(inevitable x-post)

Two suspects, A and B, are arrested by the police. The police have insufficient evidence for a conviction, and, having separated both prisoners, visit each of them to offer the same deal: if one testifies for the prosecution against the other and the other remains silent, the betrayer goes free and the silent accomplice receives the full 10-year sentence. If both remain silent, both prisoners are sentenced to only six months in jail for a minor charge. If each betrays the other, each receives a five-year sentence. Each prisoner must make the choice of whether to betray the other or to remain silent. However, neither prisoner knows for sure what choice the other prisoner will make. So this dilemma poses the question: How should the prisoners act?

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The one where someone always lies has the name of a Greek city, I think. That starts with an E? Maybe?

Prisoner's Dilemma is the scenario where one guard always lies, one always tells the truth, one door leads to certain death, and one door leads to freedom, and you are only allowed to ask one guard one question, right? And you don't know which guard is which. Or which door is which.

Oh, I love that one! But it's not Prisoner's Dilemma.

I thought Prisoner's Dilemma was the one where if you push the button, the other person gets punished, but if both of you push the button, um, something bad happens.

I think that they talked about the Monty Hall thing in Numb3rs.

Yeah, for about 5 seconds, and everyone in the lecture hall went, "Oh!" Whereas I had to have it explained to me about five times, by very competent people, before it really penetrated.

No, Prisoner's Dilemma is you and your buddy have gotten pinched and are in separate boxes. If you both keep quiet, you'll walk, but if one of you squeals the other gets 10 years, and if you both talk you'll each get a couple of years.

Yeah. So it's in your best interest to fuck over the other guy. Unless we're talking multiple iterations, in which case the tit for tat thing works best....

Prisoner's Dilemma is you and your buddy have gotten pinched and are in separate boxes. If you both keep quiet, you'll walk, but if one of you squeals the other gets 10 years, and if you both talk you'll each get a couple of years.

Uh, where's the dilemma? Don't talk. No dilemma. What am I missing?

Ahahaha. Instead of being painfully embarrassed by having to call random places to ask dumb questions, I am enjoying it this afternoon. Normally I hate this crap, but I'm guess I'm feeling perverse today.

What, no Tragedy of the Commons?

Don't talk. No dilemma. What am I missing?

That only works if you're 100% positive your accomplice won't spill.

Uh, where's the dilemma? Don't talk. No dilemma. What am I missing?

But what if your buddy does talk.

In fact, for either situation (your buddy doesn't talk or he does) you'll do better to talk than to not.