SWAY: Do not push the Red Button!
If you hear: “Do not push the red button!”, “You have been warned!” what are you going to do? And what is rational to do? Most of us would have pushed the button, in spite of how smart and educated we are, curiosity will win and there is no place to think about circumstances.
Some times ago I watched a movie “The Box” where the similar case is shown in sci-fi genre: one morning a simple wooden box has been delivered as a gift to one usual suburban couple. They are normal people suffering like anybody else from daily problems and financial difficulties. The stranger who delivered the box says that it is a simple game: if they press the button, they will get 1 000 000 $ but somewhere in the world (in the neighborhood or another city or country) someone they don’t know will die. They have to decide in 24 hours.
Irrationality begins when normal, rational behaviors do not work anymore: it won’t take long for this couple to start wondering what would happen if they did push the button. Would they really get a million dollars? Would somebody really die? After some thoughts the wife presses the button (“true nature of our humanity”, it is not about why woman did it ;-) ) but nothing happens; they are disappointed as where is nothing inside. But they get money…
And the stranger says: “There are always consequences…”
I would like to finalize my post with the quote from the Sway's Epilogue phrase: "It is only by recognizing and understanding the hidden world of sways that we can hope to weaken their influence and curb their power over our thinking and our lives."
If you hear: “Do not push the red button!”, “You have been warned!” what are you going to do? And what is rational to do? Most of us would have pushed the button, in spite of how smart and educated we are, curiosity will win and there is no place to think about circumstances.
Some times ago I watched a movie “The Box” where the similar case is shown in sci-fi genre: one morning a simple wooden box has been delivered as a gift to one usual suburban couple. They are normal people suffering like anybody else from daily problems and financial difficulties. The stranger who delivered the box says that it is a simple game: if they press the button, they will get 1 000 000 $ but somewhere in the world (in the neighborhood or another city or country) someone they don’t know will die. They have to decide in 24 hours.
Irrationality begins when normal, rational behaviors do not work anymore: it won’t take long for this couple to start wondering what would happen if they did push the button. Would they really get a million dollars? Would somebody really die? After some thoughts the wife presses the button (“true nature of our humanity”, it is not about why woman did it ;-) ) but nothing happens; they are disappointed as where is nothing inside. But they get money…
And the stranger says: “There are always consequences…”
I would like to finalize my post with the quote from the Sway's Epilogue phrase: "It is only by recognizing and understanding the hidden world of sways that we can hope to weaken their influence and curb their power over our thinking and our lives."
Thank you,
Tatiana
It is true actually, and also there is another phrase that says "Curiosity killed the cat" which means that when you say don't do it then you start to think why not? And then you do it just because someone told you not to do it.
ReplyDeleteAnd here I agree with your phrase that "Irrationality begins when normal, rational behaviors do not work anymore".
To sum up, try not to say exactly don't do it as everyone will wonder and in the end will try and do it.
Br, Anri
It one of my favorite phrases ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe bad thing that some people use our nature in the bad way, knowing we will wonder and do it, especially when we are told "don't".
I think we shall try to behave this way: never put curiosity on first place, then nothing negative will happen.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you.
Prohibits are always rousing and sometimes to control ourself is difficult :)
How educated or old are not important because our behaviors are still like a child. If we say a child do not do this, mostly they do.
Dear Tanya
ReplyDeleteWhy did you put that button there? Of course I pressed it and was disappointed that nothing had happened. But I will explain why I did it. Since you didn't explain why we shouldn't press it I thought that you prepared a surprise for us. I was even ready if I found not very pleasant things about myself behind it.I like all your comments.They are full of sense,logic and bright examples. Thank you!
I also agree with you in these comment and I like it .Curosity kills and these not only related to the relationships with others or the worl daround you but it brings problems even for yourselves.If digg to much in your mind for finding answers you will only make your situation worse.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you that the epilogue of the book is a great quotation.