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Human predictability

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  • W Offline
    W Offline
    wolfbinary
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    I had watched an interview of a scientist on the daily show where the scientist talks about how given enough information could predict with 75% or so certainty about what a person or group will do. I don't think people are all that unpredictable. Do you find people very predictable?

    That's called seagull management (or sometimes pigeon management)... Fly in, flap your arms and squawk a lot, crap all over everything and fly out again... by _Damian S_

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    • W wolfbinary

      I had watched an interview of a scientist on the daily show where the scientist talks about how given enough information could predict with 75% or so certainty about what a person or group will do. I don't think people are all that unpredictable. Do you find people very predictable?

      That's called seagull management (or sometimes pigeon management)... Fly in, flap your arms and squawk a lot, crap all over everything and fly out again... by _Damian S_

      C Offline
      C Offline
      Chris Meech
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      Have you read Foundation by Asimov? :)

      Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra]

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      • W wolfbinary

        I had watched an interview of a scientist on the daily show where the scientist talks about how given enough information could predict with 75% or so certainty about what a person or group will do. I don't think people are all that unpredictable. Do you find people very predictable?

        That's called seagull management (or sometimes pigeon management)... Fly in, flap your arms and squawk a lot, crap all over everything and fly out again... by _Damian S_

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        L Offline
        Lost User
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        Sounds like Asimov's 'psychohistory[^]'. I always thought it seemed like a feasible idea, but it wasn't quite the way you state it, IIRC. It was useless if you were trying to predict the actions of an individual; the ability to predict an outcome was directly related to the size of the group involved.

        L u n a t i c F r i n g e

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        • W wolfbinary

          I had watched an interview of a scientist on the daily show where the scientist talks about how given enough information could predict with 75% or so certainty about what a person or group will do. I don't think people are all that unpredictable. Do you find people very predictable?

          That's called seagull management (or sometimes pigeon management)... Fly in, flap your arms and squawk a lot, crap all over everything and fly out again... by _Damian S_

          R Offline
          R Offline
          riced
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          Just say you're against the Teaparty to CSS or you believe in GW to fat-boy. Check the reaction. :-D

          Regards David R --------------------------------------------------------------- "Every program eventually becomes rococo, and then rubble." - Alan Perlis The only valid measurement of code quality: WTFs/minute.

          W 1 Reply Last reply
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          • W wolfbinary

            I had watched an interview of a scientist on the daily show where the scientist talks about how given enough information could predict with 75% or so certainty about what a person or group will do. I don't think people are all that unpredictable. Do you find people very predictable?

            That's called seagull management (or sometimes pigeon management)... Fly in, flap your arms and squawk a lot, crap all over everything and fly out again... by _Damian S_

            I Offline
            I Offline
            Ian Shlasko
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            Sure, everyone is predictable. Each person does what they think will benefit them the most. Before you try to dispute that by bringing up charitable donations, that "benefit" isn't necessarily financial, or even tangible. If someone is choosing whether to donate some amount of money to a charity, they're weighing the tangible benefit of having that money against the emotional benefit of making the donation (Well, there are other possible benefits, but let's keep it simple). Even when I do something completely random, just to confuse people, I'm deciding that the brief satisfaction I get from messing with peoples' heads benefits me more than the expected action :)

            Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
            Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)

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            • W wolfbinary

              I had watched an interview of a scientist on the daily show where the scientist talks about how given enough information could predict with 75% or so certainty about what a person or group will do. I don't think people are all that unpredictable. Do you find people very predictable?

              That's called seagull management (or sometimes pigeon management)... Fly in, flap your arms and squawk a lot, crap all over everything and fly out again... by _Damian S_

              L Offline
              L Offline
              Lost User
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              I just knew you would ask that question! :laugh:

              It's time for a new signature.

              I 1 Reply Last reply
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              • L Lost User

                I just knew you would ask that question! :laugh:

                It's time for a new signature.

