Tit for Tat Podcast

I believe the entire podcast provided meaningful historical insight, especially how an elementary level computer, simple thought experiment, and a few great minds could come together and create a set of strategies that could be applied on a global scale. I enjoyed the linkage between the  tactics of the players of the game and tactics of soldiers at war. The players of the game were initially laid out to help listeners better understand the global application. For example “Tester” tests limits to see how much deflecting they can get away with ,when it gets screwed over a lot it stops cooperating all together. “Jesus” always does good, “Lucifer” always does bad. They tied this a historical event, in which one group of soldiers unintentionally did an act of good and encouraged their opposition to do the same thing; this resulted in a short truce and the realization that moral cooperation exist. Knowing this encourages me to assume others have an underlying intention to do what’s right, even if they’re not in the same side as you. Understanding the game and having it mentally mapped out definitely helped me grasp the concept and tie that to a negotiation implication. I understand that there’s a good chance that person will be willing to return a favor if I present that favor first. In better words, if I treat people the way I would like to be treated, there’s a good chance that we will both participate in moral cooperation. I think of the generals in the story/example as bosses. The group of subordinates did a good job of cooperating and preventing death on both sides but the leaders who were only focused on a win-lose outcome pushed for brute force and unfair action. This makes me wonder how many leaders ruin good relationships and opportunities in a pursuit of winning and glory. No one has to work for people like that when they themselves are capable of creating outcomes that lead to better relationships and outcomes. If at any given time soldiers as a whole decided to push a more progressive and kind agenda, it’s a good chance that the other side would follow suit and generals would be out numbered, unable to push that brute agenda. I think this can be applied in the workforce, good relations and actions will always prevail as long as there are enough people willing to take charge in a way that does not involve oppressing others.