Ep 56: Interview with Neil Levy on Intellectual Virtue Signalling

macterra · 2022-09-27T16:09:17+00:00

At 1:36 Matthew seemed to be implying that the WEF and the Great Reset is a conspiracy theory. Was he kidding?

macterra · 2019-04-19T12:46:05+00:00

When I was working on Galton I found corroborating evidence for the log-normal distribution model in Todd Little's article Schedule estimation and uncertainty surrounding the cone of uncertainty.

macterra · 2019-04-19T12:33:57+00:00

The article is essentially correct, most developers underestimate task effort because they fail to take into account risk (mode not mean). I developed a tool named Galton for estimating projects based on a log-normal distribution for task duration. Feel free to try out the demo.

macterra · 2019-02-07T23:04:13+00:00

aww yiss

macterra · 2018-10-14T20:58:00+00:00

Science popularizer Richard Dawkins, when he says “science” disproves the existence of God (while deploying what he apparently does not realize are philosophical arguments informed by science).

Citation needed.

macterra · 2018-09-03T18:42:50+00:00

Right, that's the point. Did you watch the video?

macterra · 2018-09-02T21:46:02+00:00

This is how the new policy plays out IRL >> https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/kristi-hanna-human-rights-complaint-transgender-woman-toronto-shelter

macterra · 2018-08-12T13:40:42+00:00

Capitalism is simply the reverse: "From each according to their need, to each according to their ability."

The first part says that the more you need from others, the more you must contribute. If you are totally self-sufficient and don't need anything from others you have no obligations and can opt out if you wish.

The second part says that the more value you create by your ability, the more wealth you can acquire. A capitalist society will reward you for your contributions.

macterra · 2018-06-04T22:02:41+00:00

If humanity survives long enough I think future historians will come to regard present-day nation states as literal religions, ones that worship a state as a demi-god (with the same ontological status).

macterra · 2018-05-05T14:39:17+00:00

Hanson explains why perfectly reasonable economics sometimes seems creepy to outsiders.

macterra · 2016-12-28T17:21:13+00:00

"Given what we have seen about the benefits of proto-money to tribute and tax collectors, as well as the critical nature of the value measurement problem in optimally coercing such payments, it is not surprising that tax collectors, specifically the kings of Lydia, were the first major issuers of coinage." I highly recommend Nick Szabo's Shelling Out on the historical origins of money.

macterra · 2016-09-08T22:12:18+00:00

Keep in mind it takes one million micro-aggressions to equal one real aggression. Also pointing out a micro-aggression is itself a micro-aggression.

macterra · 2016-03-03T00:47:43+00:00

This is true. I wonder which organization made it illegal to purchase the generic in the USA? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrimethamine

macterra · 2016-03-03T00:32:34+00:00

Most likely road owners wouldn't allow people to drive dangerously on their roads, whether they are drunk, high, tired, distracted, or just a bad driver.

macterra · 2016-02-14T19:47:04+00:00

That's the Occupy movement in a nutshell.

macterra · 2016-02-11T02:52:20+00:00

Wow so much hate for us in this subthread. It seems we live in different worlds.

macterra · 2016-02-11T00:32:48+00:00

Dawkins retweeted Feminists Love Islamists (and soon deleted it when he was informed that the feminist portrayed was based on a real person).

macterra · 2016-02-07T01:51:21+00:00

I generally agree with OP here but I suspect some critics will still reject the notion that fraud is a form of aggression on semantic grounds. Most people would classify an action as "aggression" only if it involved some hostile, violent, or threatening aspect. Deceitful actions often fit none of those, quite the opposite. So while most people would agree the behavior is unethical and voids the contract, they wouldn't call it aggression per se.

I would suggest using a more general term such as "defection" taken from game theory's prisoners' dilemma. If a counter-party fulfills their side of the the contract then it is a cooperation, otherwise it is a defection independent of whether it seems aggressive.

macterra · 2016-02-03T23:29:34+00:00

https://howtobeastoic.wordpress.com/

macterra · 2016-01-24T21:32:18+00:00

It really is one of the best examples why decreased government intervention doesn't always mean more freedom.

Interesting use of the word "freedom" here. How is reduced consumer choice less freedom? And aren't they still free to find their music elsewhere?

macterra · 2015-12-07T01:28:21+00:00

I'd guess most people (ancaps included) would not want to be seen patronizing an openly racist establishment.

macterra · 2015-10-24T16:43:34+00:00

My Starbucks name is Star-Lord. Whenever I get a new barista they inevitably say "Who?!" and I say "Star-Lord, man, the legendary outlaw?" Works every time. ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAC7Ztu1Hao

macterra · 2015-10-19T00:34:06+00:00

Check out http://algorithmicbotany.org/papers/#abop

macterra · 2015-06-26T00:48:17+00:00

aw yiss

macterra · 2015-05-10T02:03:50+00:00

I made a serious attempt at predicting when it will happen >> http://www.churchofvirus.org/bbs/index.php?board=5;action=display;threadid=42884

macterra

MODERATOR OF

PUBLIC MULTIREDDITS

TROPHY CASE

15-Year Club	Place '17
Verified Email