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0 pointspeter_d_sherman2y ago0 comments

Hi Charlie!

You could be onto something here... what you have enumerated seem to be examples of various forms of "Social Proof" (for lack of a better way of saying/defining it).

It would be interesting, highly interesting, I think, to try and enumerate all of the possible forms of Social Proof.

You've definitely nailed 4 of them -- but are there others? What if we broaden our search outside of the VC world?

Whatever the case, whether we call this "Social Proof", "Trust as it manifests in the world of VC", or some other name/nomenclature -- I think you're definitely onto something here...

It's sort of like what you've said could be the summary/abstract of a Ph.D. paper. That is, I think there's some more knowledge to be gained by exploring this set of ideas further, perhaps in writing, perhaps in blog article, I don't know...

But I do know that you're definitely on to something...

I would love to see more exploration of what you've just said...

There's definitely something there...

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peter_d_shermanOP2y ago

Actually, when I think about it some more -- perhaps the broader topic area here is not necessarily that about "trust" or "social proofs" -- maybe it's about "Credibility" -- what causes a person or organization or business or business idea -- to have credibility (or apparent credibility as some cases may be) -- especially when large amounts of money, large financial transactions, large investments -- are at stake?

Well, I don't know... but again, I reiterate that I think you're on to something with your observations...

thephyber2y ago

“ I think you're on to something with your observations...”

The parent described 4 of the common heuristics of how we develop trust.

I work in cybersecurity, so I tend to mentally put a “how could these heuristics be abused to get a well intentioned employee/customer to misplace their trust in a scammer?” scenario.

When it comes to society, I have been trying to empathize with those poor souls who fell for QAnon, Stop the Steal, Flat Eartherism, and dozens of other farcical claims that millions of people have adopted, despite some of those people being extremely bright.

Your parent is not really “onto something”; they are just enumerating a few heuristics that marketers, salespeople, people of influence, scammers/conmen have known for millennia.

peter_d_shermanOP2y ago

So, you're telling me that there are no "Old Boy" networks in existence?

And you're telling me that these networks don't exist because people went to the same school or worked for the same company?

???

Also -- everyone knows that Stop the Steal was instigated by QAnon supporters while engaging in Flat Eartherism. A bunch of cybersecurity specialists played a role too, while simultaneously being supported by some of the brightest and dumbest minds out there -- or at least CNN tells me so. They also told me that there are no agenda driven AI chatbots on Hacker News.

I've been trying to empathize with all of them -- that whole group -- and all of the millions, if not tens of millions of people who fell for all of it (including but not limited to scammers, conmen, fake AI bots, people of influence, marketers, fake AI bots, salespeople, and people of influence (did I mention fake AI bots?))... but I've been trying to sympathize with them -- all of them...

In conclusion, I must quote to you my favorite line from "Billy Madison":

"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

Your comment, on the other hand, was pretty intelligent...

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0 pointspeter_d_sherman2y ago0 comments

Hi Charlie!

You could be onto something here... what you have enumerated seem to be examples of various forms of "Social Proof" (for lack of a better way of saying/defining it).

It would be interesting, highly interesting, I think, to try and enumerate all of the possible forms of Social Proof.

You've definitely nailed 4 of them -- but are there others? What if we broaden our search outside of the VC world?

Whatever the case, whether we call this "Social Proof", "Trust as it manifests in the world of VC", or some other name/nomenclature -- I think you're definitely onto something here...

But I do know that you're definitely on to something...

I would love to see more exploration of what you've just said...

There's definitely something there...

0 comments

peter_d_shermanOP2y ago

Well, I don't know... but again, I reiterate that I think you're on to something with your observations...

thephyber2y ago

“ I think you're on to something with your observations...”

The parent described 4 of the common heuristics of how we develop trust.

I work in cybersecurity, so I tend to mentally put a “how could these heuristics be abused to get a well intentioned employee/customer to misplace their trust in a scammer?” scenario.

Your parent is not really “onto something”; they are just enumerating a few heuristics that marketers, salespeople, people of influence, scammers/conmen have known for millennia.

peter_d_shermanOP2y ago

So, you're telling me that there are no "Old Boy" networks in existence?

And you're telling me that these networks don't exist because people went to the same school or worked for the same company?

???

In conclusion, I must quote to you my favorite line from "Billy Madison":

Your comment, on the other hand, was pretty intelligent...

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