jasticE comments on Build Small Skills in the Right Order - Less Wrong

90 Post author: lukeprog 17 April 2011 11:01PM

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Comment author: handoflixue 26 April 2011 11:14:44PM 3 points [-]

I would think the easiest method, albeit not terribly objective, would simply be to get someone who is fairly good at manipulation and play out scenarios with them. I've done this a few times as the manipulator, and it's sort of scary how easily I can manipulate people in specific games, even when they know the rules and have witnessed some of my techniques.

If you do try it, I'll comment that time and social pressure help me a lot in making people more pliable, too. I do these as a group exercise, so there's a lot of peer pressure both to perform well, and not to use exactly the sort of "cheats" you should be using to resist manipulation. It's also helped that I've always known the group and thus known how to tweak myself to hit specific weaknesses.

If you find something more useful than this, I'd love to hear it. I've merely learned I'm fairly good at manipulating - I have no clue how good I am at resisting :)

Comment author: cousin_it 27 April 2011 10:13:05AM 1 point [-]

I'd love to try this (being the manipulatee). Do your mind tricks work over Skype?

Comment author: handoflixue 29 April 2011 07:51:23AM 0 points [-]

Having not tested them, I wouldn't be sure. I tend to do best with people who are either following an easily inferred pattern (office workers, security, etc.) or people who I know personally, which would make it harder to do with someone I don't know. You also are neither "disposable" (someone I'll never deal with again) nor a friend, which adds a bit of social awkwardness.

Given that's an entire paragraph of excuses, I suppose I should offer to try it anyway, if you want :)

Comment author: cousin_it 29 April 2011 08:53:16AM 0 points [-]

Good! How about Sunday evening (CEST)?

Comment author: handoflixue 29 April 2011 08:56:49PM *  0 points [-]

CEST = UTC+2, correct? I'm PST (UTC-7), so that'd put you 9 hours ahead of me.

My 10 AM would be your 7 PM - would that work for you? I can do a couple hours later if not.

EDIT: I'm assuming Sunday, May 1st, 2011. If you could send me your Skype name that will probably also make this much easier :)

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 27 April 2011 11:25:57AM 1 point [-]

time and social pressure help me a lot in making people more pliable

That reminds me of a bit from a book about art forgery-- that need, greed, and speed make people more gullible.