Dan Ariely: Beware conflicts of interest

http://www.ted.com In this short talk, psychologist Dan Ariely tells two personal stories that explore scientific conflict of interest: How the pursuit of knowledge and insight can be affected, consciously or not, by shortsighted personal goals. When we're thinking about the big questions, he reminds us, let's be aware of our all-too-human brains.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate.

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[LordWargus]

Okay, awesome video

I want to to get this to top Comments so please like it...

TED, YOU SHOULD LOWER THE VOLUME OF YOUR INTROS.

Lets try and make a change here

[RoGeorgeRoGeorge]

The mind tend to see what it SUPPOSED to be seen, not the reality.

This is a very deep truth. When I discovered it I thought I was the first. Then I found out this is not new and it's a very old peace of wisdom.

Ex: "The assumption is the mother of all fuck ups!"

:o)

[Hythloday71]

Great anecdote, great quote/ paraphrase 'there is always somebody trying to tattoo our faces'. Many peoples political opinions are shaded by the vested interest of ego. That is they want the poor and criminally minded to wholly take responsibility as they see their good fortune as 'all' their own doing. Get it? If they admit they were lucky, they scratch their self esteem and might have to concede the argument that people are rarely wholly responsible for their fate and thus need show empathy.

[qigong1001]

@GrudgyDiablo Thats interesting. Now we know what kind of people are complaining about the volume.

[freefreeist]

@qigong1001 Amen brother!

[qigong1001]

@phreakyprofessor There is no problem with the intro; so it needs no correction. People should stop trying to rewrite others work. Its a musical buildup effect typical of video intros. Its suppose to sound that way. TED has had the same intro for quite some time. And now all of a sudden people are complaining? This is typical bandwagon effect. Thinking like the "herd." They see the "thumbs up" counter go up and they can't help themselves...they have to click on it. Baa Baa!

[phreakyprofessor]

@qigong1001

Simply normalizing the volume within the mixed-down vid would stop all complaints. Basic production skills are missing here.

Also: learn to focus on the talk? So we should ignore problems and just not mention them ever again? Sounds like a key to a glorious future...

[SiddharthMandhata]

@LordWargus

I agree both things - comments about the video and the volume of intros.

Hello TED... are you listening what your users say...!

[GraeHall]

And that's what I love about the practice of science, its introspection, how it tries to identify mistakes, and be less wrong. Not right, but less wrong.

It's a truly special endeavour of humanity, that's unlike any other, and its power is staggering.