Excellent article! I learned this theory in the military. Keep your mouth shut, your head down, observe, listen, formulate, Act with 100% commitment. The most important theory: Snitches get stitches.
Ed, an excellent piece of hard-won wisdom, thank you! While I grew up in rural America, I also lived in big cities and close-in urban areas for nearly 40 years. While I have never been in a physical confrontation ( but plenty of verbal ones!), I did learn " street- smart" quickly. As an empath who deeply feels the currents or "vibes " of others, I walked quickly and with focus and purpose, especially for my 31 years in San Francisco. I could always sense trouble ahead and would maneuver away swiftly. You are totally correct in the concept of giving and in so doing, honorably helping the collective. As Christ said in Luke 6:38,
" Give and it shall be given unto you; pressed down, and shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you give withal it shall be measured to you again. " Powerful wisdom from Jesus, not at all easy to do but worthy of following. Thank you again, Ed, for this powerful writing.
Excellent. I just realized this strategy applies to schools as well. I teach middle school. Last year our principal was weak and fickle. This year, we have a strong principal who kids fear. That means I have some power in the classroom. I don't make a bunch of threats, but when I have to discipline, I do so. (Okay I probably don't always follow through...but I'm giving the kids a chance to save face, etc.) Anyway. Good article. Thanks!
I first heard about Game Theory in reference to the rock band Van Halen with their head singer David Lee Roth.
As the story goes in the 1980's when Van Halen was on the the road traveling from city to city the band got sick of having to follow behind the safety checklists of the hosting venues where they would be contracted to perform.
As a solution the band (Roth) came up with the idea of including a clause somewhere in the middle of the contract demanding a bowl of M&M's minus the browns to be placed somewhere in the band's holding area.
This way if after their arrival at their next venue resulted in no bowl of M&Ms, or a bowl of M&Ms that included the browns it was safe to say that the agreement wasn't read, or read well.
Therefore they would already know that they would have to follow up behind the venue for the safety checklists and that they would be in breach of contract.
However, if they encountered their bowl of M&Ms minus the browns it was safe to assume that the safety checklist was addressed as requested.
Brilliant move by the rock n roll legend David Lee Roth.
A very good article. What I'd add is that social media (and the internet in general) amplifies the effects of betrayal upon the betrayed and dampens the benefits of co-operation.
Yesterday in Australia a man stabbed and killed several people at a shopping centre before being shot dead by a police officer who happened to be there. Within hours, someone online had decided that a young Jewish man (the shopping centre is in a Jewish area of town) was the killer, and started circulating his image online. This quickly spread. Fortunately the police quickly identified the actual offender.
In person, this sort of rumour-mongering and nastiness can be dealt with by fierce loyalty and retribution, as you note. With online interactions, there are no negative repercussions for a betrayer.
In my own life I've abused the bureaucratic systems I worked in to ensure good outcomes - stop a woman being sexually harassed, that sort of thing; I say "abused" because the intent of the system was to make the problem disappear, not be resolved, but I could twist it so it worked anyway. And personal threats of violence have worked, too.
But I can't visit any retribution against 5,000 people tagging me on social media and sending me threats by private message.
Social media amplifies the effects of betrayal upon the betrayed and dampens the benefits of co-operation.
Excellent article! I learned this theory in the military. Keep your mouth shut, your head down, observe, listen, formulate, Act with 100% commitment. The most important theory: Snitches get stitches.
I found this interesting. It pays to put others first. I like that.
Ed, an excellent piece of hard-won wisdom, thank you! While I grew up in rural America, I also lived in big cities and close-in urban areas for nearly 40 years. While I have never been in a physical confrontation ( but plenty of verbal ones!), I did learn " street- smart" quickly. As an empath who deeply feels the currents or "vibes " of others, I walked quickly and with focus and purpose, especially for my 31 years in San Francisco. I could always sense trouble ahead and would maneuver away swiftly. You are totally correct in the concept of giving and in so doing, honorably helping the collective. As Christ said in Luke 6:38,
" Give and it shall be given unto you; pressed down, and shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you give withal it shall be measured to you again. " Powerful wisdom from Jesus, not at all easy to do but worthy of following. Thank you again, Ed, for this powerful writing.
Excellent. I just realized this strategy applies to schools as well. I teach middle school. Last year our principal was weak and fickle. This year, we have a strong principal who kids fear. That means I have some power in the classroom. I don't make a bunch of threats, but when I have to discipline, I do so. (Okay I probably don't always follow through...but I'm giving the kids a chance to save face, etc.) Anyway. Good article. Thanks!
I don’t think I’ve ever used big stick energy but I’m trying to become more strategic these days. Thanks for the ideas.
This was an excellent write up.
I first heard about Game Theory in reference to the rock band Van Halen with their head singer David Lee Roth.
As the story goes in the 1980's when Van Halen was on the the road traveling from city to city the band got sick of having to follow behind the safety checklists of the hosting venues where they would be contracted to perform.
As a solution the band (Roth) came up with the idea of including a clause somewhere in the middle of the contract demanding a bowl of M&M's minus the browns to be placed somewhere in the band's holding area.
This way if after their arrival at their next venue resulted in no bowl of M&Ms, or a bowl of M&Ms that included the browns it was safe to say that the agreement wasn't read, or read well.
Therefore they would already know that they would have to follow up behind the venue for the safety checklists and that they would be in breach of contract.
However, if they encountered their bowl of M&Ms minus the browns it was safe to assume that the safety checklist was addressed as requested.
Brilliant move by the rock n roll legend David Lee Roth.
Thank you for a great piece here my friend.
A very good article. What I'd add is that social media (and the internet in general) amplifies the effects of betrayal upon the betrayed and dampens the benefits of co-operation.
Yesterday in Australia a man stabbed and killed several people at a shopping centre before being shot dead by a police officer who happened to be there. Within hours, someone online had decided that a young Jewish man (the shopping centre is in a Jewish area of town) was the killer, and started circulating his image online. This quickly spread. Fortunately the police quickly identified the actual offender.
In person, this sort of rumour-mongering and nastiness can be dealt with by fierce loyalty and retribution, as you note. With online interactions, there are no negative repercussions for a betrayer.
In my own life I've abused the bureaucratic systems I worked in to ensure good outcomes - stop a woman being sexually harassed, that sort of thing; I say "abused" because the intent of the system was to make the problem disappear, not be resolved, but I could twist it so it worked anyway. And personal threats of violence have worked, too.
But I can't visit any retribution against 5,000 people tagging me on social media and sending me threats by private message.
Social media amplifies the effects of betrayal upon the betrayed and dampens the benefits of co-operation.
You might appreciate this podcast:
https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/N27uhIa15Ib
Well said and I 100 percent agree.