Resignations

 

We’re a Couple of Misfits

Why am I such a misfit?
I am not just a nit wit!
They can't fire me.
I quit!
Seems I don't fit in

Is quitting an admission of guilt?

The recent resignation by Jeff Zucker of CNN has certainly garnered a lot of comments.  However the comments may provide a better idea as to whether that commenter is playing a User Optimal strategy, which is the best strategy for the player, or a System Optimal strategy, which is the best strategy for society.  Just as a verdict of not guilty does NOT mean the plaintiff is innocent, https://dbeagan.blogspot.com/2021/10/words-you-thinkthat-i-dont-even-mean.html, quitting is NOT an admission of guilt.   Society is interested in the truth, whether the accused is innocent or guilty.  The accused may only be interested in retaining his job.

If you follow a User Optimal strategy, you should Fight every accusation, whether you are Innocent or Guilty.  Even if that accusation is true and you are Guilty; claim “whataboutism” for your competitors (they did something almost as bad!); question the motives of those making the accusation (witch hunt!); or blame the ones who provided proof of your guilt (snitches get stitches).

If you follow a System Optimal strategy, you may Quit, even if you are Innocent.  Society has to devote Resources if you Fight.  If you Quit that means that society has to devote No Resources.  If you value society, and the cost to society is greater than your value of Retaining Your Job, you may Quit even if you are Innocent.

The problem is that there is a difference between Innocent and Not Guilty.  Society can NOT find you Innocent.  Society can find you Not Guilty.

The table of gameplay is is

Accused	Innocence or Guilt	Evidence	Society	Societal Finding	User Outcome
Fight	Innocent	No Evidence	Use Resources	Not Guilty	Retain Job
Fight	Innocent	Evidence	Use Resources	Not Guilty	Retain Job
Fight	Guilty	No Evidence	Use Resources	Not Guilty	Retain Job
Fight	Guilty	Evidence	Use Resources	Guilty	Lose Job
Quit	Innocent	No Evidence	Use No Resources	None	Lose Job
Quit	Innocent	Evidence	Use No Resources	None	Lose Job
Quit	Guilty	No Evidence	Use No Resources	None	Lose Job
Quit	Guilty	Evidence	Use No Resources	None	Lose Job

 

There are different standards for the court of public opinion, a civil court, or a criminal court.  There can be a finding of Guilty in the court of public opinion and in a civil court, and a finding of Not Guilty in a criminal court (remember O. J. Simpson?) There are three ways to retain your job if the accused plays Fight, which is his User Optimal strategy.  There is a guarantee that Society will Use No Resources if the User plays Quit which is his System Optimal strategy.

If you place a value on the resources of society, then it is possible to Quit and Lose Your Job even if you are Innocent.  If you place no value on the resources of society (which by definition  makes you a hater of society, a sociopath) then you can Fight to Retain Your Job, even when you are Guilty. 

If you are not only a User Optimist, but are also immoral, you can act as if a finding of Not Guilty is a finding of Innocence; a finding of Guilty does not mean that you Lose Your Job; and that Quitting means a finding of Guilt.