What is the digital equivalent of the shopping cart theory? \ stacker news ~culture

The shopping cart theory is a famous post from 4chan that suggests the act of returning a shopping cart after using it at the mall is what determines whether a person is a good or bad member of society.

The theory says that because it’s not mandatory and there is no consequence for not returning a shopping cart, it’s entirely a personal choice out of the goodness of one’s own heart.

Are there digital equivalents to the shopping cart theory?

Building resilient and healthy communities online (and at scale) seems to depend on first being able to identify people who are “capable of self-governing”.

What are the simple actions that determine good or bad members of the internet?

Curious to hear everyone’s thoughts…

view all related items

404 sats \ 2 replies \ @0fje0 30 Jan

Properly citing your sources whenever possible - even if not necessarily as formal as in academia. For example:

Citing your sources is important because it: - Allows you to avoid plagiarism - Establishes the credentials of your sources - Backs up your arguments with evidence - Allows your reader to verify the legitimacy of your conclusions

Source: Scribbr Citation Generator

34 sats \ 0 replies \ @w3irdrobot 30 Jan

but i could be the dean of harvard without it though. so....

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @kr OP 30 Jan

that’s a great one!

261 sats \ 0 replies \ @kurszusz 30 Jan

I was in Italy in the summer, and on a gas station happened the following:

It was a "self-service" gas station, without staff. Before I refuel my car, it was needed to insert my card (payment possibility was only with card), and the card reader automatically subtracted 100 Euro as "guarantee". After I refuel and piad the gasoline, the amount of 100 Euro was redistribued to my card instantly...

I think this is the "digital version" of shopping cart theory :)

And be careful when you refuel your car in Italy...you need to have at least 100 Euro more, than the value of gasoline :)

102 sats \ 0 replies \ @pakovm 30 Jan

Not being an asshole to other players in Dark Souls would be my pick for that.

148 sats \ 3 replies \ @ek 30 Jan freebie

there is no consequence for not returning a shopping cart

Here in Germany, we have to insert a coin and we get back this coin when we return it. Isn't that the case everywhere? Additionally, I've seen shopping carts which have wheels that lock themselves when they are taken of the premises of the store.

So I never had the opportunity to decide only based on good will if I return it or not.

However, I remember how I once thought I had a genius idea: we could steal a shopping cart for a school project where we needed wheels because it would only cost us 1€, lol

I must be a bad member of society according to this theory haha

What are the simple actions that determine good or bad members of the internet?

Not abusing anonymity online. For example, there is the Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory or more formally, the Online Disinhibition Effect. So I would say you're a good member of the internet if you behave online like you would in punch range of someone.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @rarson 30 Jan

The only grocery stores I know of that do that in my area are Aldi stores. Although I suspect more of them will start doing it to save money.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @wingalt 30 Jan

I do remember that when I was younger there were no coins to insert in the cart of big supermarkets and it most likely didn't work since people didn't return the carts enough and the deposit system was implemented

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @kr OP 30 Jan

you’re right that some carts do require a small deposit to use, but i can only remember seeing those types of carts in Canada, not America…

it’s a good point though, and there typically is some social pressure to return a cart even if nothing else applies.

Not abusing anonymity online

that’s a good one

480 sats \ 1 reply \ @joda 31 Jan

Admitting their are multiple sides to everything.

Admitting when you're wrong.

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @kr OP 31 Jan

good point, very hard to do on a regular basis

100 sats \ 2 replies \ @OriginalSize 30 Jan

Honest argumentation. Online incentives are often opposed in a similar way to how you save time not returning your cart.

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @kr OP 30 Jan

if you had to change those online incentives, how would you do it?

44 sats \ 0 replies \ @OriginalSize 30 Jan

The most robust, low time preference way is through education so readers get good at recognizing and calling out dishonest tactics. Training mods is low hanging fruit... is there a mod school?

32 sats \ 0 replies \ @jgbtc 30 Jan freebie

I was lead cart retriever at the grocery store until I got laid off when all those goody-goodys started returning their own carts. Now I'm homeless, thanks a lot!

141 sats \ 4 replies \ @kr OP 30 Jan

one signal that someone is a good member of the internet on a bitcoin/v4v standard could be whether they zap good content when they see it.

importantly, there can’t be any profit motive for this to be a reliable test. it has to be a zap out of the goodness of one’s own heart.

406 sats \ 1 reply \ @joda 31 Jan

I don't think this is analogous because it isn't costless.

Some people are too poor to give, or maybe they think anyone with any sats is "rich enough" and give their money to charity instead.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @kr OP 31 Jan

fair, but then again returning a shopping cart isn’t cost less either.

seems like a money vs. time distinction.

46 sats \ 1 reply \ @rarson 30 Jan

What's good content to one person might not be good content to another.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @kr OP 30 Jan

right, but just the fact that someone chooses to zap something is the indicator i’m thinking about, doesn’t really matter if there is community agreement on how good it is.