All of nomiddlename's Comments + Replies

I think the ‘Polymarket address’ is really your ethereum address. People can use that to send tips over the matic network (the network polymarket is on which uses ethereum addresses) for probably less than a cent in fees.

Perhaps a targeted campaign for reform in the area of highest impact. Medicine comes to mind but that also seems like the scariest area to mess with.

I also forgot to mention that these reforms would dramatically lower the cost of education as people could choose to skip formal rigid degrees entirely.

4jacopo
I agree it would be very good, and possibly an economic no-brainer. My point is just that what is discussed in the post works for a political no-brainer, by which I mean something that no one would bother to oppose. To get what you want you need a real political campaign, or a large scale economic education campaign. Even then it's difficult, imo, unless your proposals fit one of the cases I mention above. That said, of you are thinking of the US there is an easy proposal to be done for medicine, which is making medical school equivalent to a college degree and eliminating the requirement of having already done college before to enter (see https://slatestarcodex.com/2015/06/06/against-tulip-subsidies/, which notes it's done that way in Europe, I add it's the same for law school etc.). It's not an earth-shaking reform but it could work exactly for that reason.

Next target - occupational licensing

Libertarian version - remove almost all licensing. People use third party rating agencies to decide who to trust if they so desire.

Market version - remove almost all licensing requirements but require liability insurance. Insurance markets will effectively prevent unqualified candidates from practicing by pricing them out with expensive policies.

Better version of what we have now - Remove all degree requirements and test directly for competence. The test should be sufficiently thorough that passing it means you’re qualif... (read more)

8jacopo
The problem is, licensed people have made an investment and expect to repay it by reaping profits from the protected market. Some have borrowed money to get in and may have to file for personal bankruptcy. So they will oppose the reform by any means at their disposal, for which I don't blame them (even if it is obviously against the general interest). Such a reform would be doable in the following cases (1) it compensates the losers in some way (2) it's so gradual that current licensed will mostly retire before it's fully implemented (3) it is decided by a political faction that has no interest in the votes of the licensed and no sympathy for their concerns, while the licensed have no "hard power" to block the reform (and this third will never be fulfilled for a blanket effort on all licenses: in practice you get a party punching down on the least powerful people in the opponent's coalition). As you see, it's a whole other order of complication with respect to the case presented in the post...

Great post! I’ve had similar conversations as well. Sounds like the kind of messiah Maimonides might have bought into given his rationalist philosophy. Just speculation as I’m unfamiliar with his actual writings on the messiah.

Answer by nomiddlename10

This doesn't directly answer your question, but I think it could be extremely helpful nonetheless. You might find it helpful to read up on mnemonics. Mnemonics take advantage of the way our brains naturally remember information best and are pretty east to use. If you want a fun read will whet your appetite to learn memory techniques check out "Moonwalking with Einstein."

Thanks. I just looked into this and am reading about what "markdown" is.

1Measure
Be aware that there is a different (default?) editor that has a different syntax. There's a way to switch between them in your account settings.

Good point about the classical solution having an advantage. Also, how do you spoiler tag?

2habryka
If you're using the normal editor, just type >! followed by a space, and a spoiler box should show up.
1Measure
If you're using markdown, then :::spoiler Hidden text here. ::: yields
Well done! I had an answer which differs more than the classical answer and wanted to modify the riddle to force my answer but it looks like I I failed at that.

My answer still uses the double negative trick to avoid the need to know what "ja" and "da" mean and goes as follows.
1-Ask god A: "If I asked "is the sky is blue?" to gods b and c is b more likely to tell the truth than c?" Both True and False will say that their non random counterpart is more likely to lie so a negative response means either god A or C is Random and rules out god B. A positive r
... (read more)
1Measure
Consider spoiler-tagging your solution.

1-You can ask "Is neither other god True."

2-Good point I should have been more clear - You can only ask questions that are definitively not about the god you are talking to. I'll try to edit the post accordingly.

First of all- I love this post!

Second of all - How is this different than Pascal's wager - meaning why doesn't Pascal's mugger get cancelled out by a possible counter mugger who will simulate and kill the same number of people if you give in to the muggers demand. 

1Liam Donovan
You've actually met the first mugger so he's more likely to exist than a hypothetical counter-mugger you've never seen any evidence for