I think this idea is a good thought experiment for ways to culturally regulate bad behavior, but I don't think it would play out the way that you imagine it would. In a world where blackmail is legal, people will hopefully still feel strong social ties to each other, and *not* want to manipulate people into paying them money for keeping a secret... leaving that the people who do feel comfortable taking advantage of this system likely to be people who feel a low degree of social connection to other people, and likely more malevolent as well. legalizing blackmail would also likely erode social trust. There's nothing really out there keeping the poor man you gave as an example protected under this system- there could be a bad actor who just enjoys seeing people in distress, or just dislikes this poor man, and is also poor enough for the pennies that he has to be worth something to him. And there would be no recourse for the poor man.
I also do like the framework of "information as a public good," but I don't think that paying people to keep our secrets helps our society access more information.
I'm confused what your policy proposal is, exactly. To formally legalize blackmail in all situations? What if a blackmailer asks for something other than money... a job? influence?
Edit: I'd say people not turning other people in for marijuana "because they don't care about it" is mostly a description of the status quo, not a description of what the situation would be in a culture where blackmail is considered perfectly okay. If a culture where that's normal, you might feel honor-bound to turn in someone who can't afford to pay you. Likewise for people who prefer to stay in the closet. And if you're a person being blackmailed and you can't afford to pay, *even if* they don't turn you in, you do have to live with the worry and risk that they will.
To make blackmail legal, yes, including if the person asks for something other than money. Services rendered is just another way to pay.
Why would I feel honor-bound to do anything? I don't get a thing for revealing people's secrets when they don't pay, *which is precisely why they don't do it now*.
Interesting
I think this idea is a good thought experiment for ways to culturally regulate bad behavior, but I don't think it would play out the way that you imagine it would. In a world where blackmail is legal, people will hopefully still feel strong social ties to each other, and *not* want to manipulate people into paying them money for keeping a secret... leaving that the people who do feel comfortable taking advantage of this system likely to be people who feel a low degree of social connection to other people, and likely more malevolent as well. legalizing blackmail would also likely erode social trust. There's nothing really out there keeping the poor man you gave as an example protected under this system- there could be a bad actor who just enjoys seeing people in distress, or just dislikes this poor man, and is also poor enough for the pennies that he has to be worth something to him. And there would be no recourse for the poor man.
I also do like the framework of "information as a public good," but I don't think that paying people to keep our secrets helps our society access more information.
I'm confused what your policy proposal is, exactly. To formally legalize blackmail in all situations? What if a blackmailer asks for something other than money... a job? influence?
Edit: I'd say people not turning other people in for marijuana "because they don't care about it" is mostly a description of the status quo, not a description of what the situation would be in a culture where blackmail is considered perfectly okay. If a culture where that's normal, you might feel honor-bound to turn in someone who can't afford to pay you. Likewise for people who prefer to stay in the closet. And if you're a person being blackmailed and you can't afford to pay, *even if* they don't turn you in, you do have to live with the worry and risk that they will.
To make blackmail legal, yes, including if the person asks for something other than money. Services rendered is just another way to pay.
Why would I feel honor-bound to do anything? I don't get a thing for revealing people's secrets when they don't pay, *which is precisely why they don't do it now*.