social engineers

[smirabi]

i recently read about conmen (though they are now politely called "social engineers" when under the pay of Uncle Sam) fooling IRS workers to give up their system login credentials and other things of that nature

Comments

[whiteharlequin]

All people are social engineers. Women are just better at it.

[smirabi]

i'll agree with that. i have the dubious distinction of being unable to make allies in Monopoly, Risk, and Mafia when I play with my clemson friends, as they fear my social engineering skills (though they are apt to phrase it "using your psychology on us"). :p

[crwsz]

The difference is that within our culture, it's socially desirable for women to subvert their own desires when it comes to interpersonal interactions. So, other parties are left with a positive feeling of the interaction, which is in stark contrast to your (apparent) high-stepping around the Risk board proclaiming the weakness and gullibility of your enemies.

I agree that we are all social engineers, but I don't think that generally being more guarded about what you want means you're necessarily a better social engineer.

[smirabi]

but i'm not talking about women subverting their desires, i'm talking about women getting exactly what they want out of an interaction, often in ways that men simply couldn't pull off.

as to my so-called high stepping around the Risk board, i don't recall openly proclaiming the weakness and gullibility of my enemies... that is, not until the match was won :p