ciphergoth comments on Standard and Nonstandard Numbers - Less Wrong

31 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 20 December 2012 03:23AM

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Comment author: [deleted] 21 December 2012 07:06:46PM *  6 points [-]

It was once thought that adoring cats caused one to get tortured. However, a recent medical study has come out, showing that most cat adorers have a certain gene, ACGT, and that whether someone has the gene or not, their chances of getting tortured go down if they adore cats. The strong correlation between adoring cats and getting tortured is because of a third factor, ACGT, that leads to both.

Having learned of this new study, would you choose to adore cats?

Comment author: ciphergoth 22 December 2012 02:09:58PM *  9 points [-]

Or, indeed, should I choose not to adore cats because it might be evidence I had toxoplasmosis?

Comment author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 22 December 2012 10:57:35PM 7 points [-]

Actually, that toxoplasmosis thing is the only happiness-creating-preference-inducing, negative-side-effect disease I actually know that really works for Solomon's Problem. You can either pet cute kittens already tested and guaranteed not to have toxoplasmosis, or refrain. This ought to be our go-to real-life example against EDT!

Comment author: Alex_Altair 19 April 2013 05:05:50PM 2 points [-]