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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:04 am Post subject: karma and Zimbardo's lucifer effect.
I just noticed that my BT karma had reached +2 today and I must say I've been feeling cheerful all day.
So, I went back to Zimbardo's Lucifer Effect, chapter 12: Creating Nazis in an American Classroom (p 281 in my copy).
In an experiment with school students (probably from the 70's, it would never have passed modern parents), blue-eyed pupils were told they were good (I'm blue-eyed, by the way), and brown-eyed pupils were told they were bad (with depressing effects, as always in Lucifer Effect).
Then, things were reversed, and they studied the results when brown-eyed pupils were given star status.
So, I suggest negociating the following with Chris ( God being always involved with things like karma):
For a given period of time, karma will be attributed in a purely arbitrary fashion (instead of the excellent method in use now).
Each BT member will appoint a member of his family to the task of studying the evolution of their moods (from despair to bliss) according to the karma they receive on their monitors.
At the end of the period, all data will be collected (and attribution of karma points will return to previous criteria).
The results will be analyzed by a study and writing committee.
Then the results of the Karma Effect Experiments will be published, and the money we get will go to meeting Booktalk running costs.
Expect a visit from your local policeman to tell you when things are starting.
You all should be able to assign Karma points to each other at the rate of one point total per day. This is a new feature installed and how we use it has yet to be determined. Karma points = good. If someone assigns a Karma point to you they are saying you are making them happy in some way - perhaps they loved your post or contribution, but don't have much to say in a follow-up post about it. They can simply click the Karma button and assign Karma to you.
So help me test this system! You should only be able to assign one point total....not one point per person. I think. Test it out. Post the results here.
There are actually a ton of new features added that we have yet to start to use. While I am dealing with some personal issues I won't have the time to learn how to use them, but in time you'll seee all sorts of new stuff appearing.
Help me learn how this Karma feature works! I can change the settings, but I'd like some feedback before I try to adjust settings.
So help me test this system! You should only be able to assign one point total....not one point per person. I think. Test it out. Post the results here.
There are actually a ton of new features added that we have yet to start to use. While I am dealing with some personal issues I won't have the time to learn how to use them, but in time you'll seee all sorts of new stuff appearing.
Help me learn how this Karma feature works! I can change the settings, but I'd like some feedback before I try to adjust settings.
Well, yesterday I assigned Ophelia a +. She was the ONLY person I was able to assign anything. And before that and after that one time, everyone else seems to be 'greyed out', meaning I cannot assign either Karma to anyone.
I like the idea. So lets make it work. I think only ONE per day is too little and not worth it at that point. One per member maybe, or at least a few a day each.
I just did the +Karma thing. I think it is a good idea Chris and one a day is OK by me.
Can you click - negative Karma as well as +Karma? Not that I would want to give anyone negative Karma, but it might show one, if one had trodden on some one's toes.
I often wonder if I am offending anyone, but I still think it is important to be honest and upfront. So if I got negative karma points I would know to be a little less forthright.
