You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake.
You’re the same order as everyone else.
Human beings have an innate sense of fairness. We chafe at the vehicles cutting an obvious line at Exit 31. Game theory experiments with the ultimatum game shows that players will refuse to accept an opponent’s proposed split of the pot if it is unfair - leaving both empty handed.
Whether observers or participants, we like a good sporting fight.
Our justice instinct isn’t based on some rational calculation. Even in versions of the ultimatum game where the recipients cannot reject the offer, the proposer will still offer some (meager) allocation to his counter party.
Yes we understand that life and society are mostly a series of repeated games, and that reputations are prized and retaliations will come due. But there is something deeper than calculus here, where a sense of societal norms must be maintained and exploitative behavior must be punished.
A red card might carry over to the next game, but that’s a rare exception in competitive interactions. Whether it’s sports, markets, or markets on sports - most rules are structured to make sure things are fair in every single interaction.
There’s less to grumble about when the rules are clearly posted and everyone is bound by the same obligations, responsibilities, and queue position. You might not like waiting in the slow line at the grocery store, but it’s hardly “unfair.”
But here’s where another part of human nature…
Continue reading on Substack
