setting the droid bit revisited

[Eirikur Hallgrimsson]

> Interesting reading. Are we actually better than those who commit 
> atrocities, or are we just pretending to be?

To argue that "we" are better is arguing against the data.  No one has to my 
knowledge revealed any sampling errors or other methodology problems
with Milgram's work.   Most of the heat comes from conflicting 
interpretations.    Even if I were to accept some evidence that we are better,
I'd have serious questions about whether it would pass down to the next 
generations.   We have a good chunk of data about one generation, with no 
particular reason to think that it was atypical.

Now, I wonder if it is possible in society, given that society is a set of 
somewhat coercive social norms, to put in place a mechanism of some kind,
that would have the effect of countering this 'obediance' factor.   i.e., 
actually reducing the strength of one of the social 'glue' factors.   
Regardless of whether it's in principle possible, would this be a good idea?
Might not the cure be worse than the disease?  This needs to be gamed-through.

I can just see the controversy now over "disobediance training" for young 
people.  I certainly got a lot of that at the Summerhill school I was at in 
'68.  

Eirikur