Posted by Dr. Bob on September 18, 2013, at 22:29:26
In reply to tragedy of the unregulated commons, posted by alexandra_k on September 18, 2013, at 15:09:27
> if you have a common space... some grazing land. a lake. woods. the ocean. the skies.
>
> then if everybody does what is rationally in their own best interests (to use up more of the communal resource for ones personal profit than everyone else - to gain the competitive advantage)... then it will eventually be ruined for everyone.
>
> in order to prevent the tragedy of the commons you need to regulate it. if you rely on individual conscience to police then you select for selfish individuals who are insensitive to the good of the group (and to their own longer term welfare).
>
> hardest thing in the world: deciding who to engage in co-operative activity with
>
> could mental illness be a tragedy of the commons? how so?Could Babble be a commons? How so?
Bob
a brilliant and reticent Web mastermind -- The New York Times
backpedals well -- PartlyCloudy
poster:Dr. Bob
thread:1047868
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20130914/msgs/1050948.html