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More sex is safer sex?

 
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More is safer:

Seems a typical example of a messy thought in a typical economist's poor brain. Economists have been trying to look and behave like physists which always make them look like monkeys mimicking human beings.

As a brain exercise if you have time, give a one line or 2 argument to formulate for him what he assumed and what is his reasoning, and your opinion.
 
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Short answer for that column that I just couldn't read all of.

The writer assumes that if people have more 'casual sex' the desease rate will remain constant rather than increasing. This looks like a typical argument that tries to overthink a situation without considering 'common sense' reality checks.
 
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Remember that joke about the statistician who carried his own bomb on the flight for the reason that the probability of having two bombs on the same flight was extremely low.

- m
 
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Originally posted by Madhav Lakkapragada:
Remember that joke about the statistician who carried his own bomb on the flight for the reason that the probability of having two bombs on the same flight was extremely low.

- m



Never heard that before, but I like it.
 
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Originally posted by Madhav Lakkapragada:
Remember that joke about the statistician who carried his own bomb on the flight for the reason that the probability of having two bombs on the same flight was extremely low.
- m



I was going to say that it reminds me of the twisted logic that gamblers use to convince themselves that they are actually making money in their endevors but that wouldn't be nearly as funny so I won't.
 
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Originally posted by Jimmy Chen:
Economists have been trying to look and behave like physists which always make them look like monkeys mimicking human beings.



look like?
 
Madhav Lakkapragada
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Originally posted by Ben Souther:


I was going to say that it reminds me of the twisted logic that gamblers use to convince themselves that they are actually making money in their endevors but that wouldn't be nearly as funny so I won't.



Speaking of logic in gambling, I ain't no gambler but here's my logic -

The chances of me winning a MegaMillions/Powerball Jackpot -

  • If I don't have a ticket, its zero.
  • If I have one ticket ($1.00), its 1 in a N (10, 100, 1000?) million. That's significant compared to the one above.
  • If I have 10 tickets ($10.00), its still (N million / 10), nothing significant from the one above, but costs me 10 times more.


  • So, I buy just one ticket. And I restrict myself to buy it only when its a high roller, not everyday.

    Logical enough, right?

    - m
     
    Ben Souther
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    That's what we call "The difference between slim and none".

    I do the same thing.
     
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    A very pious man named Abraham lives a long and austere life. He wakes up early and prays, goes to Temple, eats simply, goes to work, comes home, eats simply, goes to Temple, comes home, and goes to sleep. Before retiring each night, he says a special prayer: "Please, G_d, let me win the lottery." But he remains a pious pauper.

    This goes on for many years, and one day he can't take it any more. He shakes his fist at the heavens and yells "G_d, I've devoted my whole life to your worship. I've never asked you for but one thing: to win the lottery. So why can't you answer my prayer?"

    Suddenly, there is a bright light, and the heavens part, and a voice booms down:

    "THROW ME A BONE, ABE -- COULD YOU AT LEAST BUY A TICKET, MAYBE?"
     
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