestinian conflict Ariely’s wisdom reveals that they “Need a third party” to help them resolve their issues because they are incapable of resolving it themselves. You don’t say. “Third party” … hmm, where have I heard that before?

Rome or Paris? With or without coffee? Offering something for free as an added incentive? The genius is overflowing.

“Obama and Hillary and Hillary plus Obama looked like the Rome wit coffee” … “Makes Rome wit coffee looks more attractive”.

When are we going to have coffee with Obama? Rome with coffee, and when people meet for coffee. That’s a lot ‘a coffee in one interview.

“Dragged through the trash … the mud, I guess is the expression”, says Ariely. Characteristics – three syllables? Can one say “Money lost under the bridge”? I guess one can – LOL.

Predictably Irrational will, predictably, disappear from our lives and our vocabulary, hopefully, as soon as possible.

]]> By: jdcasey http://www.radioopensource.org/dan-ariely-confronting-irrationality/#comment-92595 jdcasey Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:46:24 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1254#comment-92595 I just thought I'd mention that his ideas of waste psychology were spot on. This year, my wife and I decided to try a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription. We got a lot more than we bargained for. Each Saturday we got a new grocery bag stuffed full of vegetables, whether we'd finished the one from the previous week or not. We first attempted to avoid waste through Veggie Saturday...where we ate nothing but our CSA vegetables for dinner, to finish them up. What ended up working the best for us was to actually rearrange our grocery shopping habits, so we could plan the week's meals around the veggies we got on Saturday. This has completely changed the way we approach meals, and we're eating much more healthily as a result. I was shocked to hear Mr. Ariely recount our exact experience since January! I just thought I’d mention that his ideas of waste psychology were spot on. This year, my wife and I decided to try a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription. We got a lot more than we bargained for. Each Saturday we got a new grocery bag stuffed full of vegetables, whether we’d finished the one from the previous week or not. We first attempted to avoid waste through Veggie Saturday…where we ate nothing but our CSA vegetables for dinner, to finish them up.

What ended up working the best for us was to actually rearrange our grocery shopping habits, so we could plan the week’s meals around the veggies we got on Saturday. This has completely changed the way we approach meals, and we’re eating much more healthily as a result.

I was shocked to hear Mr. Ariely recount our exact experience since January!

]]> By: OliverCranglesParrot http://www.radioopensource.org/dan-ariely-confronting-irrationality/#comment-92594 OliverCranglesParrot Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:33:32 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1254#comment-92594 Well stated jazzman, as usual, and thanks for the article link. I did my research on this matter by studying Mister Ed, Arnold the pig, and Francis the talking mule. Great seeing you turn up again jazzman (really enjoyed the Amram comment), as well as, potter, hurley, nother, et al..., and some new voices too ... As jazzman says: Peace to ALL Well stated jazzman, as usual, and thanks for the article link. I did my research on this matter by studying Mister Ed, Arnold the pig, and Francis the talking mule. Great seeing you turn up again jazzman (really enjoyed the Amram comment), as well as, potter, hurley, nother, et al…, and some new voices too …

As jazzman says: Peace to ALL

]]> By: jazzman http://www.radioopensource.org/dan-ariely-confronting-irrationality/#comment-92593 jazzman Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:45:19 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1254#comment-92593 I just listened to the podcast and was pleased to note that Dan Ariely seems to have designed experiments that quantify the effect of belief on behavior and reality. These experiments seem to provide empirical data (the kind <i>plnelson</i> was always asking to be provided for seemingly unquantifiable assertions. I have written here, over the past 2.5 years that perception is reality and that perception is a function of one’s belief system and that each of us creates reality through the filter of our worldview/belief system despite what consensus and other’s alternative perceptions maintain. The irrationality Ariely finds is an alternate perception created by <i>his</i> belief system and those who agree with his assessment. Those who make irrational choices do not perceive them as irrational unless they are so vested in their choice that even though they realize they may be making an irrational or ill advised choice they rationalize the behavior and proceed against the reasonable options and suffer (or not) the consequences. The idea that lack of definition – fuzzy pictures, little information, or blank slate tends to allow one to fill in the missing information with one’s own data from one’s belief system makes perfect sense. Like impressionist paintings our minds fill in the blanks and we see what we create. Obama may be fuzzy or a blank slate as far as his public image and thin paper trail may indicate but he projects the image of someone who is highly intelligent (save the occasional faux pas) and cares about those who are disenfranchised (by projection or fiat.) We have a much sharper picture of McCain who seems confused and ill informed much of the time and whose psyche has not benefitted from the lessons of internment during his Vietnam experience as he still believes in war and caved on the torture question after railing against it. Obama believes in war – just not stupid wars (as I perceive all war as stupid I find this disheartening) but given the choice of <i>The Lesser of 2 Evils</i> I’ll be supporting Obama despite Ariely’s misgivings. <b>OCP</b> There is a good article in the May 12 New Yorker about your ilk <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/05/12/080512fa_fact_talbot?currentPage=all" rel="nofollow">Bird Brain Indeed</a> Keep On Squawkin’ p.s. <b>Hi Potter</b> I just listened to the podcast and was pleased to note that Dan Ariely seems to have designed experiments that quantify the effect of belief on behavior and reality. These experiments seem to provide empirical data (the kind plnelson was always asking to be provided for seemingly unquantifiable assertions. I have written here, over the past 2.5 years that perception is reality and that perception is a function of one’s belief system and that each of us creates reality through the filter of our worldview/belief system despite what consensus and other’s alternative perceptions maintain. The irrationality Ariely finds is an alternate perception created by his belief system and those who agree with his assessment. Those who make irrational choices do not perceive them as irrational unless they are so vested in their choice that even though they realize they may be making an irrational or ill advised choice they rationalize the behavior and proceed against the reasonable options and suffer (or not) the consequences.

