The wisdom of individuals

What’s the optimal strategy to win a count-the-jellybeans-in-the-jar contest? One method is to count the number of jellybeans that would fit along each of the jar’s dimensions, and then multiply to estimate the volume of the jar in jellybeans. But a surprisingly accurate guess is… the average of everyone else’s! Even though everyone will be wrong—some too high, some too low—on average … More The wisdom of individuals

What to do when internet arguments suck you in

It’s happened again: someone’s made an inflammatory comment on what’s clearly a totally reasonable Facebook post, and you feel your face start to flush. You have two choices: let them have it (“it” being a polite and measured rebuttal, of course) or walk away. The problem is that neither approach is really satisfying. The problem … More What to do when internet arguments suck you in