From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Sat Jun 22 2002 - 22:37:13 MDT
Jef writes
> I have a vested interest in the world (simulated or not) that I inhabit and
> expect to continue to inhabit indefinitely, therefore I contribute to
> improving it. That world is a complex network of entities and multiple
> feedback loops. No one exists in isolation. When I provide a bit of
> positive feedback in response to desired behavior of one node, I believe
> there is a good chance of non-linear propagation to other nodes with future
> benefits likely to outweigh my small investment of time or a couple of
> bucks.
So let me try this argument: suppose that there are N people in
the world. Clearly, when N = 2, there is immediate feedback.
Tit for tat even kicks in, and it's indisputable that there is
a feedback loop that will benefit you when you are kind and
thoughtful to the other.
Doesn't it seem that for large enough N, the probability that
you will be indirectly and much later affected by a kind deed
that you do drops towards zero? If the entire galaxy were
inhabited by 10^15 people, and you tip a waitress in a remote
bar halfway across the galaxy, if you really believe that a
tiny cosmic wave of benevolence will issue forth that will
benefit you, I have to ascribe this to an act of faith.
The waitress that you tip will have had perhaps 30 other
customers. Moreover, in similar situations, she is motivated
by her own beliefs, goals, predispositions, and habits. It's
really a stretch to think that your act will have a positive
benefit on you at all proportional to the direct cost to you
of the extra tip.
Even in a nation of 10^8 people, you can't seriously believe
that the direct cost to you of one particular transaction
really is made up to you by such a spreading wave of influence.
Moreover, if it were, the person who did *not* leave a tip
gets just as much benefit. So it still comes down to a real
act of altruism on your part, as much as you hate to admit it.
Lee
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