I’ve noticed in myself that the loudest alarms are indeed sometimes false (after an alarm goes off and I react wrongly). But that’s not always the case. In many cases I am able to correctly self-assess an alarm. For example, the alarm might be (based on the social signals) that I feel I’m on the verge of losing my job. I pause, accurately assess the reality and take action to keep my job (because I was in real danger of losing it).
But it could go the other way too. I start getting negative social signals, but when I really sit down and think about it, I recognize that I’m overreacting. I remember that this alarm has gone off loudly before (let’s say ten times), but when I analyze it I realize that none of them actually panned out. By evaluating the track record from my own memory, I am able to determine if the alarm is correct or not. I know memory isn’t always 100% reliable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t come to the right conclusion.
You alluded to checking with family and friends as a way to test if the alarm is real. That is one way, but I don’t think it’s the only way. I’m interested if you think self-checking is a valid method, even though memory has limits.
I’ve noticed in myself that the loudest alarms are indeed sometimes false (after an alarm goes off and I react wrongly). But that’s not always the case. In many cases I am able to correctly self-assess an alarm. For example, the alarm might be (based on the social signals) that I feel I’m on the verge of losing my job. I pause, accurately assess the reality and take action to keep my job (because I was in real danger of losing it).
But it could go the other way too. I start getting negative social signals, but when I really sit down and think about it, I recognize that I’m overreacting. I remember that this alarm has gone off loudly before (let’s say ten times), but when I analyze it I realize that none of them actually panned out. By evaluating the track record from my own memory, I am able to determine if the alarm is correct or not. I know memory isn’t always 100% reliable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t come to the right conclusion.
You alluded to checking with family and friends as a way to test if the alarm is real. That is one way, but I don’t think it’s the only way. I’m interested if you think self-checking is a valid method, even though memory has limits.