                I Offline
                I Offline
                Ian Shlasko
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                CA: I knew you couldn't change. CF: I knew you'd know that. CA: Oh, I know that. AND I knew you'd know I'd know you knew. CF: But I didn't. I only knew that you'd know that I knew. Did you know THAT? CA: Of course. Name that movie :)

                Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
                Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)

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                • I Ian Shlasko

                  Sure, everyone is predictable. Each person does what they think will benefit them the most. Before you try to dispute that by bringing up charitable donations, that "benefit" isn't necessarily financial, or even tangible. If someone is choosing whether to donate some amount of money to a charity, they're weighing the tangible benefit of having that money against the emotional benefit of making the donation (Well, there are other possible benefits, but let's keep it simple). Even when I do something completely random, just to confuse people, I'm deciding that the brief satisfaction I get from messing with peoples' heads benefits me more than the expected action :)

                  Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
                  Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)

                  L Offline
                  L Offline
                  Lost User
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  Tax benefits! :)

                  1 Reply Last reply
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                  • W wolfbinary

                    I had watched an interview of a scientist on the daily show where the scientist talks about how given enough information could predict with 75% or so certainty about what a person or group will do. I don't think people are all that unpredictable. Do you find people very predictable?

                    That's called seagull management (or sometimes pigeon management)... Fly in, flap your arms and squawk a lot, crap all over everything and fly out again... by _Damian S_

                    C Offline
                    C Offline
                    CaptainSeeSharp
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    This is a problem since the government (with the help of corporations like google and facebook) are increasing their monitoring tenticals into our daily lives.

                    Invisible Empire: A New World Order Defined (High Quality 2:14:01)[^] Watch the Fall of the Republic (High Quality 2:24:19)[^] The Truthbox[^]

                    OriginalGriffO I G 3 Replies Last reply
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                    • C CaptainSeeSharp

                      This is a problem since the government (with the help of corporations like google and facebook) are increasing their monitoring tenticals into our daily lives.

                      Invisible Empire: A New World Order Defined (High Quality 2:14:01)[^] Watch the Fall of the Republic (High Quality 2:24:19)[^] The Truthbox[^]

                      OriginalGriffO Offline
                      OriginalGriffO Offline
                      OriginalGriff
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      CaptainSeeSharp wrote:

                      their monitoring tenticals into

                      Do try and learn only to cut and paste from sites that can spell... :sigh:

                      Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together.

                      "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                      "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

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                      • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                        CaptainSeeSharp wrote:

                        their monitoring tenticals into

                        Do try and learn only to cut and paste from sites that can spell... :sigh:

                        Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together.

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                        C Offline
                        CaptainSeeSharp
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        I didn't copy and paste. Those are my own thoughts. Respond to my thoughts rather than my spelling. Responding to my spelling indicates that my thoughts brutally trumped your thoughts. You whimper in defeat.

                        Invisible Empire: A New World Order Defined (High Quality 2:14:01)[^] Watch the Fall of the Republic (High Quality 2:24:19)[^] The Truthbox[^]

                        OriginalGriffO S 2 Replies Last reply
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                        • C CaptainSeeSharp

                          This is a problem since the government (with the help of corporations like google and facebook) are increasing their monitoring tenticals into our daily lives.

                          Invisible Empire: A New World Order Defined (High Quality 2:14:01)[^] Watch the Fall of the Republic (High Quality 2:24:19)[^] The Truthbox[^]

                          I Offline
                          I Offline
                          Ian Shlasko
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          CaptainSeeSharp wrote:

                          are increasing their monitoring tenticals into our daily lives.

                          Why does that sound like dialogue from a porn film? Like... a parody of Enemy of the State... Oh wow, I just thought of a REALLY sick porn-style title for it, but I don't think I'm going to post it...

                          Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
                          Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)

                          C D N 3 Replies Last reply
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                          • I Ian Shlasko

                            CaptainSeeSharp wrote:

                            are increasing their monitoring tenticals into our daily lives.

                            Why does that sound like dialogue from a porn film? Like... a parody of Enemy of the State... Oh wow, I just thought of a REALLY sick porn-style title for it, but I don't think I'm going to post it...

                            Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
                            Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)

                            C Offline
                            C Offline
                            CaptainSeeSharp
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            Ian Shlasko wrote:

                            Like... a parody of Enemy of the State... Oh wow, I just thought of a REALLY sick porn-style title for it, but I don't think I'm going to post it...

                            You mean a porn film where homeland security officials TSA agents wield their power over "suspects" and travelers?

                            Invisible Empire: A New World Order Defined (High Quality 2:14:01)[^] Watch the Fall of the Republic (High Quality 2:24:19)[^] The Truthbox[^]

                            I 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • W wolfbinary

                              I had watched an interview of a scientist on the daily show where the scientist talks about how given enough information could predict with 75% or so certainty about what a person or group will do. I don't think people are all that unpredictable. Do you find people very predictable?

