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Eugine_Nier comments on Why do people ____? - Less Wrong Discussion

25 Post author: magfrump 04 May 2012 04:20AM

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Comment author: Eugine_Nier 09 May 2012 04:25:28AM 2 points [-]

Since status is zero sum, why aren't other people more proactive in noticing, being annoyed by, and socially punishing such behavior?

Prisoner's dilemma/tragedy of the commons. Deflating X's status seeking benefits everyone (except X and his allies), but the costs of doing so are born by the person doing the deflating.