Understanding Adversarial Thinking: Why Everyday Life Doesn't Prepare Us for True Opposition
By
walterbell
Solid neighbourhood-bakery energy. Trustworthy and warm.
Summary
The article explores the concept of adversarial thinking and how most people lack experience with true adversaries in everyday life. The author uses the example of a donut seller as a counterparty rather than a true adversary, highlighting how normal life and single-player video games don't prepare us for genuine adversarial situations where parties have fundamentally opposing goals rather than just negotiating terms.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledOne can get a bit cocky if one picks up their strategic sensibilities from normal life and single-player video games
In the vast majority of situations in my life, I might have at most a counter-party (such as the person trying to sell me donuts)
She wants to sell me a lot of donuts, I don't want very many. She wants to charge me a lot for the donuts, I don't want to pay a lot
So there's some tension there, but it would be wrong to call her 'my adversary'
In the end, we both want me to buy some donuts, we're just arguing
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