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fix: some typos, reword some things

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ktyl 2023-08-10 01:15:16 +02:00
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blogs/2023/8/9/transactionism.md
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@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ In English, we are unlikely to talk of profiting from a holiday, or of a positiv
We'd understand someone's use of the word in this sense, though we'd think it an odd turn of phrase. We'd understand someone's use of the word in this sense, though we'd think it an odd turn of phrase.
I think there is something of a knife-edge here, an unstable equilibrium where the same concept resolves to fundamentally different meanings depending on one's own native culture and experience. I think there is something of a knife-edge here, an unstable equilibrium where the same concept resolves to fundamentally different meanings depending on one's own native culture and experience.
What I want to call 'transactionalisation' is the conflation or confusing of these two divergent meanings. What I want to call 'transactionism' is the conflation or confusing of these two divergent meanings.
It is easy to think that we are taking a decision that increases our overall utility, when in fact all we are doing is saving time. It is easy to think that we are taking a decision that increases our overall utility, when in fact all we are doing is saving time.
I'd like to talk a bit about spending and wasting time, and how the difference between the two is much less clear-cut than we might often think. I'd like to talk a bit about spending and wasting time, and how the difference between the two is much less clear-cut than we might often think.
@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ Our lives each have a finite budget of time available, so it follows that we sho
This is the value proposition put forward by industries like match-making (Hinge), ready-made food delivery (HelloFresh), or educational course providers (Udemy). This is the value proposition put forward by industries like match-making (Hinge), ready-made food delivery (HelloFresh), or educational course providers (Udemy).
Generally, they provide a means by which to do something one could already do, but with a much reduced time investment. Generally, they provide a means by which to do something one could already do, but with a much reduced time investment.
There's evidently demand for these industries, and undoubtedly they provide a service that's valued by some segment of the population, so I won't tilt against windmill decrying their existence here. There's evidently demand for these industries, and undoubtedly they provide a service that's valued by some segment of the population, so I won't tilt against windmills decrying their existence here.
However, I think there's cause for concern with such time-optimisation. However, I think there's cause for concern with such time-optimisation.
Take strategies for meeting people to date, for example. Take strategies for meeting people to date, for example.
@ -45,41 +45,46 @@ I have to additionally hope that those people will be the kinds of people I am l
I also have to be someone that is interesting enough out of a chance encounter that someone I meet would like to see me again. I also have to be someone that is interesting enough out of a chance encounter that someone I meet would like to see me again.
This is deeply complex, massively daunting, and extremely time-consuming. This is deeply complex, massively daunting, and extremely time-consuming.
If we focus on that aspect of chance in the second strategy, it would seem that dating apps are a much better time investment. It would seem that dating apps are a much better time investment.
Instead of having to figure out things to do, places to go, and presumably spending money to enable the ordeal, I can instead look for a date while in the midst of the rest of my daily life. Instead of having to figure out things to do, places to go, and presumably spend money to enable the ordeal, I can instead look for a date while in the midst of the rest of my daily life.
I know that the poeple I see there are interested, broadly speaking, in the same thing as me, and can precisely tune my preferences. I know that the people I see there are interested, broadly speaking, in the same thing as me, and can precisely tune my preferences.
It should work out that not only do I spend less time looking for someone, I also find someone that is likely to closely match myself. It should work out that not only do I spend less time looking for someone, I also find someone that is likely to closely match myself.
Therefore, using a dating application is a much better use of my time! Therefore, using a dating application is a much better use of my time!
## Reclaiming time
Or so it would seem. Or so it would seem.
I think that, contrary to their apparent goal of bringing people together, it's actually quite likely that dating applications are contributing to pushing them apart. I think that, contrary to their apparent goal of bringing people together, it's actually quite likely that dating applications are contributing to pushing them apart.
Let me explain. Let me explain.
First, it should be re-iterated that when you're using a dating app, you are not looking at people. First, it should be re-iterated that when you're using a dating app, you are not looking at people.
