[–] [S] 0 points 2 years ago (1 child)

By decision, I meant anything that was more than mere chemical or mechanical reaction. Another way of separating it is the point where we can say there is a purpose or difference between dead molecules and being alive. In this case, going to the cinema is wayyy too advanced a decision to help define. More like a cell or group of cells that recognizes its environment and has the opportunity to decide to go towards one direction over another rather than respond merely because a chemical in their environment reacted with their body in a way that gave them an impulse.

But in the larger picture, it seems like there are many decisions that occur for us to commit a behavior. For example, we have to decide what we perceive, decide what our emotional state is, decide what our memories are, decide our personal taste for movies, decide our current motivational state, decide if we have enough time, etc, be fore we decide to go to the movies. All those have to happen prior to deciding on the cinema, and the majority of them occur simultaneously with a central network organizing them into a coherent process, correct? Omg, is this central network what people call executive functioning‽

  • source
  • parent
  • context
  • [–] [S] 0 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    Interesting! This is what I was getting at. I'm trying to figure out at what level decisions are made and how are they made. From what I can tell so far, it seems like neurons act as nodes that either fire or not based on the information they receive from previous neurons. The information they receive from previous neurons either encourage or discourage activation, each at a different strength. Once a neuron receives enough encouragement to fire from the previous neurons, it fires and sends its signal to the neurons it is connected to, which they take as encouragement or discouragement. In a sense, decision-making is a series of very long logistic regression models. Each previous neuron serves as a predictive factor with it's own polarity (encouragement or discouragement) and coefficient (magnitude of signal). Learning is changing the values of coefficients so that predictive factors have different impacts on the outcome variable. With this in mind, then at least 2 neurons are needed to make a decision. The more neurons, the more variables can be included in the decision making process. Does that make sense?

  • source
  • parent
  • context
  • [–] 0 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 child)

    I don't know. I think it would lead to weird conversations, especially during romantic events.

    Jane: John, please put your pipi in my vivi soon as I believe I am properly irrigated.

    John: Solid copy, Jane. I will proceed to initiate the insertion protocol.

    Jane: I appreciate that, John.

    John: You are welcome, Jane.

    Jane: Oh my, John. That feels too big.

    Jack: Sorry, Jane. That was me. I was distracted watching the news on the television when you spoke and must have misheard. I will pull out my pipi from your vivi, Jane.

    Jane: Jack, you're so distracted! haha

    John: Announcement! I have completed the insertion protocol, everyone. Jane, is it too big?

    Jack: Ouch! That is me, John.

    John: Jack, oops. I think I am also distracted by the news on the television. The story about the wiffle ball team going to a Major League baseball game was engaging due to the similarities and differences between the two sports. Nonetheless, I will initiate the withdrawal protocol from Jack.

    Jack: Thank you, John.

    Jane: Attention in the mess hall including John and Jack! I have decided to terminate my participation in the currently proceeding intercourse attempt. Please robe and vacate within 53 second per the terms of services. I love you, John, Jack, and Jake.

    Jake: Thank you, Jane.

    Jane: You are welcome, Jake.

    Jack: Thank you, Jane.

    Jane: You are welcome, Jack.

    John: Oh my, everyone. The wiffle ball team was at the baseball game. Is not that interesting?

    Jake: John, please pay attention.

    Jane: Thank you for getting John's attention, Jack.

    Jack: Jane, that was not me. Jake, please inform Jane that it was you that acquired John's attention.

    Jake: Jack, I will. Jane, it was I that acquired John's attention.

    Jane: Oh, Jake, thank you. Also, I retract my thanks to Jack.

    John, Jack, & Jake: Noted, Jane.

    John: Thank you, Jane.

    Everyone: Okay, bye!

    The End

    See what I mean??

  • source
  •  

    Car insurance is relatively simple. I shop around, telling them how much coverage I want. They request my driving history, and give me a quote. At any time, I can shop around and change insurance policies without any problems. Once it's time to collect payment, it's a relatively simple matter. What makes health insurance so difficult, controlling, unreliable, and expensive? For example, with health insurance:

    • Can only shop during a specific enrollment period

    • Policies are so complex, the vast majority of the population can't understand them

    • It's commonly provided in part by the employer because buying a policy otherwise is prohibitively expensive

    • Insurance companies are notorious for denying payments

    Respect (europe.pub)
     

    cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/17147012

    "Sometimes people use “respect” to mean “treating someone like a person” and sometimes they use “respect” to mean “treating someone like an authority”

    and sometimes people who are used to being treated like an authority say “if you won’t respect me I won’t respect you” and they mean “if you won’t treat me like an authority I won’t treat you like a person”

    and they think they’re being fair but they aren’t, and it’s not okay."

    -a 15yo autistic girl experiencing ABA therapy

    Source