RE: We're Being Gamed! Literally.
It's been this way sine the first caveman tried to sell the wheel to his neighbour.
Every marketing agency, product placement and snake oil salesman throughout history has been looking for a way to tap into the human psyche to make that sale.
It doesn't matter if it's subliminal advertising, FOMO marketing, time limited offers or the newest one, gamification, there is always someone, somewhere trying to condition us to buy "their" stuff, that "their" stuff is the best, we NEED "their" stuff or whatever.
Lately it seems they have given up on the stick and are now pushing the carrot.
Reward points, points cards, get 10 punches and get a free coffee/donut/smoothie/oil change or whatever.
Everything is designed from a psychological point of few.
Designed to make us believe we are getting something of value
Companies sell our personal data, yet how many people willing hand it over for a chance at a raffle or lottery or gift card?
Humans, as a species are greedy, needy, wanty and hoarders. Each generation it seems is more willing to give up any thought of privacy or personal space in exchange for shiny new goods or material effects.
And science has figured this out.
Human nature, gotta love it :)
Yea well, is there a thing like human nature? And if there is, is it really defined by greed and selfishness? Or is greed and selfishness something we learn? Was prehistoric man greedy? Or did they hunt in groups and shared with the whole group? Why does a kid raised by wolves act like a wolf? Nurture or nature, or both? If it's both, does our collectively shaped Skinner Box reinforce greed over everything else?
Just some questions :-) Thanks so much for this comment @ancientknowled3 :-)