Re: Variation on prisoners dilemma

On 14 May 2006 13:00:41 -0700, casteele@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

dgates wrote:
On 14 May 2006 05:27:13 -0700, casteele@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

If they're across a hallway from each other, and each looking at each
other through little windows smaller than their heads, they can
probably use the "sheets tied in a loop" solution, assuming that they
trust that it won't turn into a game of Tug of War where they both end
up dead.

A power struggle/tug-of-war is what I was trying to avoid. Using the
loop idea relies on/attempts to maintain equal power and control. Both
sides have incentive to try to overpower, trick, or deceive the other,
if the opportunity presents itself.. So we need to eliminate that.
That's what using two separate "ropes" does, it eliminates the issues
of trust and control by forcing both sides to choose.. Do they sprint
for their own key, thus assure their own survival (most likely)? Or do
they sprint for the others' key, which does nothing to change the
situation? There isn't enough time to do both before the other can
react and move appropriately.

In other words.. If at all possible, the solution should be one where
both sides can be reasonably expect to act and react in a reliably
consistant manner. The only real way to do this is to make it in ones
own self-interest to act a certain way to assure survival. With the
loop, both sides have incentive to try to gain control over the entire
loop and both keys.. If they are dominant over the situation, they are
increasing their chances of survival even more than if they were just
equal.

On the other hand, if both sides give up control of the other and the
situation, then have to choose between gaining control of their own
fate *OR* the others' fate, but not both.. It's far more likely both
sides will attempt to assure their own survival first, and only
sabotage the others' chances *if there is opportunity*. So I had to
find a way to eliminate that opportunity.

Hope I'm making myself clear.. going on only two hours of sleep.

That's pretty clear, and seems to work...

UNLESS Thief #1 is convinced that he's fast enough to both:

A. double back and snatch away Thief #2's key just before he reaches
it, AND THEN
B. jump to the other key and win the race to that as well.


My guess is that the "separate ropes" method would work. No one would
be sure enough of his ability to win the race that he would risk his
life on it (for a chance to gain half the safe money)... would he?
.