You are looking at people's *profiles*, which I would argue are actually a very poor indication of what the person behind it is like. You are looking at people's *profiles*, which I would argue are actually very poor indications of what the people behind them are like.
It's well-documented that people don't represent themselves honestly on online platforms, and it would be unreasonable to expect them to. It's well-documented that people don't represent themselves honestly on online platforms, and it would be unreasonable to expect them to.
It's also filtered through whatever particular platform you happen to be using, which further limits any genuine self-expression someone can display. A profile also acts as a filter designed by whatever particular platform you happen to be using, restricting someone to share themselves in a specific format, which further limits any genuine self-expression someone can display.
This will probably act to negate some of the platform's matching ability.
We also should consider our own biases; applications will allow you to set an age range, political preferences, drink and drug tolerance, religious view, et cetera. We also should consider our own biases; applications will allow you to set an age range, political preferences, drink and drug tolerance, religious view, et cetera.
In plenty of cases this is perfectly reasonable, but isn't it also easy to see how this enables a user to set their own expectations unreasonably high? In plenty of cases this is perfectly reasonable, but isn't it also easy to see how this enables a user to set their own expectations unreasonably high?
This too, will reduce the algorithm's ability to match effectively.
Finally, let's examine the time spent on the application itself. Finally, let's examine the time spent on the application itself.
It's true that, like any number of modern mobile apps, the minimumm time investement is very low. It's true that, like any number of modern mobile apps, the minimum time investement is very low.
You can set up a profile in minutes, and from there you can view profiles on the train, in the coffee queue, or taking a dump. You can set up a profile in minutes, and from there you can view profiles on the train, in the coffee queue, or taking a dump.
Because it's so easy to do, it means that *you do it easily*. Because it's so easy to do, it means that *you do it easily*.
Most of us are already chronically phone users, and I absolutely count myself among them. Most of us are already chronic smartphone users, and I absolutely count myself among them.
It's devastatingly easy to fall into a habit, and once a habit is dug in it will begin to effect how you think. It's devastatingly easy to fall into a habit, and once a habit is dug in it will begin to effect how you think.
What started as a canny time saving becomes a time sink in itself. What started as a canny time saving becomes a time sink in itself.
Not only that, but it also expends energy making what are ultimately low-value decisions, culminating in decision fatigue. Not only that, but it also expends our valuable energy making what are ultimately low-value decisions, culminating in decision fatigue.
A decision-fatigued person no longer has the energy to make energy choices, and so will but succumb to their habits more. A decision-fatigued person no longer has the energy to make energy choices, and so will but succumb to their habits more, reinforcing a vicious, energy-sapping cycle.
Let's re-examine the things we have to do to meet people by chance: encounter new situations with new pople in them, go somewhere that I'd like to be, and be approachable and charming. Let's re-examine the things we have to do to meet people by chance: encounter new situations with new pople in them, go somewhere that I'd like to be, and be approachable and charming.
Put this way, don't these maybe sound like goals on their own? Put this way, don't these maybe sound like goals on their own?
We could directly pursue those other goals, which don't require any chance. We could directly pursue those other goals, which don't require any chance.
We each know where we could go to encounter new situations, and if we don't, we could probably find out if we applied ourselves to the problem. We each know where we could go to encounter new situations, and if we don't, we could probably find out if we applied ourselves to the problem.
We each have our insecurities, and especially after an isolating pandemic likely need the face-to-face practice of being where people are anyway. We each have our insecurities we'd like to work on, to become more confident and outgoing.
Especially after an isolating pandemic we likely all need the face-to-face practice of being where people are anyway.
I think that directly pursuing a goal like "get into a relationship" is something of a façade. I think that directly pursuing a goal like "get into a relationship" is something of a façade.
It inherently depends on another person and the circumstances under which we find ourselves together. It inherently depends on another person and the circumstances under which we find ourselves together.