ata comments on Stop Voting For Nincompoops - Less Wrong

38 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 02 January 2008 06:00PM

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Comment author: ata 12 May 2010 04:17:52AM *  -1 points [-]

Here's a good reason to vote: even though it probably won't affect the outcome of the election, you should vote because people will think better of you if you do. The utility of being seen to vote, regardless of who you actually vote for, often exceeds the cost.

If that is the only reason you're voting, then you can save time by not voting but telling people you did.

Comment author: Alicorn 12 May 2010 04:22:09AM 0 points [-]

This part:

being seen to vote

probably means actually being at the polling place on the correct day, and as long as you're there it's a very small marginal cost. Also they give out stickers which add credence to your voting claim.

Comment author: metaphysicist 07 September 2012 11:31:29PM 1 point [-]

Only if your conscience exacts no penalties for lying.

Comment author: mwengler 07 November 2012 01:59:13PM 0 points [-]

If that is the only reason you're voting, then you can save time by not voting but telling people you did.

Being a successful conman is pretty non-trivial. I think most strategists of lying would agree that for low-cost stuff you are better of not lying, saving the risk and energy for higher payoff targets.

For example, your saying out loud in print here that this is something you would do, you have eliminated a significant fraction of the influence you would have by lying about voting here, and probably for no greater benefit than a brief flash of misplaced enjoyment of how clever you are.

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