A cognitohazard is anything that is hazardous to perceive. For example, in the short story BLIT, there are certain patterns and images that cause the brain to shut down when you look at them, sort of like a computer crashing. A very benign real life example is earworms–really catchy songs that stick in your head after you listen to them. Just by listening to a song, it can cause you some form of harm (really just a mild annoyance, but still).
Another fun rabbit hole is infohazards. Things that are hazardous just to know. Like, you can see your nose, you’re aware of your breathing, and you can feel your tongue. Roko’s Basilisk is a hypothetical one with plenty of videos about it
A cognitohazard is anything that is hazardous to perceive. For example, in the short story BLIT, there are certain patterns and images that cause the brain to shut down when you look at them, sort of like a computer crashing. A very benign real life example is earworms–really catchy songs that stick in your head after you listen to them. Just by listening to a song, it can cause you some form of harm (really just a mild annoyance, but still).
“Adversarial patches” are a complicated topic, and this video does a good job explaining them. He never gets hit by the car, by the way, so don’t get your hopes too high
Another fun rabbit hole is infohazards. Things that are hazardous just to know. Like, you can see your nose, you’re aware of your breathing, and you can feel your tongue. Roko’s Basilisk is a hypothetical one with plenty of videos about it
Wait, people don’t know they can see their noses?
Most people’s brains just kinda filter it out, and when they become aware of the fact that it’s visible it can be distracting
Makes sense. Now I’m trying to feel my tongue but so far, nothing
Here let me try 😘
All hail the great basilisk
Roco’s Basilisk is an information hazard, not a cognitohazard.
They mentioned it because I mentioned infohazards at the end of my comment, since they’re a related subject
Fuck you.
Your pinkie toe hasn’t moved in a while.
Wrong, mine moves all the time
Just so you know you can see your glasses now
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
this video does a good job explaining them.
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I’m open-source; check me out at GitHub.