Hacker News Reader

subliminalzenon How the Mad Men Lost the Plot

The issue isn't so much about which marketing channel works best (i.e. traditional vs digital) but about the psychological levers of persuassion. People don't like "conversing" and "engaging" with brands. That's why social media doesn't work. Social media is supposed to be social and not commercial.

As the article said, it's low cognitive involvement that works best, not brand loyalty. That's why advertisers are using the Low Attention Processing Model.[1] With this particular advertising strategy, brand information is 'acquired' at low and even zero attention levels using implicit learning.[2] Implicit learning cannot analyse or re-interpret anything. The information goes directly to the subconscious mind.

If so, then we are silently influenced by ambient images and messages around us. Advertisers could be affecting our decision making and even outlook on life in ways we can't perceive. This has been the driving inspiration for these posters I designed: http://subliminalzen.com.

Essentially, if anyone is going to advertise to my subconscious mind, it's going to be me. And I'd rather acquire positive habits and character traits than an emotional connection to a product.

[1] http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPag...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implicit_learning

subliminalzenon Ask HN: What is your favorite startup that you are following right now?

Emulate Inc, a biotech startup that designed organs-on-chips, a technology that could potentially stop animal testing.[1]

I also follow Beyond Meat. Google's Sergey Brin invested in them.[2] They are working on cruelty-free "cultured meat".

[1]http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/medical-technology...

[2]http://www.grubstreet.com/2015/06/silicon-valley-fake-meat-b...

subliminalzenon We found only one-third of published psychology research is reliable – now what?

The signal to noise ratio isn't good though. Personal integrity has been sacrificed for scientific "advancement".

subliminalzenon We found only one-third of published psychology research is reliable – now what?

It's not just psychological research that is deeply flawed. Only a quarter of scientific drug research is successfully reproduced as well.[1]

Carl Jung claimed one of the chief factors responsible for mass brainwashing is scientific rationality.[2] Society worships the Goddess of Reason while frowning down on "irrational" and non-verifiable religious testimony.

Now that science is proven to be systemically corrupt, what will "rational" people base their understanding on?

Aside: I designed a personality test / psychoanalytical tool that was inspired by Carl Jung. It's called Critical Stimulus and it can be found at https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/critical-stimulus. The printable version can be downloaded at gumroad: https://gumroad.com/l/criticalstimulus

[1] http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21588057-scientists-t...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_in_Jungian_psychology

subliminalzenon Show HN: Personality Test Inspired by CG Jung

Clickable: https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/critical-stimulus

https://gumroad.com/l/criticalstimulus

subliminalzenon BlackBerry Unveils an Android-Powered Phone with Security Features

Definitely consider BlackBerry's Passport. It's a fantastic phone. Lots of screen real estate for reading e-books and spreadsheets. And it runs Android apps (using 1Mobile Market, Amazon App Store or a half dozen other portals).

subliminalzenon Ask HN: YC interview invites are sent. What's up now?

The site and app look great. Very promising. I suggest going with a copywriter to help you craft your message. I'd start with your USP.

Again, fantastic job. I signed up for the Android version!

subliminalzenon Ask HN: Domain/trademark issues

If multiple software companies have successfully trademarked the exact same single word, does that matter or not? (They're all sharing it already.)

Yes. As someone who owns a trademark, I can tell you it does matter. Pick a new name.

I would guess that all of these matter by degree, and potential trouble only depends on an adversary's willingness to litigate, but am hoping for some help or guidance in what is a complicated (and frustrating) aspect of our business.

Trademark owners must defend their trademarks against infringement. Expect litigation, every time.

subliminalzenon How to detect lies with a storytelling technique

By using the exonerative voice, a liar avoids committing to a particular narrative. They can easily back away from a statement by saying "I only said baggage is subject to being searched. I didn't say they were searched."

That said, I don't think the exonerated voice is a particularly skillful one. A careful listener can easily pick up on that.

subliminalzenon Science papers rarely cited in negative ways

But then there is the "grimace index" experiment, where scientists at McGill University in Montreal tortured mice, increasing the amounts of pain to measure facial expressions.

There was a public outcry, but the researchers still got plenty of citations.

http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100509/full/news.2010.228.ht...

subliminalzenon Show HN: A Platform For Self-Experimentation

If this can somehow preempt experimentation on animals, I'm all for it.

subliminalzenon Ask HN: How can you tell if you are insane?

Why is this comment getting downvoted? I'd say of all the recommendations in this thread, getting out into nature is by far the most sensible.