The idea that lack of definition – fuzzy pictures, little information, or blank slate tends to allow one to fill in the missing information with one’s own data from one’s belief system makes perfect sense. Like impressionist paintings our minds fill in the blanks and we see what we create. Obama may be fuzzy or a blank slate as far as his public image and thin paper trail may indicate but he projects the image of someone who is highly intelligent (save the occasional faux pas) and cares about those who are disenfranchised (by projection or fiat.) We have a much sharper picture of McCain who seems confused and ill informed much of the time and whose psyche has not benefitted from the lessons of internment during his Vietnam experience as he still believes in war and caved on the torture question after railing against it. Obama believes in war – just not stupid wars (as I perceive all war as stupid I find this disheartening) but given the choice of The Lesser of 2 Evils I’ll be supporting Obama despite Ariely’s misgivings.

OCP There is a good article in the May 12 New Yorker about your ilk

Bird Brain Indeed Keep On Squawkin’

p.s. Hi Potter

]]> By: Potter http://www.radioopensource.org/dan-ariely-confronting-irrationality/#comment-92592 Potter Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:52:35 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1254#comment-92592 Nother- lest you perhaps misunderstand me, I am thrilled that Obama has gotten to this point. But so many hopes are riding on this man. In addition if he gets the office, and a dearly hope he does, he will have a lot of heavy lifting to do. he will inherit enormous problems and challenges. So I feel that there are a lot of supporters that are expecting too much. I have pulled my own expectations way back to feeling that just being who he is, his sensibility about the world, will be enough of a change. Nother- lest you perhaps misunderstand me, I am thrilled that Obama has gotten to this point. But so many hopes are riding on this man. In addition if he gets the office, and a dearly hope he does, he will have a lot of heavy lifting to do. he will inherit enormous problems and challenges. So I feel that there are a lot of supporters that are expecting too much. I have pulled my own expectations way back to feeling that just being who he is, his sensibility about the world, will be enough of a change.

]]> By: nother http://www.radioopensource.org/dan-ariely-confronting-irrationality/#comment-92591 nother Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:43:44 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1254#comment-92591 Potter, have you ever thought that he just might exceed those expectations you speak of (yours or someone else) - hes he not already? If you heard the stump speaches, you heard the pronoun "I" coming from Clinton. "I promise to be a great president for you." The question is will WE live up to expectations, and vote him in, and not tear him down, and back him whole-heartedly in a government -- oF The People. Potter, have you ever thought that he just might exceed those expectations you speak of (yours or someone else) – hes he not already?

If you heard the stump speaches, you heard the pronoun “I” coming from Clinton. “I promise to be a great president for you.”

The question is will WE live up to expectations, and vote him in, and not tear him down, and back him whole-heartedly in a government — oF The People.

]]> By: Potter http://www.radioopensource.org/dan-ariely-confronting-irrationality/#comment-92590 Potter Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:26:01 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1254#comment-92590 I'm with the parrot. Obama is bound to disappoint. He can never live up to expectations. I only hope he gets to that place where this will inevitably happen. I’m with the parrot.

Obama is bound to disappoint. He can never live up to expectations. I only hope he gets to that place where this will inevitably happen.

]]> By: RobM http://www.radioopensource.org/dan-ariely-confronting-irrationality/#comment-92589 RobM Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:08:43 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1254#comment-92589 I'm with you, ghostofdali. What is up with No Links? Perhaps they are all overstressed by graduations or whatever. Enjoy your sabbaticals. The rest of us continue to stress our ourselves with jobs that require our attendance, and we don't have time to read summaries or hunt for other links! But at least you try. I’m with you, ghostofdali. What is up with No Links?

Perhaps they are all overstressed by graduations or whatever. Enjoy your sabbaticals.

The rest of us continue to stress our ourselves with jobs that require our attendance, and we don’t have time to read summaries or hunt for other links!

But at least you try.

]]> By: ghostofdali http://www.radioopensource.org/dan-ariely-confronting-irrationality/#comment-92588 ghostofdali Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:16:07 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1254#comment-92588 No link for mp3? No link for mp3?

]]> By: escotj http://www.radioopensource.org/dan-ariely-confronting-irrationality/#comment-92587 escotj Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:42:34 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1254#comment-92587 I find his view on Iraq very unconvincing. Sure, we are 'used' to wars, but he doesn't take into account the full suite of behavioural studies. The propensity for war is probably higher following successful wars. Take a lesson from behavioural finance, it was a lot easier to sell someone tech stocks in 1999 than it was in 2001. I find his view on Iraq very unconvincing. Sure, we are ‘used’ to wars, but he doesn’t take into account the full suite of behavioural studies. The propensity for war is probably higher following successful wars. Take a lesson from behavioural finance, it was a lot easier to sell someone tech stocks in 1999 than it was in 2001.

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