Many Moves Ahead https://loopvids.s3.amazonaws.com/2022/22Apr07_Post.mp4 There’s a common scene in a lot of movies. Sometimes they’re actually playing chess. Other times they’re using chess metaphors. The metaphors are centered around who’s got the best strategies. Like one guy will say, “I’ve got you in five moves.” But then the other guy […]
Battle Of The Sexes
Beautiful Mind https://loopvids.s3.amazonaws.com/2022/22Mar04_Post.mp4 Game theory is an interesting field of mathematics. The most famous game theory guy is John Nash. The guy Russell Crowe played in the movie, “A Beautiful Mind.” Nash is famous for something called the “Nash Equilibrium.” Basically it means that both players make thier choice and neither […]
Effective Social Operator
Not Vulcans https://loopvids.s3.amazonaws.com/2022/22Jan25_Post.mp4 It’s a pretty common idea that people are emotional creatures. This is pretty straightforward when you think of it from an “outside of your own head” perspective. We only developed “rational” thinking a short while ago. Most animals can be trained according to “operant conditioning.” Reward positive behavior, […]
The Best Acting Role Ever
Never Assume https://loopvids.s3.amazonaws.com/Aug05_Post.mp4 If you study game theory, one of the prime directives is to never assume what the other person’s intentions are. In sports, teams and players do everything they can to fake out their opponents. Even in chess, there are plenty of strategies based on trickery. Why do we humans […]
Long Game Occultist
License Scams Getting a license these days to sell something is difficult. A hundred years or so ago, if you wanted to sell something, you just sold it. An interesting problem from game theory is why it’s illegal to advertise cigarettes on TV. Why No Cigarette Ads? https://loopvids.s3.amazonaws.com/Aug11Loop.mp4 Most people assume that […]
Seduction Trifecta
The Juggler So a couple of weeks ago I was down at my local park. It’s a relatively big park. On the far left side there is a big huge flat cement area where a lot of kids come and do skateboard tricks. On the far right there is a more of a grassy […]