Ask me a Question!

[replingham153]

Five years ago, your rich uncle secretly commissioned the construction of a supercomputer! The purpose of this binary behemoth (the "Very Good Predictor") was to predict, as accurately as possible, every action you would take over the course of these five years. It has managed to do so with 100% accuracy for its entire run time. Now, your uncle has approached you with this information, and an offer to participate in a game involving the supercomputer's final prediction.

He has placed two envelopes in a room: Envelope A and Envelope B. As your action within the game, you're allowed to open and then keep the contents of either just Envelope A, or both Envelopes. Envelope B contains a check for $1,000, says your uncle. He also tells you that the monetary content of Envelope A is contingent upon the prediction of the Very Good Predictor. If it predicted that you would only open Envelope A, then Envelope A contains a check for $1,000,000. However, if it predicted you would open both envelopes, then Envelope A only contains a check-sized piece of paper which reads, "Sorry, Champ, you're out of your league."

Please note that you cannot change your mind based on the contents of an envelope: reaching for Envelope B after opening Envelope A will result in your uncle's other computer, the Very Good Destroyer, melting your brain.

Do you only open Envelope A, or do you open both Envelopes?

If the former, can you justify not taking an Envelope which definitely contains $1,000?

If the latter, do you object to being called "Champ?"

Bonus: If you chose to only open Envelope A, what if the Very Good Predictor only had 99% accuracy, or, for that matter, 51% accuracy?

What? i don't understand what your getting at. apparently it involves choosing two letters with money in them, but the process you explain that through is unneeded. Please simplify your question. i mean, right it out simpler.

The amount of money in envelope A is based on what the machine predicted what you would do in this situation. If the machine predicted you would ONLY pick envelope A, that envelope will have $1,000,000 in it. If the machine predicted you would open both envelopes, envelope A only contains a worthless piece of paper. Envelope B will contain $1000 no matter what you do. You can either only take A or take both A and B. Is it more advantageous for you to only pick envelope A or both?

(I hope that's clearer).

oh. well i would pick the most money (A) and then donate some to charity. what does this question prove, exactly? surly there is a deeper meaning, or a message behind this?

Well, you don't know if the machine is correct for this instance, it has only had 100% accuracy so far. So if the machine was wrong about your choice and you pick only A you don't get anything except an insulting piece of paper.

ah well i would still pick that regardless. 100% is big, so i will go with those odds. also i am confused as i thought this question was a test on someone's greed.

 

[dicai]

How do I raise my post count and not alienate friends?

 

[Daipire]

Why is the rum gone?

 

[Corpse XxX]

When am i actually gonna realize that im gonna become a dad in 6 months??

Will it be a boy or a girl??

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Five years ago, your rich uncle secretly commissioned the construction of a supercomputer! The purpose of this binary behemoth (the "Very Good Predictor") was to predict, as accurately as possible, every action you would take over the course of these five years. It has managed to do so with 100% accuracy for its entire run time. Now, your uncle has approached you with this information, and an offer to participate in a game involving the supercomputer's final prediction.

He has placed two envelopes in a room: Envelope A and Envelope B. As your action within the game, you're allowed to open and then keep the contents of either just Envelope A, or both Envelopes. Envelope B contains a check for $1,000, says your uncle. He also tells you that the monetary content of Envelope A is contingent upon the prediction of the Very Good Predictor. If it predicted that you would only open Envelope A, then Envelope A contains a check for $1,000,000. However, if it predicted you would open both envelopes, then Envelope A only contains a check-sized piece of paper which reads, "Sorry, Champ, you're out of your league."

Please note that you cannot change your mind based on the contents of an envelope: reaching for Envelope B after opening Envelope A will result in your uncle's other computer, the Very Good Destroyer, melting your brain.

Do you only open Envelope A, or do you open both Envelopes?

If the former, can you justify not taking an Envelope which definitely contains $1,000?

If the latter, do you object to being called "Champ?"

Bonus: If you chose to only open Envelope A, what if the Very Good Predictor only had 99% accuracy, or, for that matter, 51% accuracy?

What? i don't understand what your getting at. apparently it involves choosing two letters with money in them, but the process you explain that through is unneeded. Please simplify your question. i mean, right it out simpler.

