Comments on: Open Thread http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/05/open-thread-13.html Overcoming Bias is economist Robin Hanson’s blog, on honesty, signaling, disagreement, forecasting, and the far future. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:03:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Douglas Knight http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404819 Douglas Knight Wed, 28 May 2008 20:23:38 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404819 I applaud the return of "recent comments" <b>without javascript</b>. I hope they stay this time. I applaud the return of “recent comments” without javascript.

I hope they stay this time.

]]> By: Brian http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404818 Brian Fri, 23 May 2008 23:53:48 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404818 The scale of true human intelligence is measured within our own creativity. As smart as we are, we have to invent to be considered intelligent (ideas or otherwise). The very existence of overminds and Jupiter brains are creations of our own intellect. In fact, as a purely fictional character, an overmind is a particularly impossible character to write for because there is no possible way to explain its motives from a human point of view, and given that explanation is the key to communication, there is no possible way to consider an overmind magnificently intelligent without going past your own logical understanding of life. The purest form of intellect comes from a few words: Do unto others; Life is suffering; Logic is little tweeting bird chirping in meadow. Logic is wreath of pretty flowers that smell bad. The scale of true human intelligence is measured within our own creativity. As smart as we are, we have to invent to be considered intelligent (ideas or otherwise). The very existence of overminds and Jupiter brains are creations of our own intellect. In fact, as a purely fictional character, an overmind is a particularly impossible character to write for because there is no possible way to explain its motives from a human point of view, and given that explanation is the key to communication, there is no possible way to consider an overmind magnificently intelligent without going past your own logical understanding of life. The purest form of intellect comes from a few words: Do unto others; Life is suffering; Logic is little tweeting bird chirping in meadow. Logic is wreath of pretty flowers that smell bad.

]]> By: Kat http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404817 Kat Wed, 14 May 2008 12:56:01 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404817 <a href="http://www.paulgraham.com/lies.html" rel="nofollow">This Paul Graham essay</a> is interesting, but I took particular notice of these two paragraphs: "Innocence is also open-mindedness. We want kids to be innocent so they can continue to learn. Paradoxical as it sounds, there are some kinds of knowledge that get in the way of other kinds of knowledge. If you're going to learn that the world is a brutal place full of people trying to take advantage of one another, you're better off learning it last. Otherwise you won't bother learning much more. Very smart adults often seem unusually innocent, and I don't think this is a coincidence. I think they've deliberately avoided learning about certain things. Certainly I do. I used to think I wanted to know everything. Now I know I don't." I think most of the issues he raises have been touched on here at some point or another; the quoted portion made me think of Robin, who seems innocent in that way despite his stated desire to know the whole truth. This Paul Graham essay is interesting, but I took particular notice of these two paragraphs:

“Innocence is also open-mindedness. We want kids to be innocent so they can continue to learn. Paradoxical as it sounds, there are some kinds of knowledge that get in the way of other kinds of knowledge. If you’re going to learn that the world is a brutal place full of people trying to take advantage of one another, you’re better off learning it last. Otherwise you won’t bother learning much more.

Very smart adults often seem unusually innocent, and I don’t think this is a coincidence. I think they’ve deliberately avoided learning about certain things. Certainly I do. I used to think I wanted to know everything. Now I know I don’t.”

I think most of the issues he raises have been touched on here at some point or another; the quoted portion made me think of Robin, who seems innocent in that way despite his stated desire to know the whole truth.

]]> By: Hopefully Anonymous http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404816 Hopefully Anonymous Sat, 10 May 2008 02:45:20 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404816 Bayes theorem gets mainstream (or at least 2nd standard deviation) attention: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/03/technology/03koller.html?_r=1&ref=science&oref=slogin Also hints at how applied math phd's are bringing back generalist scientists. Bayes theorem gets mainstream (or at least 2nd standard deviation) attention:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/03/technology/03koller.html?_r=1&ref=science&oref=slogin

Also hints at how applied math phd’s are bringing back generalist scientists.

]]> By: Psy-Kosh http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404815 Psy-Kosh Tue, 06 May 2008 05:06:38 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404815 A semi silly thought I just had: Q: Why do Bayesians consider it so important to be able to quantify one's ignorance? A: "If it has stats, you can kill it." A semi silly thought I just had:

Q: Why do Bayesians consider it so important to be able to quantify one’s ignorance?

A: “If it has stats, you can kill it.”

]]> By: Hopefully Anonymous http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404814 Hopefully Anonymous Tue, 06 May 2008 03:16:19 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404814 Nick, got it. Community, feel free to adjust my reputation accordingly. Nick, got it. Community, feel free to adjust my reputation accordingly.

]]> By: Cyan http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404813 Cyan Tue, 06 May 2008 03:03:59 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404813 Last step: put a link to the forum in the sidebar. Last step: put a link to the forum in the sidebar.

]]> By: Nick Tarleton http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404812 Nick Tarleton Mon, 05 May 2008 23:38:32 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404812 Roland, Phil, HA: <a href="http://ni.codem.us/bb/index.php" rel="nofollow">I created a forum.</a> Posts will be automatically mirrored. (HA, you can PayPal $10 to nickptar@gmail.com .) Roland, Phil, HA: I created a forum. Posts will be automatically mirrored. (HA, you can PayPal $10 to nickptar@gmail.com .)

]]> By: Richard Hollerith http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404811 Richard Hollerith Mon, 05 May 2008 06:07:22 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404811 Well, maybe I should have chose Movable Type rather than WordPress for <a href="http://rhollerith.com" rel="nofollow">my own blog</a> then. Well, maybe I should have chose Movable Type rather than WordPress for my own blog then.

]]> By: Nick Tarleton http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404810 Nick Tarleton Sun, 04 May 2008 16:54:53 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/05/open-thread-13.html#comment-404810 Richard, minor correction: TypePad isn't a proprietary fork; it's a service operated by <a href="http://www.sixapart.com/products/" rel="nofollow">the same company that makes Movable Type</a>. Richard, minor correction: TypePad isn’t a proprietary fork; it’s a service operated by the same company that makes Movable Type.

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