From: Blunderov (squooker@mweb.co.za)
Date: Sat Nov 22 2003 - 10:12:25 MST
David McFadzean
> Sent: 17 November 2003 1922
> An interesting thought experiment courtesy of Raven's blog
> http://blog.ravenblack.net/:
>
> If a nondescript person on the street gave you a blank cheque (signed
and
> such, obviously)
> and permission to use it, but didn't tell you how much is in the
account,
> how much would
> you make out the cheque for, and why? [You can assume the person
proves
> their identity to
> your satisfaction.]
>
> If the person says they'll tell you how much was in the account once
> you've got the money
> (or once the cheque has bounced), how does that affect your answer, if
at
> all?
[Blunderov]
Haven't been to the blog yet but the question has been much on my mind -
a nice puzzle!
It seems to me that there would be little point in filling in the cheque
for any amount that would not change your life in some significant way.
The worst that can happen is that you walk away from the encounter with
your life exactly the same as it was before.
There is no risk in citing an amount that would change your life.
There is no point in choosing an amount that will make little or no
difference to your life because this outcome is already probable anyway.
The more easily your life can be changed for the better, the more likely
it is that the cheque will fulfill this outcome.
For instance if you are working for the dreaded minimum wage and your
car is broken with no prospect of money becoming available for its
repair, the sensible choice is to fill out the cheque for the amount of
the repair.
Or, if you are doing OK but the taxman unexpectedly demands ten thousand
dollars from you, then fill out the cheque for that amount.
But if you are living in Mr Mickawber heaven, the sensible choice would
be to fill it out for a million dollars or whatever arbitrary amount you
decide would gear up your financial position by one level.
Best Regards
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