I look at everything as a math problem to solve and human behavior is the perfect fit for game theory, especially in this mask mandate situation where “The Prisoner’s” Dilemma” perfectly describes what is happening here. The only way out of these child/school and work mandates is to revolt, protest, and take back what’s ours. The problem is getting people on board to make decisions as a group. When giving individual decision-makers a choice, they choose the best decisions for themselves and not the group. Knowing that you can’t trust the others to make the right decision makes it difficult, especially when the act of change results in punishment.
Consider 20 prisoners know that if they all make a run for it at the same time that they will enjoy freedom. However if several people default and choose not to take the risk then that makes it easier to catch the individual prisoners that chose to run. The biggest problem with this situation is gathering and trusting enough people to follow through with the revolt as a group.
Its the same situation with mask mandates.
The “payoff” R= NO PUNISHMENT, is that no one bothers you when everyone wears a mask. You are safe from confrontation. Kids are safe from harassment from teachers and expulsion from the administration.
The “payoff” P=FREEDOM, is that we all get our lives back. We return to 2019 rules.
The “payoff” S= NO PUNISHMENT, the same as R.
The “payoff” T=PUNISHMENT, the biggest motivator for children. T would be the worst situation to be in, where you are the only kid to take off the mask and you are easily punished. Also some kids are convinced that masks keep them safe and as soon as they take off the mask in school, they are at risk for COVID19. But these same kids hang with their friends, go to other activities, restaurants and parties without masks and are not worried about disease. Obviously, punishment is the biggest motivator here.
Where are all the rebellious teens willing to risk punishment for a large payout?
The reality is, kids, especially teens, can’t trust each other to follow through, just like prisoners can’t trust each other. They know their friends will flake out on the revolt leaving them to incur the penalty T.
I’m still shocked anyone tries to make the argument that mandating masks in school effects the entire state when it comes to cases. Florida doesn’t have child mandates and has a lower risk of infection right now. Clearly there is no benefit to masking kids except for escaping punishment from the schools.
Parents are going to HAVE To make a change. You can’t rely on kids to do your job. But what can you do? Well, you have to come up with something. Waiting for these lawsuits to be resolved by liberal judges probably isn’t going to yield the result we are looking for. I’m going to follow up tomorrow with an article in Chaos & Control about short term and long term goals and how this is accomplished. But the gist is, you need to gather parents in your school and create the revolt that your kids can’t manage.