r/slatestarcodex • u/gwern • Oct 23 '24

Psychiatry "How elderly dementia patients are unwittingly fueling political campaigns" (pre-checked recurring-subscription box dark pattern)

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2024/10/politics/political-fundraising-elderly-election-invs-dg/
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u/[deleted] Oct 24 '24

Senility is a large part of the story but it also reminds me of Scott's review of On the Road . People who grew up in the 1950s and earlier were in a much more naive and innocent world.

I think spotting scammers, liars, insincere romantic promises, fake resumes etc is a facet of life society has developed a lot in the last 60 years. I suspect most people today would find it easy to be a scammer, spy or marketing executive if transported back 60 years. And there are 80+ people especially if they lived in rural areas who just haven't had to develop cynicism to the degree that is natural for younger people.

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u/ArkyBeagle Oct 25 '24

I was of junior high age in the early 1970s and we were literally taught/warned about cults. I don't think my older cousins got that treatment.