Eldon Taylor's Blog, page 20

Herding the Herd

Psycho-social Experiments This week I learned that Facebook admitted it will use data gathered when you use the new emojis to alter your News Feed and learn more about what you like. The article, which appeared in the Minds Journal, adds this, “Though Facebook often disputes suspicions its updates are psycho-social experiments, the platform’s notorious 2014 study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, proved users can’t be confident they aren’t. Facebook users became unwitting social media lab rats when data scientists manipulated the news feeds of some 700,000 people to study emotional contagion. The newest emojis, ...

Misleading or Flagrant Deception?

This week’s spotlight is all about misleading or flagrant deceptions. Anyone who uses the Internet quickly discovers what photoshopping means. There are several forms of this, some more covert and perhaps innocent than others. For example, if I want to say something like, “We live in a universe that reveals its Creator every time we sense that special feeling of awe,” the best way to make this little statement gain traction is to give it to someone like Einstein or Gandhi. You don’t have to say they said it, just write it under their picture, and post this new photo ...

Why Lying Works

This week I would like to discuss the power of lies. Not long ago I had a conversation with Dr. Dan Ariely, author of “The Honest Truth About Dishonesty.” His research is provocative to say the least for it clearly demonstrates that everyone lies. I suppose that should come as no real surprise, but if that’s so, then why should we be concerned about the lies told in politics? After all, with the Internet and our instant access to news and fact checkers, you would think that it was now impossible to get away with lying. However the truth is, ...

Political Frames

This week I’d like to discuss “framing.” Frames become definitions and often we act upon them without ever consciously recognizing their absurdity. An example may be helpful here. Think back to UK’s Got Talent and Susan Boyle. If you missed this show, just imagine a disheveled, slightly overweight, middle-aged woman dressed in a Circa ‘50’s house dress, coming onto the stage to sing. Nothing about this woman offered the slightest hint that she could sing. The audience began jeering and even the judges were exchanging smirks with each other while rolling their eyes. Again, if you did not see her ...

Illusion of Understanding

Not long ago a study, which I posted on my FaceBook page, informed us that discussion can take place when folks are asked to explain their opinions. The study pointed out the need for us to begin to communicate instead of argue and offered a path to wider agreement—one of patiently hearing out a full and complete explanation. The idea behind this approach is referred to as an “Illusion of Understanding.” 1 Why does this work? Informed? The reason we find people are willing to begin talking instead of arguing comes down to their own discovery of how little they ...

Waitresses in Red

Today I wish to draw your attention once again to some of the games played to win your hearts and minds. Just a few days ago I saw Donald Trump appear on television at a rally, open collar, no tie, red baseball cap, and the American Flag pin on his lapel. So what? Primes Do you know the power of the color red? Did you know that a waitress will get larger tips if she wears red and this is regardless of the customer’s gender? Are you aware that the American Flag pin is a prime, that is, it feeds ...

Ambush Tip?

Did Donald Trump have someone embedded at Fox that tipped him off to what may have been an embarrassing and compromising debate? Is that why he really pulled out? Conjecture Now this is pure conjecture, but consider this. It is unlikely that Megyn Kelly alone was of any real concern to Trump. It is also improbable that the snarky remark tweeted out by Fox was the cause anymore than Kelly’s own defense, in her words, “If you can’t get past me, how are you gonna handle Vladimir Putin?” So what might be the real reason? In my book, “Gotcha! The ...

The Power of Suggestion

This week I would like to address the power of suggestion. There is an ancient Chinese proverb that states, “A vacant mind is open to all suggestions, as a hollow mountain returns all sounds.” In my book, “Gotcha! The Subordination of Free Will,” I open every chapter with a comparison of beliefs and facts. When it comes to the power of suggestions, we could state rather flatly: Misconception Misconception: Most people believe they are above the power of suggestion and indeed immediately recognize it for what it is. Fact: The fact is, suggestion rules! Everyone is subject to suggestion, and those ...

Free Will?

One of the most important questions of our time is that of free will. It’s not generally a subject discussed broadly so it may come as some surprise to many that most serious researchers question the very existence of free will. Just this past week a new study shed some light on the subject. Researchers at the University of Berlin, following the work of Benjamin Libet who showed that conscious decisions were initiated by unconscious brain processes, sought to determine whether or not one could consciously over-ride this unconscious process. In the words of researcher, Professor John-Dylan Haynes, “The aim ...

The Proliferation of Devious Information: Another Gotcha!

This week I wish to shine the spotlight on deliberate mis- and dis-information. The 2014 edition of the CIA’s “Style Manual & Writers Guide for Intelligence Publications” offers this distinction, “’Disinformation’ refers to the deliberate planting of false reports,” while ‘Misinformation’ equates in meaning but does not carry the same devious connotation.” 1 Writing Tips from the CIA This document has also been referred to as, “Writing tips from the CIA’s ruthless style manual.” http://qz.com/231110/writing-tips-fro... I think most readers of this document will see through the political agenda implied in the presentation instructions regarding a number of matters. Take for ...