I was much amused that RHP has resorted to the oldest societal trick in the book. I only get on the forums once in a while, and I realize that to many of you that is too often. Good. I did have a good chuckle over the 'Recommend' feature. Most people would have a difficult time saying this, and I don't expect there will be any supporters of this idea, because to do so would risk the most terrible of all human punishments... Banishment.
The 'Recommend' feature is a piece of food offered to the chimps for good behavior. If you are good and say something 'nice', you will get a chimp credit. It is almost laughable, if it weren't so sad. I am not saying it is inherently a bad thing. Just rather obvious in it's attempt to apply social pressure within the community to comply. If you don't get many recommendations, you are surely not very important.
Conversely... aim for chimp food and become a dominant, card carrying silver-back. Wow! Is it just me? Probably. I am probably the only person on RHP who doesn't really care about chimp credits, so it stands to reason this would strike me as an extremely transparent way of forcing a unified community.
The bigger question then becomes... Why? Why do human chimps fall into such silly chimp-credits-for-my-soul schemes and tricks? It is because of our inherited nature of the group. Banishment is the thing to be feared above all else.
I told a member of RHP once that i had belonged to a group at a pub in my youth, and that community almost killed me. I was banished, is what happened. I was the only liberal in the place, if you can imagine that. <chuckle>
I also told him not to do or follow my lead in any way, because it could be extremely dangerous. That is still good advice.
Since my Pub Community experience some twenty years ago, I have rather made a study of the human chimp and the only currency we use. RECOGNITION. There is nothing else. Every activity we engage in is aimed at gaining it. RHP has been a gold mine to study. Even the number of meaningless moves a player can make increase the chimp credits. People have even wanted to give chimp credits for people who make the most posts, even if there is no content. Then there are the ratings and rankings and the creation of clans to that there is more chimp credits available in the form of clan leaders etc. Every action we take is aimed at increasing our standing in the community. Every person we associate with is done with an eye to the ground and an ear to the wind. Increase of chimp credit drives us to every action we take.
I dare anyone to come up with an example of ANY actions that human chimps take, that is not directly for the purpose of increasing our chimp credits. Altruism? No such thing. Just more chimp credits.
Anyway. I am much amused at the Recommend button and I can assure you, this is one Chimp who will take perverse pride in not ever... in a million years getting a Recommendation. Like i needed to worry about it. 😀
Always sailing against the wind, and proudly alone.
Mike
Originally posted by StarValleyWythis has to be the oldest trick in the book!
I was much amused that RHP has resorted to the oldest societal trick in the book.
what a job of reverse psychology!!
on for barely half an hour and already it has earned 4 recommendations - well earned!!!
😀
in fiendship,
prad
Well until the latest rumpus, I didn't have the slightest clue what the recommendation feature meant. Now unless I'm the most ignorant person on the site (which, admittedly, is possible) there are presumably others out there also immune to the attractions of chimp food.
For the record, I've checked back, and until my recent post on the award ceremony, I'd gone my entire RHP career without a single recommendation from anyone. Oh, and Mike, I couldn't help throw a bit of chimp food your way. 😉
Rich.
Originally posted by richhoeyRich,
Well until the latest rumpus, I didn't have the slightest clue what the recommendation feature meant. Now unless I'm the most ignorant person on the site (which, admittedly, is possible) there are presumably others out there also immune ...[text shortened]... couldn't help throw a bit of chimp food your way. 😉
Rich.
You really have a sick sense of humor. What can I say? 😛
You got me!
Mike
Originally posted by pradtfThat is rather perverse, I must admit. My purpose was not reverse psychology. I am entirely serious. Can you name a single GROUP that humans join for any reason other than to increase their "Chimp Credits" and gain recognition? Let's exclude "Family" from that list. I can think of cases where we indulge in "counter-chimp" behaviors when dealing with our family.
this has to be the oldest trick in the book!
what a job of reverse psychology!!
on for barely half an hour and already it has earned 4 recommendations - well earned!!!
😀
in fiendship,
prad
So family excluded, give me a single organization or group of people who, when they hold their first meeting don't get down to nominating and voting for the president, vice chairperson, or secretary?
All business is a struggle to become the top chimp. Or to become the one who gets to keep the CEO's backside licked clean.
All government is an ego trip to gain more chimp credits.
Even a garden club that grows violets by the dozen waste no time in setting up a chimp credit system. "Who are you supporting for president this year, ma' dear?"... "Who do you think will take the ribbons at Darby this weekend, ma dear?"
So the challenge is to you. No reverse psychology. Totally serious. Name a single human activity outside of family that isn't designed to allow the gathering of recognitions. What the hey. Lets just call them chimp credits. I like that term. Strikes a silly bone in my strange sense of humor, and prevents the argument from getting too serious. I hope.