I second this advice.

subliminalzenon LogMeIn acquires Lastpass

Roboform works everywhere: http://roboform.com

subliminalzenon LogMeIn acquires Lastpass

Roboform: http://roboform.com has been excellent for me. Not sure why I switched to LastPass, but I'm switching back.

subliminalzenon Blindsight: Some people who have lost their vision find a “second sight”

I had no idea. And it's starring Rowdy Roddy Piper! I'll have to check it out.

subliminalzenon Blindsight: Some people who have lost their vision find a “second sight”

Actually, what happens isn't much different than a magician's slight of hand. The eyes are drawn to the underlying image, thereby suspending the critical faculties of the mind and creating an opportunity for implicit learning.

Thinking Fast and Slow is one of my favorite books. Read it twice!

subliminalzenon Blindsight: Some people who have lost their vision find a “second sight”

Thanks for the kind words. I'm definitely thinking along those lines. Your example is intriguing and certainly worth looking into btw.

subliminalzenon Blindsight: Some people who have lost their vision find a “second sight”

Advertisers use what is known as the Low Attention Processing Model.[1] With this particular advertising strategy, brand information, and even an emotional attachment to a brand, can be 'acquired' at low and even zero attention levels using implicit learning.[2] Implicit learning cannot analyse or re-interpret anything. The information goes directly to the subconscious mind.

Depending on the message, this can be positive or detrimental to our well-being, and it puts into question how much free-agency we are really exercising in our lives. The fact we are silently influenced by ambient images and messages around us was the inspiration for these posters I designed: http://zenpusher.com

Basically, if anyone is going to advertise to my subconscious mind, it's going to be me. And I'd rather acquire positive habits and character traits than an emotional connection to a product.

[1] http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPag...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implicit_learning

subliminalzenon E-Book Sales Fall After New Amazon Contracts

I recently subscribed to Kindle Unlimited and it has definitely saved me money. And with the selection getting better and better, I envision this "Spotify for ebooks" business model as the new normal.

I own a Kobo too and hope Chapters / Indigo offers the same service.

subliminalzenon Why drivers in China intentionally kill the pedestrians they hit

Think about it, this is a country of 1.3 billion people. How often does this actually happen?

In the Slate Plus special feature section, the author of the article shared statistics on how frequently traffic accidents result in death in China, compared with the United States. In 2013 in the US there were 32,719 deaths, compared to over two million injuries in traffic accidents. That means that, in the United States, there are 70 injuries per every traffic death. According to China's Xinhua News Agency, the ratio of traffic injuries to deaths in China is four to one.

subliminalzenon The Witches of Salem

The book Wicked Plants gives evidence that the strange and "satanic" behavior by the young girls in Salem was actually due to a toxic fungus called Ergot which can distort thinking.

It had infected their rye and contaminated their cereal and bread.

The book: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/wicked-plants

subliminalzenon Adobe CEO desperately tries to avoid answering a simple question (2013)

I've been reading up on GIMP and it seems to handle any graphic design task I can throw at it.

subliminalzenon The return of nature

The article reminds me of this quote from Carl Jung: "Nature must not win the game, but she cannot lose."

subliminalzenon Ask HN: What's the best Bitcoin exchange/wallet out there?

If you can, purchase from a Bitcoin ATM or using LocalBitcoins.com. Coinbase can be heavy-handed at times, but it's better than Circle by a country mile.

subliminalzenon Madoko – Write full-blown academic articles in Markdown

Seconding Bitcoin integration. Thanks for mentioning it. Your story looks interesting too.

subliminalzenon Google Has a Secret Interview Process and It Landed Me a Job

Ironic, as it could be argued that Google violates everyone's privacy.

subliminalzenon Oblique Strategies

There are some interesting variations of Oblique Strategies. I own Marshall McLuhan's Early Distant Warning card deck and get useful insights from it. You can buy it here: http://ericmcluhan.com/bookshop/

The one I use most is called God Codes, and it's been uncannily effective. It saved me $750 and pointed me to the perfect tagline for a product I'm developing: https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/god-codes

subliminalzenon The world’s first true “smart drug” enhances cognition

This article reads like sponsored content in a print magazine. To see it voted to the front page of Hacker News (this readership is the drug's target market) makes it all the more suspicious.

subliminalzenon Ask HN: How to Find the Best Info on Cancer Treatments?

I've noticed people on HN are quick to punish with downvotes and shadowbanning. Why is that?

subliminalzenon [dead]

Personally, I'd tell Notch to look outside himself and observe suffering in the world. There is so much good he can do. So much opportunity. He doesn't have time to wallow in depression. People, animals, the environment could use his help and his resources.

What a shame if he squanders this opportunity.