A friend complained of someone flossing his teeth in public (on the subway), and it occurred to me that the reaction of how disgusting and consequently unacceptable it is is purely visceral, and trumps rationality.
If flossing were socially acceptable in public, then more people might floss, resulting a decrease in tooth and gum disease and complications, e.g., heart disease, the number 1 cause of death. Floss your teeth instead of playing Angry Birds.
But the visceral reaction happens before you even get a chance to think about it rationally, and you don't even want to think about it. How does this social indoctrination happen? Probably childhood. What other instances occur? If an entity wanted to control people, to get them to do something against their rational best interests, this is a very attractive avenue of behavioral programming.
How can we train people, probably children, to be resistant against such manipulation?
2 comments :
Hm, indeed, that would be a good idea. Flossing is a hard habit to keep and it would be easier on your teeth if you can do it during your free time in public - without feeling awkward. Well, the best way to teach kids about stuff like that is to give proper reasoning to what is taught. That would help them be more open to ideas.
Kind of like not making them fear the dentist with stories about teeth pulling and cavities.
come on when you floss food that is stuck between your teeth flys out all over the place. The best place to floss is in the shower or in the bathroom where most grooming is done. YUCK
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