army1987 comments on Evaluability (And Cheap Holiday Shopping) - Less Wrong

25 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 28 November 2007 12:37AM

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Comment author: [deleted] 02 December 2013 06:20:32PM 0 points [-]

A shirt that does portray the image the recipient would like to is a much better present.

Comment author: Vaniver 02 December 2013 06:44:46PM 1 point [-]

Of course- in large part because the target is smaller, and thus it signals much more precise knowledge about the recipient. If you don't have a strong ability to discern other people's preferences, go with expensive consumables, because that's a broader target and expectations are lower.

Comment author: [deleted] 15 December 2013 09:05:18AM 2 points [-]

Isn't signalling knowledge about the recipient pretty much the whole point of giving presents? Otherwise we'd just give people cash.

Comment author: hyporational 15 December 2013 12:54:21PM 1 point [-]

You can signal various other things too like sophisticated taste or having spent time picking/creating the present etc.