Nic_Smith comments on Rationality Quotes: January 2011 - Less Wrong

2 Post author: wedrifid 03 January 2011 05:24AM

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Comment author: Nic_Smith 04 January 2011 06:21:24AM *  6 points [-]

"If I were not here, what would you do?" asked Holo.

"First I'd work out whether it was true or not, then I'd pretend to believe his story."

"And why is that?"

"If it's true, I can turn a profit just by going along with it. If it's a lie, then someone somewhere is up to something -- but I can still come out ahead if I keep my eyes and ears open."

"Mm. And given that I am here, and I've told you he's lying, then..."

Lawrence finally realized what had been eluding him. "Ah."

"Heh. See, there was nothing over which to agonize so. Either way you'll be pretending to accept his proposal," said Holo, grinning. Lawrence had no retort.

-- Isuna Hasikura, Spice & Wolf [tr. Paul Starr]

Comment author: Document 05 January 2011 12:43:33AM 2 points [-]

I'd probably understand that better if I knew the context.

Comment author: Nic_Smith 05 January 2011 01:47:28AM *  2 points [-]

Lawrence is a traveling merchant in Spice & Wolf who's received a proposition from someone to buy information on upcoming changes in the precious metal content of a type of silver coin; the cost is a relatively small fixed fee plus a cut of the profits if the information is accurate. Holo, the eponymous "wisewolf," is essentially telling Lawrence that he has a dominant strategy.

Comment author: PhilGoetz 05 January 2011 01:07:01AM *  0 points [-]

Agreed. I have no clue what it means. I saw Spice & Wolf on the manga shelf in Borders... is it worth reading?

Comment author: gwern 05 January 2011 03:36:12AM *  3 points [-]

It's nowhere near as good as MoR in a LW sense, not as good as "The Cambist and Lord Iron" at teaching economics through fiction, and you would not find it an intellectual challenge in any sense, but in the general context of Japanese light novels, it's good, I think.

(At $8 and what I remember of your comments, I would give 60% odds you would not regret the purchase, and 5-10% you'd like it 'quite a bit' or something along those lines. If you do buy it, please tell me before you finish so I can register this as a prediction on PredictionBook.com.)

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