Originally posted by Jay PeateaNo. You have reached a point where you have been banished or are about to be. As a last resort, to salvage the future, you will try anything. Not all fear of banishment is bad, but you still get to feel good by helping others. This increases your credit within the group. Your "worth" as a human being. This is good. This group is your lifeline and most important group in the world, next to your family. Recognition by only your first name becomes a badge of honor. If not for the need for recognition and fear of banishment, I doubt there would be an AA.
The AA ?
Good post though. Very thought provoking.
Originally posted by StarValleyWyActually I ment the other AA the Automobile Association, you join & if your car breaks down they come and tow you home. 😉
No. You have reached a point where you have been banished or are about to be. As a last resort, to salvage the future, you will try anything. Not all fear of banishment is bad, but you still get to feel good by helping others. This increases your credit within the group. Your "worth" as a human being. This is good. This group is your lifeline and most ...[text shortened]... d fear of banishment, I doubt there would be an AA.
Good post though. Very thought provoking.
Originally posted by Jay PeateaYou are not a member... in that case. They call it "Member", but you are a "Customer". < I hate euphamisms > Customers don't count. Customers are the cattle being milked, and Employees of AAA are the guys pulling hard on the teat to fill the most pails. If you "join" AAA then you are an employee. Everyting you do at that point is to curry favor with fellow "employees" and "bosses". If you become a boss you then curry only the minimal amount of help from below that you calculate you will need in any further advancement "up the ladder". For example, even though you no longer work the phones, you stay in good stead with the "defacto" leaders of the shifts. You can thus call in credits from them later, should the need arise.
Actually I ment the other AA the Automobile Association, you join & if your car breaks down they come and tow you home. 😉
Originally posted by StarValleyWyand i was only joking (admittedly astutely), mike 😀
That is rather perverse, I must admit. My purpose was not reverse psychology. I am entirely serious.
take a close look at my signature on that post 😀
my understanding of this 'credit' system is that it is not so much a popularity contest as a guide especially for visitors to see what supposedly 'valued' posts are. i don't think there is a problem with that and i have to admit that i feel somewhat good when i recommend somebody's post because i think it has merit of one form or another.
in fact, i recommended your post not because i wanted to
1) justify my response to yours
2) punish you by adding yet another mark to the tally that you don't want
but because i happen to agree with much of what you said. however, as you can plainly see, this is an amusing 'strange loop' in that by speaking very validly against chimp food you are the unwitting recipient of the same.
as far as your 'challenge', it is unfortunately (in my opinion) a difficult one to meet indeed in society as it is - so you'll get no argument from me on that. however, we can try to come close. if you want me to, i can tell you about how we tried to minimize the chimp food within my former school's computer department.
in friendship,
prad
Originally posted by pradtfThanks, prad.
and i was only joking (admittedly astutely), mike 😀
take a close look at my signature on that post 😀
my understanding of this 'credit' system is that it is not so much a popularity contest as a guide especially for visitors to see what supposedly 'valued' posts are. i don't think there is a problem with that and i have to admit that i feel somewhat ...[text shortened]... minimize the chimp food within my former school's computer department.
in friendship,
prad
What i thought of as perverse was to get the recommends when the point was to NOT get them. Murphy works in mysterious ways. I didn't think you were being unkind, so not to worry.
I would like to hear the story. Especially if it has played "completely" out. Attempts at curbing "chimp credits" usually end in one hell of a war. Small scale, perhaps, but war none the less. <envisions twenty on twenty screaming chimps with rocks, mouths, sticks and evil stares>
I did notice you used the word "minimize", not "eliminate". Good choice, i think.
In Freindship,
Mike
Originally posted by StarValleyWyVery good post, I've recommended it. 😏
I was much amused that RHP has resorted to the oldest societal trick in the book. I only get on the forums once in a while, and I realize that to many of you that is too often. Good. I did have a good chuckle over the 'Recommend' feature. Most people would have a difficult time saying this, and I don't expect there will be any supporters of this idea ...[text shortened]... i needed to worry about it. 😀
Always sailing against the wind, and proudly alone.
Mike
I agree with what you say here about the goal of (most) humans to increase their standing in the community with (almost) everything they do in that same community, but in this situations, it does contain something good...
That is because I guess that the goal of the whole recommendations thingy is to raise the level of the conversations made and the discussions held in this forum and I believe that's a thing we all want, after all, the forums are the core of this community, that's what the site says.
Please tell me if I misunderstood what you were saying here.
And Mike, you're not too bad at all... 🙂
Olav