I agree with this. For example, there was a discussion a while back on opt-in versus opt-out organ donation. Most LWers supported opt-out because the downside of making a mistake in opt-out is a dead person’s preferences being accidentally violated, as opposed to the downside of making a mistake in opt-in, where someone dies because they don’t get an organ.
Most people in the general population prefer opt-in, and the only reason I can think of is that they feel like bad consequences through inaction (not taking an organ that should be taken) is okay in a way that bad consequences through action (taking an organ that shouldn’t be taken) is not.
Or, regarding literal multiple choice tests where the bias is the other way, see Shut Up And Guess.
I agree with this. For example, there was a discussion a while back on opt-in versus opt-out organ donation. Most LWers supported opt-out because the downside of making a mistake in opt-out is a dead person’s preferences being accidentally violated, as opposed to the downside of making a mistake in opt-in, where someone dies because they don’t get an organ.
Most people in the general population prefer opt-in, and the only reason I can think of is that they feel like bad consequences through inaction (not taking an organ that should be taken) is okay in a way that bad consequences through action (taking an organ that shouldn’t be taken) is not.
Or, regarding literal multiple choice tests where the bias is the other way, see Shut Up And Guess.