Douglas_Knight comments on New Year's Predictions Thread - Less Wrong

18 Post author: MichaelVassar 30 December 2009 09:39PM

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Comment author: Douglas_Knight 03 July 2010 03:56:37AM 4 points [-]

I still think there is a fair chance of [a major terrorist attack] happening before the year is out but odds are a little lower (my estimate of how incompetent most terrorists are has increased a little).

Shouldn't the odds go down by about half, just because half the year is used up?

Comment author: mattnewport 03 July 2010 04:10:06AM 3 points [-]

The failed Times Square attack raised my probability for attempts at attacks this year but lowered my probability that any attempted attacks would be effective enough to classify as 'major'. On balance I think the odds of a major attack in the remaining 6 months are lower than 50% at this point but events since my original prediction weigh into my estimate now and so it's not a simple matter of adjusting the odds based on elapsed time.