However, I always find these exchanges to be really fascinating from the point of view of the Dark Arts used. The most recent time this happened, I was stopped and asked for the time which he promptly ignored. Then he told me that he had seen me around before - this is entirely plausible since I walk by there most days but is also likely to be true of a randomly selected person so could just be a shot in the dark. He shook my hand multiple times. Gave me his name and told me to call him by his nickname. He told me about being a veteran, talked to me about any veterans I knew. Tried to guess my current job and messed up in a way that implied I was younger than I am which was probably his only significant mistake as that could have annoyed some people. He then acted impressed when I corrected him. Asked where I was from and then said he had an acquaintance from nearby. Then of course he asked for train ride money which started at 8 dollars and ended up being 23.

I could practically check off the chapters of Cialdini's Influence one-by-one on this list and noticed at least two of these tactics while they were being used. Unfortunately, Cialdini's book has laughable excuses for sections on "Defense Against" said dark arts, rarely saying anything more than "just use the fact that they're using these tricks against them since now you know better!" So, here I am, knowing the nature of my foe and yet still being utterly dragged in by it.

And yet people here are still surprised that gatekeepers could lose at the AI box game.