When Humans Need a Nudge Toward Rationality

[joepunk]

Sometimes social engineering can be as easy a nudging people in the right direction by etching flies in urinals. Sorry, what? New York Times

The flies — images of flies, actually — were etched in the porcelain near the urinal drains in an experiment in human behavior.

Images of flies in airport urinals have taught a lesson about human behavior, says Richard Thaler, the behavioral economist.

After the flies were added, “spillage” on the men’s-room floor fell by 80 percent. “Men evidently like to aim at targets,” said Richard Thaler of the University of Chicago, an irreverent pioneer in the increasingly influential field of behavioral economics.

 

[NT1440]

I thought this was common knowledge by now....

 

[benlee]

That is why, albeit disgusting at first, I quite enjoy when someone leaves "marks" on the bottom of the toilet. Adds some fun to the daily activity.

 

[r.j.s]

So, that was a test?

 

[NT1440]

I was in a bathroom once that had little soccer nets and a small plastic soccerball in the urinals, needless to say I went as many times as I could that day.

I felt like beckham

 

[r.j.s]

I was in a bathroom once that had little soccer nets and a small plastic soccerball in the urinals, needless to say I went as many times as I could that day.

I felt like beckham

I've never come across anything that sophisticated, but I have seen the flies, and some of the new waterless urinals have a bee in them.

 

[Counterfit]

Meh, this one probably get the job done better.

 

[gibbz]

I was in a bathroom once that had little soccer nets and a small plastic soccerball in the urinals, needless to say I went as many times as I could that day.

I felt like beckham

So did you "bend it like Beckham"?

If so, what did you bend exactly?

Did it look like this?

 

[themoonisdown09]

I love when there's toilet paper in the toilet or a cigarette in the urinal.

 

[NT1440]

So did you "bend it like Beckham"?

If so, what did you bend exactly?

Did it look like this?

Thats it!

And no, no fancy tricks, other than the rainbow kick and juggling of course....

 

[Abstract]

Meh, this one probably get the job done better.

I'd fill that thing.

 

[dmr727]

I'd fill that thing.

You're not supposed to sit in it, Abstract.

 

[Abstract]

If that thing is German, it may actually like it.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

The urinal flies are no new thing - I first saw some at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, it must be getting on towards ten years ago now.

EDIT: Yeah, as the link says. I'll get my coat.

 

[Abstract]

I tried to pee on the urinal fly once. It definitely improved my aim......until it flew away!!

The guy beside me was pretty angry....

 

[joepunk]

I was in a bathroom once that had little soccer nets and a small plastic soccerball in the urinals, needless to say I went as many times as I could that day.

I felt like beckham

You played some "Water Sports," eh?