Comments on: Overcoming Bias on The Simpsons http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/05/overcoming_bias.html Overcoming Bias is economist Robin Hanson’s blog, on honesty, signaling, disagreement, forecasting, and the far future. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:23:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Stuart Armstrong http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/05/overcoming_bias.html#comment-419769 Stuart Armstrong Wed, 02 May 2007 09:30:56 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2007/05/overcoming-bias-on-the-simpsons.html#comment-419769 Warning: Your reality may not be as true as you think it is Warning: Your reality may not be as true as you think it is

]]> By: B.S. http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/05/overcoming_bias.html#comment-419768 B.S. Wed, 02 May 2007 04:45:42 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2007/05/overcoming-bias-on-the-simpsons.html#comment-419768 Ha! Ha!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/05/overcoming_bias.html#comment-419767 Anonymous Wed, 02 May 2007 02:04:25 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2007/05/overcoming-bias-on-the-simpsons.html#comment-419767 I think a similar warning should pop up before anyone posts to a blog, comments included! I think a similar warning should pop up before anyone posts to a blog, comments included!

]]> By: Carl Shulman http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/05/overcoming_bias.html#comment-419766 Carl Shulman Wed, 02 May 2007 01:02:01 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2007/05/overcoming-bias-on-the-simpsons.html#comment-419766 "So, should signs like this be posted occasionally?" Posted by whom? This would seem to involve the expenditure of significant resources (given the value of billboard advertising) that could be used to deal with more pressing biases or issues. In addition to the monetary cost, a society where such boards are needed is also one where the largely unbiased are scarce. “So, should signs like this be posted occasionally?”
Posted by whom? This would seem to involve the expenditure of significant resources (given the value of billboard advertising) that could be used to deal with more pressing biases or issues. In addition to the monetary cost, a society where such boards are needed is also one where the largely unbiased are scarce.

]]> By: Paul Gebheim http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/05/overcoming_bias.html#comment-419765 Paul Gebheim Wed, 02 May 2007 01:01:09 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2007/05/overcoming-bias-on-the-simpsons.html#comment-419765 Would it actually help to correct the bias? I'm sure my mother would have just scoffed at such a sign and called the person displaying it "negative". Point is, being confronted with 'the truth' may not make people confront their bias, but instead fall back on their bias when evaluating their reaction to the new information (in this case, dealing with an emotional wound in an emotional way). Maybe the sign should be more explicit: "WARNING: Your child is not as good as you think he is, and furthermore any indignation you feel at reading this may be exposing the biased constructs which you have used to form that already too-lofty opinion." Oh, also -- there are so many possible biases out there, that posting warning signs for all of them would be like child-proofing a toxic waste site... it brings to mind the "CANCER!!" warnings on every surface in California. Best to teach people generalizable techniques for noticing, understanding, and correcting their own biases instead of pointing out their foibles out one at a time. Teach a man to fish... Would it actually help to correct the bias? I’m sure my mother would have just scoffed at such a sign and called the person displaying it “negative”. Point is, being confronted with ‘the truth’ may not make people confront their bias, but instead fall back on their bias when evaluating their reaction to the new information (in this case, dealing with an emotional wound in an emotional way).

Maybe the sign should be more explicit:
“WARNING: Your child is not as good as you think he is, and furthermore any indignation you feel at reading this may be exposing the biased constructs which you have used to form that already too-lofty opinion.”

Oh, also — there are so many possible biases out there, that posting warning signs for all of them would be like child-proofing a toxic waste site… it brings to mind the “CANCER!!” warnings on every surface in California. Best to teach people generalizable techniques for noticing, understanding, and correcting their own biases instead of pointing out their foibles out one at a time. Teach a man to fish…

]]>