Our primitive brain is programmed to protect us from any danger. It has been trained through many years of evolution to do exactly that. But as the world evolves, new parameters are getting in the way and the danger has changed. You have less reasons to fear from being devoured by a wild animal than being manipulated. The brain is trained to respond to warning signals, not looking for green lights. If there are no warning then it seems all green. So therefore, if someone with bad intentions can stifle the right warnings from the targeted audience, it will inhibit the brain and give the impression of a green light situation. I must admit, my primitive brain fooled me more than once. Imagine, you listen to a good speaker detailing a very polarising argument and you are into it. Then, a few days later, you confront this argument to a friend and one of his comments literally crushes your whole theory. You feel stupid and start what you should have done in the first place: considering contradictory opinions to make your own. If this speaker would have had a little verbal tic my critical mind would probably have awaken in the first place. The green light I felt must have been a sign that it was worth digging (having interest for the topic) and not buying the idea right away (agreeing with the idea). The brain needs more advanced custom filters build out of habit to get past the ‘’primitive green light’’.
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Warning signals
Our primitive brain is programmed to protect us from any danger. It has been trained through many years of evolution to do exactly that. But as the world evolves, new parameters are getting in the way and the danger has changed. You have less reasons to fear from being devoured by a wild animal than being manipulated. The brain is trained to respond to warning signals, not looking for green lights. If there are no warning then it seems all green. So therefore, if someone with bad intentions can stifle the right warnings from the targeted audience, it will inhibit the brain and give the impression of a green light situation. I must admit, my primitive brain fooled me more than once. Imagine, you listen to a good speaker detailing a very polarising argument and you are into it. Then, a few days later, you confront this argument to a friend and one of his comments literally crushes your whole theory. You feel stupid and start what you should have done in the first place: considering contradictory opinions to make your own. If this speaker would have had a little verbal tic my critical mind would probably have awaken in the first place. The green light I felt must have been a sign that it was worth digging (having interest for the topic) and not buying the idea right away (agreeing with the idea). The brain needs more advanced custom filters build out of habit to get past the ‘’primitive green light’’.