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Is it possible to quantify or even just suggest when someone is to blame for being tricked? It is a common adage that gullible people are to blame for it, even if it is not exactly immoral to be gullible.

A good answer would bring in 'innocence' 'authenticity' 'conformism' 'trust' 'degrees of belief' etc.. I'm guessing that if it is a genuinely reasonable belief, to believe the trick, and most people would do the same in your position, then you are not to blame. But there does seem to be something inauthentic about that equation, to me. Maybe it has something to do with "ideology", and we are to blame when we are unable or unwilling to "think it through"

  • ‘“Quantify”— what would be the unit of measurement? – Mark Andrews Nov 12 '22 at 22:24
  • @MarkAndrews an example would be believing something that everyone else thinks is 2.5% possible –  Nov 12 '22 at 22:37
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    It is called 'victim blaming'. It's very close to saying "they deserved it". – Weather Vane Nov 12 '22 at 22:40
  • Yeah, that makes sense, thanks @WeatherVane . I am not sure I completely agree, depending on the example we're using (tricked by conspiracy theorists into thinking...) In my imagined real life case, I need to "blame" them, at least functionally and for now, else I would be in pieces (though I certainly don't think they deserved it) –  Nov 12 '22 at 22:42
  • It's only a "reasonable belief" in the *Age of the Self*, which lacks reason: it is emotional. – Weather Vane Nov 12 '22 at 22:47
  • sorry I'm confused what you mean. What is "reasonable belief" @WeatherVane Do you mean that "reasonable belief" has nothing to do with blame? I completely disagree that 'reasonable belief' lacks reason. The opposite is the case! –  Nov 12 '22 at 22:49
  • I mean that the selfish person invents illogical reasons to justify their actions, which are driven by emotion. – Weather Vane Nov 12 '22 at 22:52
  • Oh right @WeatherVane well I don't see it as a matter of taking sides with the deceiver or the deceived, and I don't think that is necessary –  Nov 12 '22 at 22:53
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    I will always take sides with the deceived. – Weather Vane Nov 12 '22 at 22:54
  • Great @WeatherVane I hope that works out for you :) –  Nov 12 '22 at 22:54
  • While others delight in it. Great fodder for "reality" shows. – Weather Vane Nov 12 '22 at 22:54
  • Yes, it's sad to think some people "take delight" in deception @WeatherVane but that's not the point. Even in my imaginary real life example, I know that they didn't "deserve" it. Yes "reality" TV, so like contemporary society and the "upvote" –  Nov 12 '22 at 22:55
  • This response just transfers the quantification problem. What unit is being used to measure the 2.5%? – Mark Andrews Nov 12 '22 at 22:59
  • @MarkAndrews well 'degrees of belief' are a thing in the philosophy of reasoning. I think, not just in psychiatry ha! –  Nov 12 '22 at 23:00
  • What unit of measurement does the philosophy of reasoning use? – Mark Andrews Nov 12 '22 at 23:04
  • a percent, i think? @MarkAndrews google "degrees of belief" if you're unfamiliar :) –  Nov 12 '22 at 23:07
  • Hey @WeatherVane would you defend someone from something they have been tricked into believing is good for them? –  Nov 13 '22 at 07:21

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