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WalterL comments on Tell Culture - Less Wrong
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I'm mostly solitary, but even I've used these patterns before. It seems to correspond roughly to who has the power in a given conversation.
Tell:
Walter: I want to buy a pizza. It should have bread and cheese and pepperoni on it. Bring it to Address, and I'll give the delivery minion its cost, plus a tip if it is within time X.
Pizza Human: Alright.
Ask:
Walter: Am I in your way, would you like to use this exercise machine?
Gym Human: No, I'm waiting for a friend.
Guess:
Walter: Despite it being only 3 o'clock, many people have gone home for the day on this, the day we set aside to celebrate Martin Luthor King.
Boss Human: You may leave early.
Tell
Pizza Humans' piece of paper:
We offer boring pizzas (with just cheese and pepperoni) for $9. We offer other pizza with decent toppings X, Y and Z for $14. We have a family deal that comes with two pizzas and a free coke and garlic bread and home delivery for $20. If you don't get your pizzas within 45 minutes your order is free.
Walter: I'll order the family deal with pizzas 3 and 7. Address is ....
The interaction can be described either way just as comfortably. Of all the common forms of interaction this kind of exchange has among the least (relevant) power inequality. A market that is more or less efficient. In fact, a slight variation on your model may emphasise the importance not just of who has the power but to what degree there isa difference at all.
Your "ask" example is actually "guess" or "offer," in which you guess that Gym Human wants something so you make then an offer. "Ask" would be more like "Can I use that exercise machine you are using?" "Yes, I will go use that other type of exercise machine now and make this one available to you."
Kalium is right that your Ask example isn't really an example of Ask culture. But I'm also not seeing the supposed correlation with power - Walter seem to be lower status in both the Ask and the Guess example. Is the idea that Ask would be the paradigm used among equals?