Editing 1801: Decision Paralysis
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone.
Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
| Latest revision | Your text | ||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | + | This comic illustrates a common problem in the internet era, where, with the wealth of knowledge available to us at all times, one puts undue weight on otherwise arbitrary decisions. | |
| − | + | This is taken to a comedic extreme by showing how [[Cueball]] is unable to make a critical, time sensitive choice without putting hours of research in to justify it. Any benefit to researching the imminent decision of "which car will get us to our destination fastest" will be more than offset by the time it takes to make that decision. And thus in this situation it will be wholly worthless, as the bomb mentioned by [[Megan]], as the reason to steal a car, will likely have detonated even before they get to their base. | |
| − | + | In the caption below the comic [[Randall]] gives the reader one of his recurring [[:Category:Protip|protips]]. In the tip he states that he has the same problems with choosing as Cueball, although it seems unlikely he has ever had such a pressing situation to test his ability to choose. But Randall's tip tells the reader that he can be defeated by giving him two very similar options (like two fast cars to choose from) as long as he has unlimited internet access and thus no problems researching his decision indefinitely. The time Randall waste on this needless research would enable his opponent to defeat him by making a quick choice, no matter if it was the best. | |
| − | Supposing both of them know how to drive (and steal) a car | + | This is not the first time that Randall has made a comic that tells his readers how to trick him (or his friends) like in [[1121: Identity]], where he notes how to get his password from a friend. |
| + | |||
| + | The title text continues this absurdity by bringing a third option to the table, the choice of inaction (which by wasting his time on calculations and research, Cueball has taken!..), a choice here that seems unacceptable, but the time spent mentioning (and researching it) simply adds to that already spent researching the two cars. Of course this option ensures that they are not killed when the bomb explodes, because they will not be anywhere close to the base. That might make it the only reasonable choice left after wasting so much time pondering which car to steal. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The band {{w|Rush (band)}} touched on the subject in the title text with their song {{w|Freewill (song)}}, with the lyrics written by {{w|Neil Peart}}. The lyrics are, "If you choose not to decide - You still have made a choice". | ||
| + | |||
| + | The difference in time/effort needed to steal either car is likely presumed to be insignificant to this scenario. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Supposing both of them know how to drive (and steal) a car, the best option in this situation is to leave the phone in the pocket and steal both cars, and see who gets there first to defuse the bomb. This would both ensure one of them reaches the base as quick as possible and at the same time resolve the problem of which car would be best for the problem. Of course that would also have defused the joke, [[No Pun Intended]]... | ||
| + | |||
| + | In [[1445: Efficiency]] Randall describes why he is so inefficient (again, demonstrating the option 3 beautifully,) and in [[309: Shopping Teams]] two nerds out shopping have to choose between two similar objects and end up in a similar situation, though without a deadly deadline. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[356: Nerd Sniping]] portray a situation where a scientist forgets everything around him when presented with an interesting problem. However, here it is the solution to a math problem, not a choice between two similar options that "snipes" the scientist. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The problem of choosing between cars with different accelerations and top speeds is the center of the car customization mechanic introduced in the seventh installment of the {{w|Mario Kart}} series. It is known that Randall has played some version of the game, as it has become a [[:Category:Mario Kart|recurring theme]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Although presented as joke, this is a very real problem in electronics design. ''{{w|Buridan’s principle}}'' by none other than {{w|Leslie Lamport}} [http://research.microsoft.com/users/lamport/pubs/buridan.pdf states]: | ||
| + | :A discrete decision based upon an input having a continuous range of values cannot be made within a bounded length of time. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
| − | :[Megan and Cueball are standing | + | :[Megan and Cueball are standing next to two sporting cars. Megan points excitedly at the cars and Cueball looks at a smartphone in his hand.] |
:Megan: There! If we steal one of those cars, we can get to the base and defuse the bomb! | :Megan: There! If we steal one of those cars, we can get to the base and defuse the bomb! | ||
:Cueball: Hmm, the one on the left accelerates faster but has a lower top speed. | :Cueball: Hmm, the one on the left accelerates faster but has a lower top speed. | ||
| Line 28: | Line 43: | ||
:[Caption below the frame:] | :[Caption below the frame:] | ||
:Protip: If you ever need to defeat me, just give me two very similar options and unlimited internet access. | :Protip: If you ever need to defeat me, just give me two very similar options and unlimited internet access. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
| Line 43: | Line 49: | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | ||
[[Category:Protip]] | [[Category:Protip]] | ||
| − | |||
