Man Explains Why People Are Being Foolish Using Chess And ELO Analogy

Some people are so sure they are right that even a simple analogy can send them into a spiral. In this story, one man uses chess and ELO ratings to show how badly people can misunderstand skill, knowledge, and confidence.

The point is simple, but the reaction is not. He is pushing back against the habit of dismissing real research with gut feelings, while others keep acting like personal opinion is enough to overrule facts.

It is a familiar kind of stubbornness, and this one comes with a very sharp comparison.

In case you are wondering what an Elo-rated player is, the Elo rating system is used to evaluate players' skill levels in zero-sum games such as chess.

Cheezburger

Nothing new so far; he is basically saying what we already knew: the better a person is at something, the more likely they are to beat someone who is not skilled.

Cheezburger

So basically, it all comes down to this: for a chess master, it doesn’t make a difference if they play against an adult amateur or a five-year-old. They will beat both of them 100 out of 100 times.

Cheezburger

It’s the same kind of argument as the nephew banned from violent video games at your house, despite his parents approving.

This also holds true for amateurs in other fields.

Cheezburger

The conclusion?

The idea that a person could use common sense to question legitimate scientific research is absurd.

Cheezburger Cheezburger

You would be wrong, but you also wouldn’t understand why you are wrong.

Cheezburger

Ah, the Facebook “researchers” ...

Still, if you wonder whether to let your sister win, read the AITA about refusing to let my younger sister win family game night.