Recency bias

There is this strange thing about who people choose to call the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Times, in case you are still under the rock from where I just recently crawled out). It always happens to be someone who is currently alive and performing at the top of his ability. It's like, somehow, we are lucky to be alive at the exact time when the G.O.A.Ts in all spheres have graced our planet with their presence. It's such a pity that our forefathers did not produce any G.O.A.T in ANY sphere and, what's worse, our children will also not produce any G.O.A.T in ANY sphere since our own lot are not only the 'greatEST' but also the greatest of ALL times!

Or, perhaps, there have been greats, even greatests, in all times. Perhaps, Viv Richards, Gary Sobers and Don Bradman would also qualify as greats and Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Steve Smith et al may only be AS great as these chaps and not the GREATEST. What gives credence to this bizarre idea that ANYONE from the past can be as good as Virat (OR Babar OR Steve OR...) is this strange thing in logic called 'Recency Bias'.

Apparently, human beings are wired to consider what happened recently as more important, better, whatever as compared to what happened earlier. OR, like our movie villains, especially those who play politicians, often say...'Public Memory is short'. Which is why you tend to value today's performers as far better than anyone from yesteryears. AND, yes, an accusation of corruption today will send voters rushing back to favor the people accused of genocide yesterday. THAT is recency bias in logic AND politicians, especially, thrive on it because ANY crime, as long as it does not result in a punishment long enough to disqualify them, will be forgotten or condoned pretty damn quick.

Which is also the reason why old fogies like me hardly find conversational traction except among other old fogies. I mean, you could have saved a townful of people in the eighties from a pandemic but all that talking about it will get you is a huge yawn and a 'there he goes again'. Meanwhile, the chap who created an APP to buy chips faster yesterday can talk of it practically incessantly...till, of course, the next sensation knocks it off the pedestal. Recency bias at work...and you thought logic wasn't of any relevance to your life.

Now that you know it, do not pass off this "What have you done for me lately?" attitude of your colleagues or family or friends as mere selfishness and lack of gratitude. It's recency bias at work!