I figured something rum-based would be appropriate, given your origins. Besides, you don't strike me as a champagne gal. And I admit, giving you a 'dark'n'stormy' seemed fitting.
[He pauses to make himself a drink as well, something that ends up pale purple.]
You were right about them being a pack of bastards, by the way. I assumed you were exaggerating, when you discussed the differences between your voyage and ours.
Are you familiar with the principle of the prisoner's dilemma, Jenny? It's a scenario that's used to examine different behaviors in the field of game theory.
[He'd read some papers on the topic, written by a late, brilliant theoretician who had done work on the microwave-powered AI in Gallery as well.]
"Not exactly. Here's the scenario: you have two people in prison, locked in different jail cells. Each can either cooperate with the other and stay silent, or defect and confess. They don't know what the other will do."
He takes a pen out of his jacket and starts to write on a cocktail napkin:
"If they both defect, they're both going to get a moderate punishment. If one defects and the other cooperates, the one that cooperates gets a large punishment, the other is set free. If they both cooperate, they get a light punishment. What should each of them do?"
But you can't know, so there's as good a chance in a vacuum of you both getting five years as you both getting off scott free.
Now, here's the real tricky bit: on this ship, we're not just playing the game once. It'd be simpler if we were, but we're here for the long haul. Let's pretend every single day, you woke up and had to decide to cooperate or defect with every single other passenger. How would you avoid racking up a huge sentence, if all you know about someone is if they cooperated or defected against you yesterday? What's the optimal strategy?
You can't always beat every single worm every day, Jenny. C'mon, actually think about it for a moment. Anyone who always defects is going to get a bunch of years from anyone else who always defects, even as they win against those who cooperate. Those who always cooperate get off light with one another, but they're easy pickings against anyone who always defects.
You need a strategy that allows you flexibility, that is capable of responding to both--and to itself, once others figure it out.
But will you actually engage with the puzzle I'm laying out? I have a point here. If you always defect, you're going to lose, as is everyone else who always defects.
[archly] I do believe I have already explained exactly how I'm going to win. You just don't like it, possibly for worm-related reasons I would not understand.
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Not bad! I was half-expecting some sort of rich fancyman drink. [full admission: her baseline for that is martinis.]
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[He pauses to make himself a drink as well, something that ends up pale purple.]
You were right about them being a pack of bastards, by the way. I assumed you were exaggerating, when you discussed the differences between your voyage and ours.
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[the grin fades, and she looks almost pensive.]
... They are right to be mad. At me... But, you can see where they got the idea. To sacrifice a group of people to save them and theirs.
[a pause. she downs the rest of the drink.]
Guess it never really works out for anyone.
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[He'd read some papers on the topic, written by a late, brilliant theoretician who had done work on the microwave-powered AI in Gallery as well.]
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He takes a pen out of his jacket and starts to write on a cocktail napkin:
"If they both defect, they're both going to get a moderate punishment. If one defects and the other cooperates, the one that cooperates gets a large punishment, the other is set free. If they both cooperate, they get a light punishment. What should each of them do?"
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Defect! And hope the other guy is a dumbass.
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Now, here's the real tricky bit: on this ship, we're not just playing the game once. It'd be simpler if we were, but we're here for the long haul. Let's pretend every single day, you woke up and had to decide to cooperate or defect with every single other passenger. How would you avoid racking up a huge sentence, if all you know about someone is if they cooperated or defected against you yesterday? What's the optimal strategy?
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You need a strategy that allows you flexibility, that is capable of responding to both--and to itself, once others figure it out.
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I can split Spanish silver from fifty paces with a pebble! My aim is flawless!
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But will you actually engage with the puzzle I'm laying out? I have a point here. If you always defect, you're going to lose, as is everyone else who always defects.
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[Well. At least he knows he can rely on her to always defect, now. That's information in itself.]
Care for another drink?
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[a shrug] Probably shouldn't. After pickling yourself for a month straight, it's good to reign it back for a little while.
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she gives him a little salute, and returns to her important cherry business.]