[Plantagenet]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment

IMHO, we've all embarked on a psychology experiment. Aaron has divided us into two classes.....a superior "expert" class and an inferior
"non-expert" class.

This kind of experiment has been done before --- in the famous "Guard/Prisoner experiment at Stanford and the "Blue eyes-Brown Eyes" experiment and other similar procedures.

The psych experiments usually don't end well. The people placed in the "inferior" class resent their lowly status while the "superior" class usually becomes abusive towards the inferior class based on the status provided by their labels and titles. Typically the "superior" class of people don't want the experiments to end because they enjoy their high status.

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', 'h')ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment

IMHO, we've all embarked on a psychology experiment. Aaron has divided us into two classes.....a superior "expert" class and an inferior
"non-expert" class.

This kind of experiment has been done before --- in the famous "Guard/Prisoner experiment at Stanford and the "Blue eyes-Brown Eyes" experiment and other similar procedures.

The psych experiments usually don't end well. The people placed in the "inferior" class resent their lowly status while the "superior" class usually becomes abusive towards the inferior class based on the status provided by their labels and titles. Typically the "superior" class of people don't want the experiments to end because they enjoy their high status.

[Plantagenet]

Ferretlover linked to the "Blue eyes Brown eyes experiment" which shows what happens when an authority figures divides people into superior and inferior groups

blue eyes-brown eyes

You can see bits of the same behavior here. Its fascinating, really.

[Plantagenet]

Gosh. Aaron just made me an expert. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Lets see.....how will I respond to this?

OK...sorry EastBay and Rocco and Ferretlover and Ray and all my proletariat brothers. Ooops. Forget all that stuff I posted about solidarity and the lower class and such. Oooopsies.

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', 'A')s much as I hate to admit it, planted agent, I believe you are correct. Aaron is entertaining the inmates (or should I say passengers of this doomed ship) because they have become restless and angry awaiting the iceburg in the dark. There is no where for the captain to go, he is tired of piloting the ship, and the fools among us bore him.

Have fun Aaron. You deserve it.

[jasonraymondson]

Not me. I prefer to exist on the outer fringe. I don't want anyones love, as I am cold and heartless

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', 'B')ut secretly you crave acceptance. We all do.

[turmoil]

There seems to be what I will call "status inflation" where each status loses value when another status is added. My moderator status seems to have lost a lot of its value, as if it was pegged to the US dollar.

[davep]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('turmoil', 'T')here seems to be what I will call "status inflation" where each status loses value when another status is added. My moderator status seems to have lost a lot of its value, as if it was pegged to the US dollar.

[turmoil]

Well Dave, the "Expert", "Elite" stati could actually be perceived to be below the Moderator status. So even though my status is less valuable due to the additional stati, it is that much farther ahead of the majority of the site.

This may be grounds for a poll..

Either way, I may need to transfer some of my "status" into gold to avoid any more losses...

[Ferretlover]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', 'G')osh. Aaron just made me an expert. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Lets see.....how will I respond to this? OK...sorry EastBay and Rocco and Ferretlover and Ray and all my proletariat brothers. Ooops. Forget all that stuff I posted about solidarity and the lower class and such. Oooopsies.

[Ferretlover]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', 'B')ut secretly you crave acceptance. We all do.

[Plantagenet]

You can borrow some of my tequila, ferretlover.

tequila for Ferretlover

[Twilight]

The thread title says it all. Divide people into arbitrary groups and they act like complete pricks. It works. This is why we are not up to the challenge. Woohoo. Point made. A return to normality would be nice.

[Ferretlover]

Yummm! (music playing) "Won't you be my neighbor?"