srn347 comments on You can't signal to rubes - Less Wrong

7 Post author: Patrick 01 January 2013 06:40AM

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Comment author: [deleted] 02 January 2013 09:45:33AM 0 points [-]

If signals had zero possibility of error (i.e. no one ever falsely signaled), I suppose the word "prove" would be an appropriate replacement for "signal" (actual meaning). If it's non-zero, I guess "strongly support" or some close one-word equivalent could work. Is it better to rescue "signal" and find a substitute for the false meaning of signal, or to find a substitute for the true meaning of signal and let the word "signal" be used falsely?

Comment author: ciphergoth 02 January 2013 01:57:16PM 5 points [-]

We got the word signal from its technical meaning in economics and evolutionary biology. We should strongly avoid giving standard technical words non-standard meanings, or using a non-standard word where a standard one exists.