Vladimir_Nesov comments on Why Bayes? A Wise Ruling - Less Wrong

13 Post author: Vaniver 25 February 2013 03:52PM

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Comment author: Vladimir_Nesov 25 February 2013 04:58:03PM 7 points [-]

I often notice how people use arguments that fail to distinguish the hypotheses under discussion. For example, someone gives an argument that favors their hypothesis, but it also happens to favor the opponent's hypothesis to about the same degree. Interpreting arguments in terms of the likelihood ratio they provide seems like an easy-to-use heuristic that fixes such errors.

Comment author: wedrifid 25 February 2013 05:03:11PM 4 points [-]

I often notice how people use arguments that fail to distinguish the hypotheses under discussion. For example, someone gives an argument that favors their hypothesis, but it also happens to favor the opponent's hypothesis to about the same degree.

Do you have any examples to share? (Not that I don't believe you. People routinely use arguments that support the opposite position to the one they intend. Arguments that support both equally are bound to occur in between...)

Comment author: Vladimir_Nesov 25 February 2013 05:21:28PM *  3 points [-]

Sorry, I have bad memory for details of this sort, only remember the abstract observation, which is recurrent enough that I have a cached phrase to identify and point out such situations ("This doesn't distinguish the alternatives!"). Could make up some examples, but I don't think it's useful for clarification in this case, and it won't provide further evidence for the existence of the issue.

Comment author: Kawoomba 25 February 2013 05:41:58PM 9 points [-]

Since the elements of the empty set satisfy arbitrary properties, all the examples you provided are technically evidence in favor for your observation. Also, against it.

Comment author: DaFranker 26 February 2013 03:57:56PM 1 point [-]

Heh <3

It's hard to find this kind of humor anywhere else than LW and XKCD.

Comment author: shminux 27 February 2013 12:58:51AM 1 point [-]

Actually, SMBC comics tends to be better than either.

Comment author: Manfred 27 February 2013 01:38:18AM 1 point [-]

We have some XKCD fans here, I see.

Comment author: [deleted] 27 February 2013 12:57:24PM 0 points [-]

Well, I think it used to be way better than it is now.

Comment author: Luke_A_Somers 25 February 2013 07:24:08PM 2 points [-]

If the woman who lost hadn't been so comprehensively messed up in the head, you would've had an example in the OP. I wonder if there was a similar test more likely to succeed.

Comment author: John_Maxwell_IV 27 February 2013 08:00:34AM -1 points [-]

I have a theory that everyone does this, and it's a way for our brains to save space somehow. Just keep track of the rate at which things tend to occur instead of recording and cataloging every experience.