Last Cereal: Message Board: re: what is it (zoom)

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re: what is it
[8987] by "FrereKhan" (bowerbird.qut.edu.au)   on Thu 31 Jan 2002 06:59:09     reply ] [ up ]
Helpful definitions ;)

Your definition of 'holding down': preventing economic "development", as defined by prevailing economic thought.

My definition of 'holding down': preventing social and technological development by placing short-term gain over long-term gain.

This is a greedy algorithm, in CompSci-speak. Greedy algorithms are NOT guaranteed to find an optimal solution. I think it's probably safe to say that under such a complex system a greedy algorithm is almost guaranteed to NOT find an optimal solution! (Tobot, comment?)

Yeah, I know we were using different definitions.

OK, so back to argument: Standardisation improves efficency, lowers cost: lowers customer service quality (cf: MacDonalds - shitty food but cheap and WAY standard). Is this always true? Niche services: higher price, fewer customers, but must make money or people wouldn't do it.

This is the one thing driving first-world economics (broad sweeping statement warning - Comment, proxything?): Our willingness to accept extremely poor quality service (monotonically decreasing!).

More to say, but comments first!

FK