If you want me to leave, you can put your hands on my hot, tight little body and make me.

Spike ,'Get It Done'


Natter 58: Let's call Venezuela!  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


lisah - Apr 08, 2008 9:16:48 am PDT #287 of 10001
Punishingly Intricate

if you're ever going to get it, that link is the place to go. It's interactive!

Nope! I read through the explanation and ... nada. Doesn't make sense.


shrift - Apr 08, 2008 9:17:38 am PDT #288 of 10001
"You can't put a price on the joy of not giving a shit." -Zenkitty

I knew that Macy's was already made of fail, but not carrying stuff because Chicago is too midwestern? Oh, please.

See if Zappos has them. Zappos doesn't care if you live in the midwest.

I had to go digging around Zappos to find the exact ones I wanted to try on, but there they are, so go team Zappos.


Polter-Cow - Apr 08, 2008 9:18:19 am PDT #289 of 10001
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!

That's the kind of thing that can be explained to me a million times in a million different ways and I just won't understand. My brain is broken.

I think this is actually the first time I've really gotten it. Because it really is counterintuitive. You think the important decision is whether or not to switch, but it's not. It's your initial choice that determines the outcome.

Think about it this way: there are two goats and one car. Statistically speaking, you are more likely to pick a goat, right?

Well, if Monty opens a door to reveal a goat...statistically speaking, if you picked a goat, the remaining door MUST HAVE A CAR. Thus, you always switch. The only time you would lose is if you picked the car in the first place, and that only happens 33.3% of the time.


lisah - Apr 08, 2008 9:21:24 am PDT #290 of 10001
Punishingly Intricate

It's your initial choice that determines the outcome.

Well, no, I get that. of course. But you don't know what you've picked!

ah nevermind

It's seriously something I have a block about and I'm going to have to live with my stupidity!


Polter-Cow - Apr 08, 2008 9:26:04 am PDT #291 of 10001
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!

But you don't know what you've picked!

You don't, that's right. But you know there is a higher probability that you picked a goat. Since there are two goats, the fact that Monty shows you a goat shouldn't really affect your impression of what you picked. He could do that no matter what you picked.


Laga - Apr 08, 2008 9:28:10 am PDT #292 of 10001
You should know I'm a big deal in the Resistance.

that only happens 33.3% of the time.

I only picked it once out of 12 tries.


Polter-Cow - Apr 08, 2008 9:29:01 am PDT #293 of 10001
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!

Lies, damned lies, and statistics.


Fred Pete - Apr 08, 2008 9:35:47 am PDT #294 of 10001
Ann, that's a ferret.

I think I get the idea, but if I remember Let's Make a Deal, the problem needs a new name. Because Monty didn't give you the choice of a car, a goat, or a goat. It was more like, a car, a decent cash prize that isn't enough to buy a car, and a goat. So once Monty shows you the goat, you know you have at least some cash.

Or am I being quibbly today?


tommyrot - Apr 08, 2008 9:42:09 am PDT #295 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

It was more like, a car, a decent cash prize that isn't enough to buy a car, and a goat. So once Monty shows you the goat, you know you have at least some cash.

Unless the goat has eaten the cash....

I didn't try the game. Is what Monty shows you selected at random, or does he pick something to try to trip you up?


Dana - Apr 08, 2008 9:44:05 am PDT #296 of 10001
"I'm useless alone." // "We're all useless alone. It's a good thing you're not alone."

Is what Monty shows you selected at random, or does he pick something to try to trip you up

There are two goats and a car. He always shows you a goat.