SoullessAutomaton comments on Least Signaling Activities? - Less Wrong

27 Post author: RobinHanson 22 May 2009 02:46AM

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Comment author: SoullessAutomaton 22 May 2009 08:34:33PM *  1 point [-]

Here's another possibility: addictive behaviors. Addiction is, generally speaking, a compulsion to partake of some behavior with disregard for costs associated with the behavior. This can be extended to include a disregard for potential signals sent by the behavior, in much the same way that someone who is sufficiently hungry will desire to eat with no regard for signaling.

Given what AdeleneDawner reports about experiences with non-signaling, I wonder if part of the reason for the (sometimes apparently disproportionate) social stigma of addiction stems from the blatant disregard for signaling displayed by addicts?

For instance, it seems to me that someone who makes consistently bad decisions with an awareness of signaling is less likely to suffer additional social penalties than someone who makes similarly bad decisions as part of satisfying an addiction.

Comment author: phaedrus 27 April 2010 07:49:43AM 0 points [-]

Yep, I would say behavior that you wouldn't want others to know about, but you have to engage in anyway. Such as overeating, or purging may be.

Comment author: Torben 24 May 2009 10:35:27AM *  0 points [-]

For instance, it seems to me that someone who makes consistently bad decisions with an awareness of signaling is less likely to suffer additional social penalties than someone who makes similarly bad decisions as part of satisfying an addiction.

You think? In my experience, people are more accepting of, say, winos in the street than they would be with perceived normal people acting the same way. I'd say people excuse addicts' actions exactly because they're addicts.

Comment author: RobinHanson 23 May 2009 11:30:24PM 0 points [-]

Thise seems plausible to me.