"It sucks that someone potentially tricked a temperature sensor with a hairdryer to scam actual gamblers out of potential winnings" really missed a chance to say it blows.
A lot of gambling is a scam executed form profit. I call it a scam because it's not always fraudulent, it's persuasion and a dash of misleading info. Often one party unduly influences the outcome or has information that the other can't have. Whether it's corruption to predetermine the result of a match, or knowing that the star player will miss it, or a gambling machine that suggests a higher expected payout than the real one, or even a casino's rules that arbitrarily decide whether your win was legitimate or not, in practice the industry is more scam than legitimate business.
This instance is what you could call a scam, maybe even fraud. But in the absence of manipulation or insider knowledge predicting the weather is pretty close to gambling. As is "does bitcoin go up or down in the next five minutes" or "how many tweets will Elon Musk post in the next couple days" (all real bets on Polymarket)
That'd be easier to game than "will somebody run onto the field in the next $sports game". Just bet yes and bring a hair dryer. Make sure somebody posts evidence to X so you can cash out
If the yes side is heavily favored because it's a "sure thing" then there will eventually be people who bet no and hire guards (or go themselves) to defend the weather sensor from the hairdryer-wielders.
"It sucks that someone potentially tricked a temperature sensor with a hairdryer to scam actual gamblers out of potential winnings" really missed a chance to say it blows.
That’s rather dry humour for such a hairy situation
It went over my head, but I think they’re full of hot air anyway.
"actual gamblers"
Gambling addicts will really gamble on anything, won’t they? It’s a bit strange to see degenerate gambling dressed up as “predictions”.
This looks less like gambling addiction and more like a scam executed for profit.
A lot of gambling is a scam executed form profit. I call it a scam because it's not always fraudulent, it's persuasion and a dash of misleading info. Often one party unduly influences the outcome or has information that the other can't have. Whether it's corruption to predetermine the result of a match, or knowing that the star player will miss it, or a gambling machine that suggests a higher expected payout than the real one, or even a casino's rules that arbitrarily decide whether your win was legitimate or not, in practice the industry is more scam than legitimate business.
And who fueled the profits? Gamblers?
This instance is what you could call a scam, maybe even fraud. But in the absence of manipulation or insider knowledge predicting the weather is pretty close to gambling. As is "does bitcoin go up or down in the next five minutes" or "how many tweets will Elon Musk post in the next couple days" (all real bets on Polymarket)
Yes, gambling. That's literally what gambling is, a scam.
Gambling takes many forms.
If you and I flip a coin for $100, there's no scam.
Or a spherical cow.
Sooner or later someone will rig the coin
Potential for fraudulent activity makes something a scam? That list is gonna be long
We rename everything to make it cooler to sell. Probably been a thing since the times of the sea people.
It never occurred to me that Goodhart's law could be applied to betting, but here we are :)
Already discussed: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47878208
Is there a bet available to determine if the weather forecasted was impacted by a hair dryer?
That's not a bad idea. It actually sounds like it could be a very useful hedge/insurance play.
That'd be easier to game than "will somebody run onto the field in the next $sports game". Just bet yes and bring a hair dryer. Make sure somebody posts evidence to X so you can cash out
If the yes side is heavily favored because it's a "sure thing" then there will eventually be people who bet no and hire guards (or go themselves) to defend the weather sensor from the hairdryer-wielders.
I can't believe there's no honor among the gamblers!
Finally some hacking news!
Maybe it's bad to let people bet on anything, huh
lulz futures paying off as usual
hilarious title, engadget is still quality after all these years
2 weeks old news OP
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47869664
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47878208
climate change via hair drier ;D
Dupe from a little bit ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47878208
A fool and his money etc etc.
You love to see it.