                              That's called seagull management (or sometimes pigeon management)... Fly in, flap your arms and squawk a lot, crap all over everything and fly out again... by _Damian S_

                              D Offline
                              D Offline
                              Distind
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              Depends, some people are pretty easy, some really aren't. I'd say that 75% is applicable to normal people. It's when people are either particularly creative, basket cases, absent minded, or worse yet any combination of the three that they get difficult. That said, my experience with good engineers and cats is that herding them involves more bribery than anticipating their actions. What that says about them I'll leave up to you guys.

                              L 1 Reply Last reply
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                              • I Ian Shlasko

                                Sure, everyone is predictable. Each person does what they think will benefit them the most. Before you try to dispute that by bringing up charitable donations, that "benefit" isn't necessarily financial, or even tangible. If someone is choosing whether to donate some amount of money to a charity, they're weighing the tangible benefit of having that money against the emotional benefit of making the donation (Well, there are other possible benefits, but let's keep it simple). Even when I do something completely random, just to confuse people, I'm deciding that the brief satisfaction I get from messing with peoples' heads benefits me more than the expected action :)

                                Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
                                Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)

                                D Offline
                                D Offline
                                Distind
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                Ian Shlasko wrote:

                                Sure, everyone is predictable. Each person does what they think will benefit them the most.

                                The exception to this is why I include absent minded people on my list of 'hard to peg', if they don't know what they were going to do, it's fairly hard to anticipate what they're going to do next. I say this living a bit of a space cadet who is never driving in a convoy again.

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                                • I Ian Shlasko

                                  CaptainSeeSharp wrote:

                                  are increasing their monitoring tenticals into our daily lives.

                                  Why does that sound like dialogue from a porn film? Like... a parody of Enemy of the State... Oh wow, I just thought of a REALLY sick porn-style title for it, but I don't think I'm going to post it...

                                  Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
                                  Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)

                                  D Offline
                                  D Offline
                                  Distind
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  Oh that's just nasty... and I'm going to condemn you as the one with the dirty mind on this one.

                                  I 1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • D Distind

                                    Depends, some people are pretty easy, some really aren't. I'd say that 75% is applicable to normal people. It's when people are either particularly creative, basket cases, absent minded, or worse yet any combination of the three that they get difficult. That said, my experience with good engineers and cats is that herding them involves more bribery than anticipating their actions. What that says about them I'll leave up to you guys.

                                    L Offline
                                    L Offline
                                    Lost User
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    CSS is rather predictable though, see above..

                                    1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • C CaptainSeeSharp

                                      Ian Shlasko wrote:

                                      Like... a parody of Enemy of the State... Oh wow, I just thought of a REALLY sick porn-style title for it, but I don't think I'm going to post it...

                                      You mean a porn film where homeland security officials TSA agents wield their power over "suspects" and travelers?

                                      Invisible Empire: A New World Order Defined (High Quality 2:14:01)[^] Watch the Fall of the Republic (High Quality 2:24:19)[^] The Truthbox[^]

                                      I Offline
                                      I Offline
                                      Ian Shlasko
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      CaptainSeeSharp wrote:

                                      You mean a porn film where homeland security officials TSA agents wield their power over "suspects" and travelers?

                                      Keep your fantasies to yourself. Thanks.

                                      Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
                                      Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • D Distind

                                        Oh that's just nasty... and I'm going to condemn you as the one with the dirty mind on this one.

                                        I Offline
                                        I Offline
                                        Ian Shlasko
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #19

                                        Distind wrote:

                                        Oh that's just nasty... and I'm going to condemn you as the one with the dirty mind on this one.

                                        Guilty as charged :)

                                        Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
                                        Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • C CaptainSeeSharp

                                          This is a problem since the government (with the help of corporations like google and facebook) are increasing their monitoring tenticals into our daily lives.

                                          Invisible Empire: A New World Order Defined (High Quality 2:14:01)[^] Watch the Fall of the Republic (High Quality 2:24:19)[^] The Truthbox[^]

                                          G Offline
                                          G Offline
                                          Gonzoox
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #20

                                          nah, wrong again, the gov't knows everything about you before Google and Facebook, your SSN gives them everything they want from you, where you were born, where you live, where you study (or studied), how much you make, how much you have in debts, even if they want to track down a bit more, they can get your credit/debit card history (if you have one) and get your consuming habits, you can avoid google, facebook, bing, yahoo and still they will know whatever they want about you. Google, Facebook, etc just add up a bit of what they already know.

                                          I want to die like my grandfather- asleep, not like the passengers in his car, screaming!

                                          C 1 Reply Last reply
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