What is colloquially called a Zero Sum Game is more often actually a Negative Sum Game. A Zero Sum Game is one where losses to one party are exactly balanced by equivalent gains to another party, and vice versa. Positive Sum gains are those where the gains are greater than the losses, although it is still possible for some parties to lose a lot so long as others again even more. Negative Sum Games are those where losses are greater than gains, although it is still possible for some players to make massive gains even if those are smaller than the small losses suffered by the masses. Voluntary Free Trade is a Positive Sum Game. Most of the actions of government or of violent individuals are Negative Sum Games. Zero Sum Games, Negative Sum Games, and many Positive Sum Games are Pareto Optimal, i.e, it is not possible to make any one party any better off without making at least one party at least slightly worse off.
magister343 "are Pareto Optimal, i.e, it is not possible to make any one party any better off without making at least one party at least slightly worse off" --- So what?
we should point out the wider aspect that such "modern" conversations are employing associative skills and moving in and out of various mediums unlike the one-stop discussions quickly plotted by traditional major networks which will inevitably dissolve. go
Do you suppose that Paul Feyerabend would appreciate that new epistemological ideologies must be tested for flexibility as conversations squeeze them through new mediums? Or do I need to reread him again?
I tried to read "The Makers" but the typos and lack of a compelling plot made me put it down around the third chapter. Doctorow isnt a very good author. I still remember some of the settings and gadgets but it never picked up steam. I hope his style has evolved since then.
You should read Walkaway. His style really has improved. I've never read him for the style but rather the heart of it, which is in the right place. But yeah, he's gotten soooo much better in all regards.
What's the thing he says just prior to ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YsQqPLVsqgE.html ? I can't make out what kind of coordination he's talking about.
god I'm only a third through and I can't take the boring pretentious goodthink anymore. reminds me of why I stopped visiting boingboing about a decade ago.
Boingboing exists solely to promote his books and provide an echo chamber for his socialist ideas. If you ever step out of line and try independent thought there, you'll be banned forever.
