andrewc comments on Off Topic Thread: May 2009 - Less Wrong

0 Post author: MBlume 05 May 2009 08:36PM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (71)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: RichardKennaway 06 May 2009 09:23:35PM 6 points [-]

Ming the Merciless offers you a choice that you cannot refuse. Either (a) his torturer will rip one of your fingernails off, or (b) his torturer will inflict pain more intense than you can imagine, continuously for the next 24 hours, without otherwise harming you. But in case (b) only, his evil genius neuroscientists will cause you to afterwards completely forget the experience, and any other aftereffects from the stress will be put right as well. If you refuse to make a choice, you will get (b) without the amnesia.

What do you choose?

If you choose (a), how much worse would (a) have to be, for you to choose (b)? If you choose (b), how much less bad would (a) have to be, for you to choose (a)?

Comment author: andrewc 10 May 2009 09:55:34AM 2 points [-]

I choose (b) without the amnesia. Why? Because fuck Ming, that's why!

Or more seriously, by refusing to play Ming's bizzare little game you deny him the utility he gets from watching people agonise about what the best choice is. Turn it up to 11, Ming you pussy!

Or maybe I already chose (b) and can't remember...