The amount of money in envelope A is based on what the machine predicted what you would do in this situation. If the machine predicted you would ONLY pick envelope A, that envelope will have $1,000,000 in it. If the machine predicted you would open both envelopes, envelope A only contains a worthless piece of paper. Envelope B will contain $1000 no matter what you do. You can either only take A or take both A and B. Is it more advantageous for you to only pick envelope A or both?

(I hope that's clearer).

oh. well i would pick the most money (A) and then donate some to charity. what does this question prove, exactly? surly there is a deeper meaning, or a message behind this?

Well, you don't know if the machine is correct for this instance, it has only had 100% accuracy so far. So if the machine was wrong about your choice and you pick only A you don't get anything except an insulting piece of paper.

ah well i would still pick that regardless. 100% is big, so i will go with those odds. also i am confused as i thought this question was a test on someone's greed.

No, it's a logic puzzle from here [http://wiki.xkcd.com/irc/Puzzles#A_Very_Good_Predictor_.28Newcomb.27s_Paradox.29]

 

[Sacman]

Would you take offense if I asked, "can I ask another question?" again?

 

[Spoonius]

Go on, ask me. just nothing that would strike as an insult to the mighty ban hammer gods(IE: offensive, racist, sexual*) for I aim at keeping a good little boy.

oh yeah, if this has already been done via another thread, tell me so. I hate searching through the bar.

I'll try and Answer to the best of my ability, but note you only get to ask one question and try not to ask the same question for I will simply give you the same answer.
*Note: this applies to a certain degree. asking me if we will kiss is fine, asking if we will ever, you know, 'cough' is not acceptable.

Gillard or Abbot?

who? who are these people? what do they look like?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_gillard

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Abbott

 

[Magnesium360]

Why?

 

[monkey_man]

does gaming add life value?

 

[Marik2]

Whats it like living in New Zealand?

 

[Natmonkey]

...If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me? (I sincerely hope nobody has asked this one yet)

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Go on, ask me. just nothing that would strike as an insult to the mighty ban hammer gods(IE: offensive, racist, sexual*) for I aim at keeping a good little boy.

oh yeah, if this has already been done via another thread, tell me so. I hate searching through the bar.

I'll try and Answer to the best of my ability, but note you only get to ask infinite questions and try not to ask the same question for I will simply give you the same answer.
*Note: this applies to a certain degree. asking me if we will kiss is fine, asking if we will ever, you know, 'cough' is not acceptable.

Are you getting tired of answering questions yet?

 

[replingham153]

Go on, ask me. just nothing that would strike as an insult to the mighty ban hammer gods(IE: offensive, racist, sexual*) for I aim at keeping a good little boy.

oh yeah, if this has already been done via another thread, tell me so. I hate searching through the bar.

I'll try and Answer to the best of my ability, but note you only get to ask infinite questions and try not to ask the same question for I will simply give you the same answer.
*Note: this applies to a certain degree. asking me if we will kiss is fine, asking if we will ever, you know, 'cough' is not acceptable.

Are you getting tired of answering questions yet?

of course not. i relish in the feelings of answering these questions. do you have any other questions?

Whats it like living in New Zealand?

nice. I live in the capital, and it's winter so it's really crap, but in summer it can get really hot! food is better, i guess education could be said to be slightly better. people are friendlier than in England where saying hello would earn you a stab in the gut. It's a nice place. but it's not the greatest place in the world, do remember. although normal police don't have guns on them, so robbing could be said to be easier, maybe, i haven't tried. generally, it's a better place than my time in England. Being British i still complain about the weather and Am still paranoid of most things. no, it's all good. wanna a pie, bro?

...If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me? (I sincerely hope nobody has asked this one yet)

maybe. I'm no body builder or pro runner, but I'm not fat. i fell happy now. i am rather skinny-ish for my age so yeah.

How did this thread get 10 pages?
More importantly, why do I care so much?

Because people are asking question and i am answering them. and maybe it is because you asked that question to yourself, then realized you should ask me because this is a place where you can ask questions.

does gaming add life value?

sometimes. I believe that there are better things to in life than sit in front of a screen, but i don't mean to say we must exclude it from our lives, merely minimize the game time.

Why?

Why what?

Go on, ask me. just nothing that would strike as an insult to the mighty ban hammer gods(IE: offensive, racist, sexual*) for I aim at keeping a good little boy.
oh yeah, if this has already been done via another thread, tell me so. I hate searching through the bar.
I'll try and Answer to the best of my ability, but note you only get to ask one question and try not to ask the same question for I will simply give you the same answer.
*Note: this applies to a certain degree. asking me if we will kiss is fine, asking if we will ever, you know, 'cough' is not acceptable.

