Fairness

Anterak · 08-06-2003

Just want to bring another discussion topic, to change from wars, religion, sex and politics (even if I wonder what can be more interesting

) :

In a thread running on jokers' board, someone (Kisthor to not name him

), illustrated how "being fair" is hard with a very interesting example.

You have a glass of water, and 2 persons want to drink. How can you fairly share that glass? (of course you can't measure water quantities)
The best, fairest way, where fair means that none of the 2 guys can't complain he got cheated by the other, is to make one splits the water into two glasses, and the second guy choses his glass.

Now, same problem, with 3 people. Is there a way to fairly share this glass? Kisthor was saying none, and after some reflexions, how simple and evident the "2 guys" solution is, I couldn't find any corresponding way to deal with 3. Not to talk about more!

mirdorr · 08-06-2003

Geeze. Give them each a drink. If they're not mature enough to share it, explain to them what idiots they are and leave them alone to be thirsty.

Ibudin · 08-06-2003

Try to pour 3 equal glasses of water. Put a number on it and then draw numbers telling you which glass is yours.

Ibudin

08-06-2003

Rock, Paper, scissors works for me =)

Dartaignon · 08-06-2003

Kick their asses and drink the whole glass.

Gemini · 08-06-2003

Well you could do pretty much the same thing, one guy pours it into 3 glasses, then one of the other 2 (choosing by paper, rock, scissors if a solution cannot be made otherwise) picks on glass, after him goes the other guy who didn't pour the water and last we have the mofo who poured it up, so he better make sure he pours evenly, or he ain't getting much...

but then again, who would share a glass of water?

Anterak · 08-06-2003

But then again, why people only see "glass of water". =/

Funny how you can see the tree but not the forest behind...

Anyway, let's try with another example, maybe more... simple?

I'm paying my employees with gold. Good ole gold bars. And I have to pay 3 of them, but I only have one bar.
So I told them "here guys, 1 bar for 3 of you, do as you wish, but share it fairly!"

And I can't imagine that /random is a fair way to do it btw...

Gemini · 08-06-2003

just to be a pain in the ass, i'm gonna have to say that those 3 employees go and trade that gold bar for gold coins and split them as equal as possible, and if someone gets more than the other, just keep a tab since if you paid them with gold once, i'm guessing you'll do it again

moahaha...

***Kivorn*** · 08-06-2003

Anterak, as long as you'll stick to analogies people will just nitpick and point out how today's society is able to handle such problems

//Kiv

Esbat · 08-06-2003

A huge problem with the term "fair" is getting people to agree what is fair in all but the most simple of cases. What is "fair" to one person might be a grave injustice to someone else.

08-06-2003	#1
Anterak La Freedom Fries Joined: May 2002 Location: A chair Party: N/A Posts: 1,062 vCash: 1000	Fairness Just want to bring another discussion topic, to change from wars, religion, sex and politics (even if I wonder what can be more interesting ) : In a thread running on jokers' board, someone (Kisthor to not name him ), illustrated how "being fair" is hard with a very interesting example. You have a glass of water, and 2 persons want to drink. How can you fairly share that glass? (of course you can't measure water quantities) The best, fairest way, where fair means that none of the 2 guys can't complain he got cheated by the other, is to make one splits the water into two glasses, and the second guy choses his glass. Now, same problem, with 3 people. Is there a way to fairly share this glass? Kisthor was saying none, and after some reflexions, how simple and evident the "2 guys" solution is, I couldn't find any corresponding way to deal with 3. Not to talk about more!

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08-06-2003	#2
mirdorr Overlord of Old School Joined: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,100 vCash: 1000	Geeze. Give them each a drink. If they're not mature enough to share it, explain to them what idiots they are and leave them alone to be thirsty.

08-06-2003	#3
Ibudin Don't Piss off the BULL. Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,406 vCash: 1000	Try to pour 3 equal glasses of water. Put a number on it and then draw numbers telling you which glass is yours. Ibudin

08-06-2003	#4
JammanDarkdaddy Guest Joined: Posts: n/a vCash:	Rock, Paper, scissors works for me =)

08-06-2003	#5
Dartaignon Lord Dark Helmet Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 910 vCash: 1000	Kick their asses and drink the whole glass.

08-06-2003	#6
Gemini Propagandistic Anarchist Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 350 vCash: 1000	Well you could do pretty much the same thing, one guy pours it into 3 glasses, then one of the other 2 (choosing by paper, rock, scissors if a solution cannot be made otherwise) picks on glass, after him goes the other guy who didn't pour the water and last we have the mofo who poured it up, so he better make sure he pours evenly, or he ain't getting much... but then again, who would share a glass of water?

08-06-2003	#9
*Kivorn* The Modomizer Joined: Dec 2000 Location: Gothenburg, Sweden Party: N/A Posts: 1,204 vCash: 1000	Anterak, as long as you'll stick to analogies people will just nitpick and point out how today's society is able to handle such problems //Kiv

08-06-2003	#10
Esbat Overlord of Mutual Confusion Joined: Dec 2002 Party: Independent Posts: 862 vCash: 1000	A huge problem with the term "fair" is getting people to agree what is fair in all but the most simple of cases. What is "fair" to one person might be a grave injustice to someone else.

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