So far as A/B testing goes, they do that, too. Obviously global warming was the winner there. But why? That's what I was trying to get at - I doubt it's just random. There has to be a reason it's preferred. Hence my suspicion that the appeal is at symbolic level: get the cattle to accept a rejection of life.
Perhaps "elemental" symbolism offers a clue. Fire vs. Ice and the instinctive, visceral reactions living creatures demonstrate. Freezing and burning are both horrific prospects, but most would choose the slow cold route over rising flames. A world "in flames" would as such have greater potential to inculcate the required fear response preceding any narrative and/or memetic injection into the targeted space.
Certainly. There's no honor amongst thieves.
So far as A/B testing goes, they do that, too. Obviously global warming was the winner there. But why? That's what I was trying to get at - I doubt it's just random. There has to be a reason it's preferred. Hence my suspicion that the appeal is at symbolic level: get the cattle to accept a rejection of life.
Perhaps "elemental" symbolism offers a clue. Fire vs. Ice and the instinctive, visceral reactions living creatures demonstrate. Freezing and burning are both horrific prospects, but most would choose the slow cold route over rising flames. A world "in flames" would as such have greater potential to inculcate the required fear response preceding any narrative and/or memetic injection into the targeted space.