Gillard or Abbot?

who? who are these people? what do they look like?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_gillard

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Abbott

Gillard. i believe you Aussies should see how she runs the country it will be interesting.

Would you take offense if I asked, "can I ask another question?" again?

no of course not. please, do go ahead. grr.

Five years ago, your rich uncle secretly commissioned the construction of a supercomputer! The purpose of this binary behemoth (the "Very Good Predictor") was to predict, as accurately as possible, every action you would take over the course of these five years. It has managed to do so with 100% accuracy for its entire run time. Now, your uncle has approached you with this information, and an offer to participate in a game involving the supercomputer's final prediction.

He has placed two envelopes in a room: Envelope A and Envelope B. As your action within the game, you're allowed to open and then keep the contents of either just Envelope A, or both Envelopes. Envelope B contains a check for $1,000, says your uncle. He also tells you that the monetary content of Envelope A is contingent upon the prediction of the Very Good Predictor. If it predicted that you would only open Envelope A, then Envelope A contains a check for $1,000,000. However, if it predicted you would open both envelopes, then Envelope A only contains a check-sized piece of paper which reads, "Sorry, Champ, you're out of your league."

Please note that you cannot change your mind based on the contents of an envelope: reaching for Envelope B after opening Envelope A will result in your uncle's other computer, the Very Good Destroyer, melting your brain.

Do you only open Envelope A, or do you open both Envelopes?

If the former, can you justify not taking an Envelope which definitely contains $1,000?

If the latter, do you object to being called "Champ?"

Bonus: If you chose to only open Envelope A, what if the Very Good Predictor only had 99% accuracy, or, for that matter, 51% accuracy?

What? i don't understand what your getting at. apparently it involves choosing two letters with money in them, but the process you explain that through is unneeded. Please simplify your question. i mean, right it out simpler.

The amount of money in envelope A is based on what the machine predicted what you would do in this situation. If the machine predicted you would ONLY pick envelope A, that envelope will have $1,000,000 in it. If the machine predicted you would open both envelopes, envelope A only contains a worthless piece of paper. Envelope B will contain $1000 no matter what you do. You can either only take A or take both A and B. Is it more advantageous for you to only pick envelope A or both?

(I hope that's clearer).

oh. well i would pick the most money (A) and then donate some to charity. what does this question prove, exactly? surly there is a deeper meaning, or a message behind this?

Well, you don't know if the machine is correct for this instance, it has only had 100% accuracy so far. So if the machine was wrong about your choice and you pick only A you don't get anything except an insulting piece of paper.

ah well i would still pick that regardless. 100% is big, so i will go with those odds. also i am confused as i thought this question was a test on someone's greed.

No, it's a logic puzzle from here [http://wiki.xkcd.com/irc/Puzzles#A_Very_Good_Predictor_.28Newcomb.27s_Paradox.29]

why thank you, kind sir. regard you highly.

How do I raise my post count and not alienate friends?

by posting forums that haven't already been done and that are general topics that a wide community can relate to. do this on wet days, as to leave the good ones to having fun with your friends.

When am i actually gonna realize that I'm gonna become a dad in 6 months??

Will it be a boy or a girl??

a tough one. perhaps the shock of being a dad has not fully reached your brain. not calling you stupid though, I am just saying perhaps you need to sit down realize this and see what you may need to change in life to fit around this. learn tricks from the pros. etc.

i will go for a randomized guess, of a girl.

Why is the rum gone?

down the throats of many satisfied customers. they enjoyed it!

 

[DarkenedWolfEye]

What is your opinion on Satanic philosophy, as told by Anton Szandor LaVey? (Rest in peace, you incredibly interesting person. Shemhamforash!)
And I'm not just asking this to be 'edgy'. I'm serious.

 

[JacobyPAX]

what is the best way to reroute a positronic matrix.

 

[Death on Trapezoids]

What is the name of the wind, and what reference am I currently making?

 

[MorganL4]

Why?

 

[Sacman]

Would you take offense if I asked, "can I ask another question?" again?

no of course not. please, do go ahead. grr.

I want a new Processor but I also want a Classical guitar, which one should I get? both are about the same price.