A Lie to Keep You Safe?The surprising purpose of buttons that do nothing.
From the show
Practical PhilosophySome of the buttons we press every day are placebos, designed to give us a sense of control without actually affecting the system. From crosswalks to office thermostats, these 'benevolent deceptions' are meant to reduce anxiety and encourage safer behavior. But this raises a tricky ethical question: is it okay for designers and city planners to trick us, even if it's for our own good?
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