byrnema comments on Overcoming the Curse of Knowledge - Less Wrong

42 Post author: JesseGalef 18 October 2011 05:39PM

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Tags: communication psychology

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Comment author: byrnema 18 October 2011 10:39:56PM 4 points [-]

They weren't playing the game right. The way to correctly play the game, especially among siblings, is for a person to always pick the same song. For example, if I'm tapping, I'm tapping 'Jingle Bells'. And we have a near 100% success rate. (It is not quite 100% due to the initial learning curve, but the success rate then steadily improves over time.)

That said... I'm tapping a tune as I type on this keyboard. Can you guess it??

Comment author: lessdazed 18 October 2011 11:59:15PM *  8 points [-]

Is it Cthulhu Lives!?

The Deep Ones wait you know
Swimming in the sea
Their numbers they will grow
Swimming safe and free

He's not dead but dreams
Until the fateful day
When they set the Old Ones free
On Mankinds final day!

Oh! Cthulhu Lives! Cthulhu Lives, deep down in the sea
In the city of R'Lyeh waiting to be freed
Oh! Cthulhu Lives! Cthulhu Lives, deep down in the sea
In the city of R'Lyeh waiting to be freed

Comment author: JesseGalef 18 October 2011 11:45:09PM *  3 points [-]

Love it!

That brings to mind a fantastic set of posts on Mind Your Decisions (game theory blog) about focal points and coordination problems. If there's anything identifying about one of the songs - even being first on the list - it's a good idea to choose that one.

... Man, I bet psych researchers hate people like us.

Comment author: pedanterrific 19 October 2011 04:53:14AM 3 points [-]

focal points and coordination problems

This post was what motivated me to get the book. It's a great book.

Man, I bet psych researchers hate people like us.

As both a 'person like us' and a (prospective) psych researcher, I can say: nah, we just toss us out as outliers.

Comment author: Alicorn 18 October 2011 11:06:52PM 6 points [-]

Is it Jingle Bells?!

Comment author: byrnema 18 October 2011 11:10:24PM *  4 points [-]

Y E S ... Y E S ... Y-Y E S-SSSS ...

Comment author: ciphergoth 20 October 2011 02:32:29PM 1 point [-]

By my experience, at least in the UK there is one tune that everyone I've tried so far has recognised from my tapping it out :-)

Comment author: lessdazed 19 October 2011 04:40:22PM 0 points [-]

Have you ever played the "Shadow of the Washington Monument" game?

It's played almost like 20 questions, except that it only takes one question if the game is played right.

OK, let's play: I'm thinking of a person, place or thing. Can you guess who, where, or what it is, by having me answer your yes or no questions? The goal is to guess it with as few questions asked as possible.

Comment author: byrnema 19 October 2011 04:56:54PM 1 point [-]

Ha ha, OK.

Nevertheless I get one question. Can you guess what I'll ask?

Comment author: lessdazed 19 October 2011 05:11:03PM 1 point [-]

It appears I don't have to guess. ;-)

Comment author: byrnema 20 October 2011 04:06:02PM 1 point [-]

Huh. I was going to ask, 'Is it bigger than a breadbox?'.

Google predicts I would have asked, 'Animal, mineral or vegetable?'

Comment author: jimrandomh 19 October 2011 04:55:28PM 1 point [-]

Have you ever played the "Shadow of the Washington Monument" game? It's played almost like 20 questions, except that it only takes one question if the game is played right.

Is it underneath the Washington Monument?

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