Emily comments on Not Technically Lying - Less Wrong

32 Post author: Psychohistorian 04 July 2009 06:40PM

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Comment author: Emily 05 July 2009 08:27:43AM 0 points [-]

If I were the patient, I imagine I would shut up and be (relatively) content with 5, but would be royally pissed off with the doctor for saying either 4 or 6. Unless I were very seriously intimidated, I think I would be extremely likely to follow up 4 with "Why can't you tell me now?" and 6 with "But what is it for?"

Comment author: GuySrinivasan 05 July 2009 08:45:55AM 3 points [-]

If I were the patient, I imagine I would interpret both 4 and 6 to mean 5, and then cease distracting the doctor from helping me.

But that could just be my imagination.