Comments on: Crowdsource yourself http://veryevolved.com/2009/03/crowdsource-yourself/ The hidden biology behind everything you do Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:11:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tektrix http://veryevolved.com/2009/03/crowdsource-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-277 Tektrix Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:15:37 +0000 http://veryevolved.com/?p=467#comment-277 The difficulty encountered to employ self-polling may be the result of societal conditioning. Being of "two minds" is a natural state, but the powers-that-be are loath of the processes arising from such bi-camerality. It is far easier to control those who do not question their own motives or beliefs. Governments and religions leverage such single-mindedness to great advantage. The difficulty encountered to employ self-polling may be the result of societal conditioning. Being of “two minds” is a natural state, but the powers-that-be are loath of the processes arising from such bi-camerality. It is far easier to control those who do not question their own motives or beliefs. Governments and religions leverage such single-mindedness to great advantage.

]]> By: Patrick http://veryevolved.com/2009/03/crowdsource-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-269 Patrick Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:14:46 +0000 http://veryevolved.com/?p=467#comment-269 @Vlad - I think you're right if the guesses are just "random guesses" because you have zero information on which to base you decision. If however everyone of the answers is based on some small amount of knowledge then averaging them will bring it "closer to the truth". Also this works best with questions that are quantifiable like "What is the size of a NY subway train window?". If the question is instead "what is the best way to cook a turkey?" then averaging the answers doesn't help. Patrick @Vlad – I think you’re right if the guesses are just “random guesses” because you have zero information on which to base you decision. If however everyone of the answers is based on some small amount of knowledge then averaging them will bring it “closer to the truth”.
Also this works best with questions that are quantifiable like “What is the size of a NY subway train window?”. If the question is instead “what is the best way to cook a turkey?” then averaging the answers doesn’t help.

Patrick

]]> By: Vlad Dolezal http://veryevolved.com/2009/03/crowdsource-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-268 Vlad Dolezal Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:51:11 +0000 http://veryevolved.com/?p=467#comment-268 Hmmm, strange, I've seen plenty of evidence showing that just because you average a large number of guesses, they don't get any more accurate. That's trying to use complex statistics to conceal the fact you're still taking guesses. It's like the story of finding the length of the Chinese Emperor's nose... Then again, the questions these guys used for "polling yourself" seem to make sense. Considering different points of view, and than averaging those will probably be more accurate than taking a single biased view. Hmmm, strange, I’ve seen plenty of evidence showing that just because you average a large number of guesses, they don’t get any more accurate. That’s trying to use complex statistics to conceal the fact you’re still taking guesses.

It’s like the story of finding the length of the Chinese Emperor’s nose…

Then again, the questions these guys used for “polling yourself” seem to make sense. Considering different points of view, and than averaging those will probably be more accurate than taking a single biased view.

]]> By: Daryl http://veryevolved.com/2009/03/crowdsource-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-267 Daryl Fri, 20 Mar 2009 05:57:22 +0000 http://veryevolved.com/?p=467#comment-267 I think people who are good decision makers naturally ask themselves "why and why not" a certain decision is true. This is a very useful method when taking an exam that you didn't fervently prepare for. Truth is still the intersection of all individual lies. I think people who are good decision makers naturally ask themselves “why and why not” a certain decision is true.

This is a very useful method when taking an exam that you didn’t fervently prepare for.

Truth is still the intersection of all individual lies.

]]> By: Nick DiGiacomo http://veryevolved.com/2009/03/crowdsource-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-266 Nick DiGiacomo Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:41:48 +0000 http://veryevolved.com/?p=467#comment-266 meant to say "The events/opinions being sampled have to be independent." meant to say “The events/opinions being sampled have to be independent.”

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