[EM] FBC vs some other criteria

[MIKE OSSIPOFF]

James says:

	I answered this part of Mike's argument as well, in the earlier message.
In short, I don't think that sweeping conclusions about voter strategy
should be made based on the behavior of one person in an internet poll.

I comment:

"Sweeping" is always a negative-slant word. How about general conclusions 
based on the best information so far available.

And it wasn't based on the behavior of one person in an Internet poll. It 
was based on one person iln an Internet poll and many thousands of voters in 
Australian IRV elections.

James continues:

In
general, I don't think that voting behavior in internet polls is a good
indicator of voting behavior in serious elections, because in internet
polls: (1) the outcome is totally unimportant

I comment:

Exactly, and so if someone felt the need to favorite-bury, to help their 
lesser-evil, even in a poll that doesn't really put someone in office, what 
does that tell you about what they'd do in an actual election, where the 
future of the country depends on keepting their greater evil from winning?

James continues:

, and (2) the electorate is
more technically inclined than average.

I comment:

If someone intelligent and otherwise sophisticated felt the need to do 
lesser-evils favorite-burial, does that make you think that soimeone less 
sophisticated woiuld know better?


James says:

	Of course that wasn't my point. My point is that when comparing
beatpath(wv) to minmax(po) there is a tradeoff between the above criteria
and FBC, and if the benefit of FBC is not very large, the above criteria
should take precedence

I comment.

But that's a big "if", and one that I never agreed on. The benefit of FBC is 
considerably more important than those other criteria you name, judged in 
terms of the effect on people's voting when they fear that the criterion 
might be violated in the election they're voting in.

James continues:

, and beatpath(wv) should be considered to dominate
minmax(po) from a merit standpoint.

I comment:

...only if someone agrees with you that those other criteria are more 
important to the voter and his/her voting strategy behavior than FBC is. Or 
FBC and Strong FBC.

You, James, haven't talked to progressives who say that they're going to 
bury their favorite because of strategic need to do so. Lots do. Lots do in 
Australia, though they don't know about IRV's specific problems.

Mike Ossipoff

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