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zslastman comments on Why Don't People Help Others More? - Less Wrong
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Interesting idea, although you risk triggering associations like the "final fantasy" one you mention above that would switch people's serious reactions off. You're also going to hit saturation very soon I think. Somebody needs to do this and draw the curves, figure out how much room there is for sadness in the human mind.
Sadness Engineering. I think I've had an idea for a startup.
I'm essentially working on this. Anyone who intends to be working on it seriously, PM me.
Do you think people notice cut scenes like that? Back before I learned anything about graphic design, I didn't notice the techniques they were using -- what I noticed were the images they presented to me in the visual foreground. I don't think people will get distracted by the technique or associate it with entertainment. I think most wouldn't notice it. But that's an interesting point - to wonder how many people would notice that and how many wouldn't.
Even if that is the case, a really good designer could make it their task to re-frame the technique of seamless cut-scenes such that they look serious or don't distract you from the serious context. For instance, adding a shaky helicopter ride in that's so wobbly, you automatically assume it's real.
A clever designer could get around minor presentation challenges like these, I feel.
Shouldn't be hard to get this done. Kickstarter? Or even a philanthropic graphic designer?
It would take a brilliant designer to do it well, not to mention the influence of a person with excellent leadership skills contributing their vision for how to transform the stress into purpose, and someone who knows a lot about psychology and visual communication to analyze how to pull off the effect correctly. I have no objection to assisting with making such a project successful, by contributing my understanding of psychology and design, but I have next to no experience doing video and animation. I have projects of my own that take priority due to being pre-existing, so if you or someone you know wants to lead this, go for it.
The harder challenge would be a little later-- if it works, all charitable appeals will look the same.
Good one, Nancy. But we might all be more purpose-oriented. It could change us on the inside, if it worked. Even if the appeals looked the same, if people put more toward charity, the result would still be an increase in charitable behavior.
Intense stress can be constructive. You're totally right that people will not have any idea how to deal with it. This could be either very good or very bad for the charity presenting intensely distressing imagery like what I think is needed to get people to react emotionally to statistics. If you present yourself as the solution to all of this, the guide who makes those feelings constructive, that could be very good. If the people can't handle the stress, they'll shut off. If you ASSIST them with handling stress, you will be seen as a leader in a hard situation, a source of comfort that gives a constructive outlet to emotion, meaning to pain. The difference could be this:
You see a crying child, you're a little sad, you give her 20 bucks.
You see a dying country, you are moved to act now, suddenly life has purpose, you experience a renewed sense of meaning.
It would have to be done very, very carefully to have the most constructive effect. Then again, what doesn't?