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June 28, 2003
Cryptonomicon: The most influential book I never finished.
I tried reading Cryptonomicon (by Neal Stephenson), many years ago. Its a very long and dry book. I got about half way through the 1168 page book with still no plot in sight, and gave up. I really should finish it some day, it was still interesting. Anyway, the concept in the book that really interested me was Information Theory. The idea is best explained by the example given in the book. During WWII the German's used a device called Enigma to encrypt and decrypt messages. We were unable to crack the code. Then, a miracle happened, we found an Enigma machine on a downed sub. But now we had a dilemma. If we immediately started utilizing the information we got by decrypting messages with our Enigma machine, the German's would KNOW we had it and stop using it. We had to make it appear we did not have it, even though we did. For example, if we knew they were about to bomb some of our ships, it might be the best course of action to let them bomb those ships and kill those Americans. Sounds ludicrous I know, but its a lose the battle win the war type of situation. In some cases, when we knew where they were we would pretend to accidentally come upon them by our routine reconnaissance. But we couldn't do that too often or they'd be on to us. So we had to allow our soldiers to be killed and only use the information when it was completely critical.For some reason that concept really struck home with me and has changed the way I behave ever since. I've always thought about what others think about me, what I do, what I say, or what I'm about to say. Now I think of it differently. I've formulated an image of how each person sees me. With this information I can manipulate that image via information theory. If I know someone looks down on some aspect of me, I can change that image by controlling how they see that aspect. Ok, it sounds anal. It sounds OCD, but its not. Most of the time its barely a conscious thing and as such, I just do it without thinking about it. But sometimes I think specifically about it and modify what I say or do in this way. Its like, I believe I know what they are thinking. I also believe they don't know I know, so I can safely change their opinion by graduating changing their perception. But I can't change my behavior so dramatically they suspect I'm doing it just for them. Thats the information theory part. I have to do it in such a way they never figure out I'm trying to manipulate them.
Ok, it all does sound crazy and I'm going out on a limb even writing this, especially given what I've just said about being so concerned with what people think of me. Its possible that people who read this will have a harder time trusting what I say or do thinking that I may be manipulating them. Not sure how I'd respond to that other than to say I tend to be honest and genuine with my close friends and family. I'm comfortable enough with myself that I do not feel the need to project some wildly skewed version of myself. Its just something I do without thinking about it most of the time. I'm probably not the only one.
Posted by wonko at June 28, 2003 10:41 PM
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Comments
That's actually quite interesting. I have practiced the information theory my whole life and did not know it. I completely understand what you are talking about when you describe dealing with people from the basis of how they feel about you. It's having done this for so long that has made me a good salesman without being slimy or insincere. I'm not trying to do it, it just happens.
An example in my personal life was a friend of mine was always talking trash to me saying that I thought I knew everything. I felt this wasn't the case (because I do know everything, right?) and found myself saying, "I didn't know that" during future conversations. I was not intentionally saying this, it was just coming up in different conversations and it changing his preconceived notions without him even knowing it.
Posted by: Obigabu at June 29, 2003 09:47 PM
AHA! This whole blog entry was just a cover to get you to say you thought you knew everything. I WIN! I WIN! What now? I've been plotting this for years. Now there's nothing left. So dark, so lonely.
Posted by: Wonko at June 30, 2003 09:00 AM
Relax and "just Be". Too much effort wasted being what others want you to be. Live in truth.
Posted by: Stretch at June 30, 2003 09:21 AM
Everyone has an agenda. That agenda can be completely innocuous, but its still an agenda. You're right to some degree. Its better to just be. To be yourself. Most people are not able to just be. Most people concern themselves with others impressions of ourselves. We are shaped by our own ideas, others ideas as well as how our ideas reflect back on to us. Its almost as if that system is engrained in us. Though we individualy weight each method of personal development differently. Some are more affected by their reflection than their own conclusions. Some are more affected by others opinions. Some seem to have an ability to not care as much about what others think. I wish I knew why some people are more affected by others. There doesn't seem to be a really obvious correlation. Any suggestions?
Posted by: Wonko at June 30, 2003 06:29 PM
Since we are not alone on this planet, or would we want to be alone what other people think and feel about us is important. The only time that it may not be, is when it becomes an obsession. Or when we choose to make bad choices just to impress some one. I believe that we all to some extent alter our behavior when dealing with differant people. I don't think we are always doing this so we will some how look better in their eyes. Speaking for my self I will act diffent with certain people becdause I precieve consiouslly or un consiously that I will be pleasing them. I know that this all goes back to doing things just because it pleases someone else. This is only bad when you are thinking only of your self. If your motivation is controlled by a desire to benifit the other person. Well I am sure you know what I mean.
Posted by: matt at July 3, 2003 01:59 PM
I'm just in it to manipulate people to do what I want them to do. My plan is to rule the world one day. In order to do that I have to control the minds of those around me.
Posted by: Obigabu at July 4, 2003 11:32 PM
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