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xiphiasI'm reading this nifty book called Predictably Irrational, by Dan Ariely. Lis checked out four books on similar, inter-relating topics -- Traffic about how we act when we drive, and what happens with cars in general, Sway, about how difficult it is to avoid irrational behavior, Buyology, about our neurological reactions to advertisement and marketing, and this one.
There are a few cases in the four books where people reference the same studies, but, mostly, they're looking at their own things. It's just that, well, reading them all in a row like that, you are getting four very different angles on one very similar thing: how we think and react, and why logic isn't usually part of it. And the four books interlock really well, and synergize like Voltron to form a tract that is more that four times as powerful and useful as any of the books on their own.
Anyway. Maybe I'll write a post about that at some point.
But that's not what I was thinking about writing NOW.
Dr Ariely is a professor at a number of places, including the Sloan Center and the Media Lab (both parts of MIT). So he is, at least part of the year, local. And he has done a few experiments which involved giving people free beer (to see how people dealt with decision-making, and how satisfied they were with their choices later, basically).
Some of his experiments were pretty nifty and cool -- like adding balsamic vinegar to Budweiser, which adds actual FLAVOR to the stuff. People who tasted Budweiser and Bud+balsamic, without knowing what they were, preferred the balsamic adulterated stuff. People who were told ahead of time that "this is a common, well-selling beer, and this one is the same thing, but we poured vinegar in it" liked the regular Bud better. People who tasted them, THEN were told that "this is a common, well-selling beer, and this one is the same, but we poured vinegar in it" liked the balsamic version better. Which is a demonstration of something that I think most parents know, but it's nice to see that it works on college students, too. ("Taste it first and see if you like it -- THEN I'll tell you what it is.")
And it occurred to me: Dr Ariely is a mad scientist. A mad social scientist who does mad social science by giving people beer.
And I'm part of Ziggurat Labs. Which holds mad-scientist parties.
So I emailed him.
As it turns out, even though he thinks it sounds awesome, he's probably not going to be in Boston during next January. But if his plans change, he is TOTALLY up for going to a Mad Scientist Party at a science fiction convention.
But the POINT is: I'm now at a point in my life where I can read a book, and say, "Hey! I should invite the author of that book to a party," and go ahead and do so. And I blame fandom.
I've now realized that a significant portion of people who write cool books are cool people.
But even more than that: a significant portion of people who write cool books are people. Who you can talk to. And give beer to. And generally hang out with.
I blame fandom for teaching me that.
There are a few cases in the four books where people reference the same studies, but, mostly, they're looking at their own things. It's just that, well, reading them all in a row like that, you are getting four very different angles on one very similar thing: how we think and react, and why logic isn't usually part of it. And the four books interlock really well, and synergize like Voltron to form a tract that is more that four times as powerful and useful as any of the books on their own.
Anyway. Maybe I'll write a post about that at some point.
But that's not what I was thinking about writing NOW.
Dr Ariely is a professor at a number of places, including the Sloan Center and the Media Lab (both parts of MIT). So he is, at least part of the year, local. And he has done a few experiments which involved giving people free beer (to see how people dealt with decision-making, and how satisfied they were with their choices later, basically).
Some of his experiments were pretty nifty and cool -- like adding balsamic vinegar to Budweiser, which adds actual FLAVOR to the stuff. People who tasted Budweiser and Bud+balsamic, without knowing what they were, preferred the balsamic adulterated stuff. People who were told ahead of time that "this is a common, well-selling beer, and this one is the same thing, but we poured vinegar in it" liked the regular Bud better. People who tasted them, THEN were told that "this is a common, well-selling beer, and this one is the same, but we poured vinegar in it" liked the balsamic version better. Which is a demonstration of something that I think most parents know, but it's nice to see that it works on college students, too. ("Taste it first and see if you like it -- THEN I'll tell you what it is.")
And it occurred to me: Dr Ariely is a mad scientist. A mad social scientist who does mad social science by giving people beer.
And I'm part of Ziggurat Labs. Which holds mad-scientist parties.
So I emailed him.
As it turns out, even though he thinks it sounds awesome, he's probably not going to be in Boston during next January. But if his plans change, he is TOTALLY up for going to a Mad Scientist Party at a science fiction convention.
But the POINT is: I'm now at a point in my life where I can read a book, and say, "Hey! I should invite the author of that book to a party," and go ahead and do so. And I blame fandom.
I've now realized that a significant portion of people who write cool books are cool people.
But even more than that: a significant portion of people who write cool books are people. Who you can talk to. And give beer to. And generally hang out with.
I blame fandom for teaching me that.
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-01 04:13 am (UTC)Nicely done, sir.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-01 04:23 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-01 04:29 am (UTC)Oh yeah!
I don't remember meeting him, but I recall him being thrilled to accept his Ig. And apparently he's been to Burning Man--all for research, you understand.
I bet he would be a fabulous "surprise guest" at next year's party, or any party. Good call. *grin*
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-01 04:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-02 02:07 am (UTC)