Long-term, I'm not even done compiling my research outline yet! I'm sure I will make many references to the classic book by Influence by Robert B. Cialdini, and ultimately intend to do some real scholarly research, especially on defensive techniques.
For this week, I'm just cross-referencing and filtering some of the points from this one malware writer's popular post (and possibly a few more points from a former car salesman friend of mine) with studies from Thinking, Fast and Slow. For defense, this week we're mostly going to talk about recognizing situations where someone is most likely to consciously use some of these techniques on you, and the warning signs of someone using them. Mostly situations where the best defense is to discontinue conversation and leave.
Discussion article for the meetup : West LA Meetup - Defense Against the Dark Arts, Part I
WHEN: 02 January 2013 07:00:00PM (-0800)
WHERE: 10850 West Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
When: 7:00pm Wednesday, January 2nd.
Where: The Westside Tavern in the upstairs Wine Bar (all ages welcome), located inside the Westside Pavillion on the second floor, right by the movie theaters. The entrance sign says "Lounge".
Parking is free for 3 hours.
Lecture/Discussion: Defense Against the Dark Arts is a tricky topic to teach, and a vast field to learn. Salman and I will conduct this experimental meetup by presenting to you some introductory morsels of this essential knowledge. There will be at least one activity as well. By the end of next year we hope to give you enough tools and training to ward off any basic attempts to persuade you to act against your best interests.
No foreknowledge or exposure to Less Wrong is necessary; this will be generally accessable and useful to anyone who values thinking for themselves. There will be open general conversation until 7:30, and that's always a lot of good, fun, intelligent discussion!
I will bring a whiteboard with Bayes' Theorem written on it.
Discussion article for the meetup : West LA Meetup - Defense Against the Dark Arts, Part I