Sunday, 24 February 2008

that is what computer said



That is what the computer said

On the way to school today I had a near death experience. I was

waiting at a stoplight. As soon as the light turned green I promptly

stepped on the gas. I was running late for my 8am class. Suddenly, a

large yellow school bus roared through the intersection from the

street to my right. It nearly scrapped my front bumper. Obviously, the

school bus ran a red light since I had a green light. I don't need any

direct evidence. It is proof by common sense. Everybody knows that is

the way a stoplight works. My reasoning may seem silly, but we have

learned to trust computers, almost to the point that we don't think

for ourselves.

The other day while surfing the net I came across an interesting

story: http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Story?id=3772215. Basically, a man

at an Indian casino wins $1.6 million from a slot machine. The problem

is that the slot machines are supposedly programmed with a maximum

payout of $2,500. The casino has a sign near the slot machine

advertising this maximum payout. The casino management then tells the

man he really didn't win, there was a mistake.

I am pretty sure this guy won't get $1.6 million dollars. He was in a

tribal casino on sovereign tribal land and thus subject to their laws.

Ethically, I am not sure. I am the type of person that will own up to

a mistake. If I accidentally give someone an incorrect price, I will


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