[Powderworks] Re: (powd) Re: Terrorism/Negative reinforcement
Jeff McLean
jeffmof@replicant.apana.org.au
Thu, 13 Sep 2001 08:09:43 +1000
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thank God for people like you.
<p>it makes me UNBELIEVABLY angry to hear people making blanket statements
about muslims, who number some of the most peaceful people i know on earth.
and this is no glib statement. i really mean it, and i have much
interaction with people from central and western asia and the middle east.
<p>and where was our emotional outpouring when our 'side' has done this
to innocents overseas. oh, who gives a shit, they're only <insert
downtrodden race here>
<p>it's all too sad.
<p>Rob O'Neill wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>First of all, I teach these concepts and procedures
for a living, so just want to correct Mr. Callahan's post re: "negative
reinforcement"... It does not equal "punishment", as he says. Negative
reinforcement is an approach for <b><i>reinforcing and increasing/maintaining
behavior </i></b>by removing aversive stimuli contingent on a behavior
(e.g., when terrorist attacks stop and a country "behaves" appropriately,
we take away aversive sanctions). Punishment procedures are intended
to reduce/eliminate behavior (e.g., we'll bomb you until your terrorist
activities cease).
<p>Secondly, just want to publicly express my dismay at the vast array
of bloodthirsty sentiment I've seen on multiple e-mail/internet forums
today. How can people not see that it's just such attitudes and perspectives
that led to the hideous events we've witnessed today? Just as the
death penalty is not a deterrent to crime (i.e., not a punisher that stops
behavior), I sincerely doubt that nuking countries, "turning them into
parking lots" as I read on one internet forum, etc., will have the desired
effect on the behavior of religious and political fanatics, etc., whose
behavior is controlled by other contingencies.
<p>Flame me, bomb me, whatever, had to get it off my chest,
<p>Rob O'Neill</blockquote>
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