|
|
|
|
#1
12-18-2006, 01:37 PM
|
|||
|
|||
Am I Being Too Hard On People With My Willpower Experiment
I tend to be very unforgiving toward people who don't stick to their resolutions. Especially if it is chronic. At the very least I expect tham to take note of their propensity to continue eating, drinking, not exercising, not studying, or whatever, after they tell everybody how they will change. Which means at the very least they should stop making these statements so as not to continue disappointing people around them. Tell us AFTER you accomplish something.
The reply I get is that I should understand human frailty better. Some people have little willpower and it is cruel for me to expect them to confront that fact. If they want to continually talk about their plans for the future, that I know won't happen, I should just let them. They also go on to say that the ability to show willpower is an individual thing. I can't judge unless I walk a mile in their shoes. Perhaps they have just as much willpower as I do. They don't push themselves like I do (I actually do in some regards, notwithstanding my "laziness" admission elsewhere.) because the discomfort or pain is greater to them than to me. Whether it be doing twenty pushups, drinking pomegranite juice, or reading a science book. I agree. But then to rebut them I propose an experiment. I offer them money to entice them to do what they never do after merely saying they want to and will. And lo and behold they now do it! This has actually happened for moderate money. When it does, I claim that their arguments about themselves have been shown to be basically hogwash. Am I being too tough on them? 
|
|
#3
12-18-2006, 01:44 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Am I Being Too Hard On People With My Willpower Experiment
Probably not. It seems that it's a matter of what it takes to motivate someone to change. Apparently a sufficient monetary incentive will often provide enough motivation.
|
|
#4
12-18-2006, 02:39 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Am I Being Too Hard On People With My Willpower Experiment
[ QUOTE ]
Probably not. It seems that it's a matter of what it takes to motivate someone to change. Apparently a sufficient monetary incentive will often provide enough motivation. [/ QUOTE ] Yup. Some people just need some extra motivation.
|
|
#5
12-18-2006, 02:40 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Am I Being Too Hard On People With My Willpower Experiment
They change their behavior because of the promise to someone other than themselves and have a stake in it with that person. If you perhaps bet against them they would most likely not take the bet but if you offer money for doing it you are teaming up with that person and supporting them in a goal they want but never follow through on. To be successful at anything in this life your either gifted or part of a team. I would venture to say that the money isn't as important as the team created. The fact that they don't want to let two people down is substantial. The money is just a validation for sincerity.
|
|
#7
12-18-2006, 11:28 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Am I Being Too Hard On People With My Willpower Experiment
[ QUOTE ]
Did you mean: pomegranate? [/ QUOTE ]I don't think anyone cares that you spotted a misspelling, since it was clear that he did mean pomegranate.
|
|
#8
12-18-2006, 03:42 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
~
[ QUOTE ]
They change their behavior because of the promise to someone other than themselves and have a stake in it with that person. If you perhaps bet against them they would most likely not take the bet but if you offer money for doing it you are teaming up with that person and supporting them in a goal they want but never follow through on. To be successful at anything in this life your either gifted or part of a team. I would venture to say that the money isn't as important as the team created. The fact that they don't want to let two people down is substantial. The money is just a validation for sincerity. [/ QUOTE ] How are they letting down the staker? If they succeed, DS loses money. I don't think he necessarily wants them to succeed. This is not a situation where both people benefit if the first one succeeds. I don't see how a team is formed here. ~MagicMan
|
|
#9
12-18-2006, 08:01 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: ~
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ] They change their behavior because of the promise to someone other than themselves and have a stake in it with that person. If you perhaps bet against them they would most likely not take the bet but if you offer money for doing it you are teaming up with that person and supporting them in a goal they want but never follow through on. To be successful at anything in this life your either gifted or part of a team. I would venture to say that the money isn't as important as the team created. The fact that they don't want to let two people down is substantial. The money is just a validation for sincerity. [/ QUOTE ] How are they letting down the staker? If they succeed, DS loses money. I don't think he necessarily wants them to succeed. This is not a situation where both people benefit if the first one succeeds. I don't see how a team is formed here. ~MagicMan [/ QUOTE ] You don't have to see a benefit from the staker is the point. There is a possible benefit that is unseen but it can be satisfaction or monetary however the partnership comes from the person who puts up the stake who obviously wants them to succeed because why else put up the stake? The quickest example I can think off would be a farther putting up a stake for a son or daughter. The benefit is not seen and may well never be seen but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Now if it's a bet then they are saying they expect failure. [ QUOTE ] Did you mean: pomegranate? [/ QUOTE ] Don't know what you mean but I'm thinking it might be sarcasm??? Anyway sorry I didn't get it. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
|
|
#10
12-18-2006, 11:15 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: ~
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] They change their behavior because of the promise to someone other than themselves and have a stake in it with that person. If you perhaps bet against them they would most likely not take the bet but if you offer money for doing it you are teaming up with that person and supporting them in a goal they want but never follow through on. To be successful at anything in this life your either gifted or part of a team. I would venture to say that the money isn't as important as the team created. The fact that they don't want to let two people down is substantial. The money is just a validation for sincerity. [/ QUOTE ] How are they letting down the staker? If they succeed, DS loses money. I don't think he necessarily wants them to succeed. This is not a situation where both people benefit if the first one succeeds. I don't see how a team is formed here. ~MagicMan [/ QUOTE ] You don't have to see a benefit from the staker is the point. There is a possible benefit that is unseen but it can be satisfaction or monetary however the partnership comes from the person who puts up the stake who obviously wants them to succeed because why else put up the stake? The quickest example I can think off would be a farther putting up a stake for a son or daughter. The benefit is not seen and may well never be seen but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Now if it's a bet then they are saying they expect failure. [/ QUOTE ] When I make an offer like this, my satisfaction could come from the smug "I told you so" if they fail. ~MagicMan
|
 |
|
|
Hybrid Mode
