Benjamin Menashe

Neuroscience, Linguistics, Math.
Being human is complex. A human being even more so.

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@gregeganSF @mikeandallie But what if in addition to the tunnels (assuming they work) people wear masks (assuming those work)? I think it could actually reduce the risk of infection significantly

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@BretWeinstein Unrelated Q: in your views (as expressed in recent talk), if video game characters are able to exchange explicit information as needed to adapt to new environments (“over the campfire”) would they develop consciousness?

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@BretWeinstein Q: in ep15 you argue to abandon metaphorical truths bc "future almost certainly won't be like past". why not apply that argument to eating proteins? raising children? Courtship? hunter-gatherer guides? would love to hear stronger argument to change time-tested beliefs. Thanks!

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@BretWeinstein Unrelated Q: in your views (as expressed in recent talk), if video game characters are able to exchange explicit information as needed to adapt to new environments (“over the campfire”) would they develop consciousness?

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@BretWeinstein Q: in ep15 you argue to abandon metaphorical truths bc "future almost certainly won't be like past". why not apply that argument to eating proteins? raising children? Courtship? hunter-gatherer guides? would love to hear stronger argument to change time-tested beliefs. Thanks!

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@nntaleb @Confusezeus @PZalloua @polemitis @nntaleb please consider hidden value - when prof teaches students feel bad/guilty for missing lecture (social bond and respect) that they make more effort than watching video. Model needs mechanism for discipline esp to undergrads

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@BretWeinstein @HeatherEHeying Thanks! Could you both give a simple tutorial for laypeople how to distinguish between valid evo theories & explanations and overfitting "just-so stories"? (Especially in evo-psych)... much love from Spain

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@Dazza_1984 @notlinear1 @facebookai

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@mikeandallie A general reminder that just because it isn't as deadly to younger age groups doesn't entail it's not dangerous - there could be long term health impairments we still don't know about

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@TamasGorbe I don't know if it's a joke but I'd rather not take any risks - PLEASE DO NOT STOP I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO 2000 MORE !

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@nntaleb @BadCOVID19Takes :)

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@EggNik This thread has described my own thoughts and feelings better than I could have ever done. Thanks! And keep safe

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@nntaleb @BadCOVID19Takes is a national treasure

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@mikeandallie Same, I did a double take. Also important to remember actual rate must be higher since some of currently infected might die...

On unrelated note thanks for your blog and projects with your family! They're brilliant!

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@mikeandallie Thanks. The numbers are way way too low for death/infected. They probably meant per entire population and worded it clumsily.

I used the numbers in the report to actually calculate death / 100000 infected, by age group:

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@mikeandallie I'm confused: is this death / total population OR death / current infected? (Scaled to 100,000)

The numbers look like the first but the title suggests otherwise... 2 very different measures (which IMO are both not as informative as death / death+recovered)

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@HarryDCrane It gets worse https://t.co/1IrcknbSUN

[Will Fithian @wfithian]

I have been corresponding with the authors of the well-known Santa Clara County COVID-19 preprint, and I am alarmed at their sloppy behavior. The confidence interval calculation in their preprint made demonstrable math errors - *not* just questionable methodological choices.

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@wfithian IYIs with no clue about simple probability (didn't know SE is root of variance) @nntaleb @HarryDCrane @normonics

[Benjamin Menashe @BenjaminMenashe]

@yaneerbaryam Hey @yaneerbaryam what do you think of the 50-50 plan proposed by network scientists as an intermediate way to getting back to normal? Entire working population is split in half, quarantine in weekly rotations, as proposed here:
https://t.co/Ui93WAjC5O