X-Message-Number: 9089 Date: Mon, 02 Feb 1998 10:05:06 -0500 From: "John P. Pietrzak" <> Subject: Re: An even shorter lecture (#9077) References: <> Robert Ettinger wrote: > > It's probably wasting everbody's time--especially mine--but I can't > resist a small lecture. Me neither. :) > Nevertheless, from the standpoint of any particular moment and any > particular set of assumptions and any particular observer, it is > ALWAYS possible to make a scientific estimate of probability for any > event whatever. > > That the estimate may often be very rough does not change the fact > that it is valid. In fact, one of the worst failings of many (most?) > statisticians is that they prefer estimates that are PRECISE over > estimates that are VALID. Estimate: there are between 0 and infinity red blood cells in my body. 100% valid. 0% precise. Precision is of some use in the real world. John Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=9089