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Comment by RAB1138 | Hacker News Reader

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RAB1138

Hi!

Founder (Brown) here. Appreciate the traffic!

Also, would love to clear up mob misconceptions about:

-Why did we pick lightening-rod branding?

-Why was this the most humanitarian use of a neuroscience MS/PhD?

-What quality of people must we be to do this?

-What is design's ethical imperative that, 100 years ago when most died of infections diseases, that this year the majority of people over 50 will die of strongly behavioral-based diseases? [1]

-How come the Founders of the Push Notification teams aren't part of the cultural dialogue?

-What does Tristan Harris think?!

-What is our pricing model and can your startup get a discount? (YES!)

[1] soundcloud.com/digital-mindfulness/89-the-science-of-addictive-technology-with-ramsay-brown/s-YQzyZ

View on HN

Assuming this is being sold to companies other than strictly self-improvement apps, how can you consider this to be an ethical thing to have created?

Hi!

Because we don't sell to apps that would hurt people. See manifesto on usedopamine.com/team/index.html.

~100 years ago, the most frequent causes of death in the US were pathogens for which we barely had a name. Pnemonia, Flu, Cholera, Fevers. And it was only after we developed a rigorous technology of the body (modern medicine) did we lift millions of people out of suffering simultaneously.

Today, if you are under 50, you're mostly like going to die of opiates. Over 50? Type-2 diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease, obesity and its complications, and stress-related illness.

Every single one of these has strong behavioral components.

Building a smartphone-first, AI-powered rigorous technology of the human mind gives us all an above-the-table, democratized chance at designing scalable technologies that stop this. It spreads better across national, sex, gender, and SES lines than most other behavior-change oriented solutions. And as we enter an age of an excess of cheap energy, food, and data, we NEED a rigorous way to help us better align modern aspirations with an ancient brainstem.

How can we trust you not to sell apps that hurt people? The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Note that you're using the word 'addiction'. Many would argue that is hurting in and of itself - regardless of what one would be addicted to.

And that last paragraph is absolutely haunting. We need companies controlling our minds because our brainstem isn't evolved enough??

I hope you get sued into the ground. It's time to start holding people accountable for their effect on our peoples brains.

So, if you would love to clear up the misconceptions, actually answer all of the questions you listed? The only one you answered is about discounts for your product.

(right, it was more an invitation for discourse!)

But I'll give you the TL;DR:

Lightening rod: because now we're on HN.

Humanitarian use: see below about 100 years ago vs. today.

Quality of people: that's why Space is free.

What's design's ethical imperative: also, see below about 100 years ago vs. today.

Founders of push notification companies: Ask the CEOs of Leanplum/Marketo/Intercom/Vizurly/Kahuna why they haven't released an antidote for push notifications? Please. Try to get them to talk about it.

Tristan: great friend, mutual supporters

Pricing model: $0.05/MAU for qualifying startups.

What’s your current “pain point”?

(Other than ever attempting to re-brand before the heat death of the universe.)

Are you hiring?

I second that question.

team@usedopamine.com ;)

Yup.

https://angel.co/dopamine-1/jobs

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