Nudge, nudge - no, no

Nudge, nudge – no, no - In only two years plenty of bossy-boots in office have leapt upon a new method of manipulating us.

To be nudged repeatedly gives you bruised ribs. It is only two years since two Chicago academics published a book called Nudge, but in that time plenty of bossy-boots in office have leapt upon a new method of manipulating us. Just as supermarkets rig queues to make us work their check-outs for them, via machines that shout instructions about the "bagging area", so politicians, acting as our masters, delight in nagging us into health and duty.

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Death-related warnings may actually encourage smokers to keep up their habit

It is social sat-nav, forever telling us to do a U-turn. Cigarette packets bear disgusting pictures, the price of drink is raised, unsolicited swimming-vouchers arrive in the post. In Scotland, the obesity minister even wants to hide sweeties in shops. Now a Cambridge academic has demonstrated that nudging doesn't work. There are too many counter-nudges from the other side, like a tempter at the other ear. Nudge, nudge? Say: no more. ( telegraph.co.uk )