A problem faced by a person with specialized expertise in any area, in which the implications of the opinion are unpopular and likely to be rejected by those who need that expertise. For example, economists may be likely to know that, in some cases, a "market solution" is inherently impossible, but proposing an alternative is an exercise not merely in futility, but career suicide among those who employ economists. It arises because the expert knows more about the field than her employers.
The statistician was asked by his boss to make a case for risk homeostasis, but knowing better, he faced an expert's dilemma: telling the truth would get him tarred as a 'socialist.'
by abu yahya June 23, 2008
Get the expert's dilemma mug.two criminals were just caught robbing a bank. both are in prison, being questioned by police.
during the interrogations, each prisoner is offered the choice to rat on the other. if neither rats the other out, they will both be set free. if one rats the other out, the rat goes free and the one he ratted out will get a long sentence. if both rat each other out, they'll both receive a light sentence.
the prisoner's dilemma is: rat the other out? or stay silent, and hope he doesn't turn witness against you?
the logical act is to rat, even though, if nobody ratted anyone out, everyone would benefit. the individual rational act leads to a group irrational behavior.
during the interrogations, each prisoner is offered the choice to rat on the other. if neither rats the other out, they will both be set free. if one rats the other out, the rat goes free and the one he ratted out will get a long sentence. if both rat each other out, they'll both receive a light sentence.
the prisoner's dilemma is: rat the other out? or stay silent, and hope he doesn't turn witness against you?
the logical act is to rat, even though, if nobody ratted anyone out, everyone would benefit. the individual rational act leads to a group irrational behavior.
the prisoner's dilemma can be seen in daily life.
every winter, the city of chicago gets lots of snow. the city doesn't bother plowing side streets. so residents dig out their own cars. people put lawn chairs and egg crates in "their" spots after they pull out, trying to mark the public street as their private spot, since they dug it out.
the greater common good of public parking is harmed by individuals who don't work to get their streets plowed, instead turning against each other and settling for crappy dug out spots. surrounded by mud. yuck.
the prisoner's dilemma: mark the spot i dug out with egg crates? or leave it unmarked, and risk coming back to someone else's car in "my" spot? (or even worse, someone else's god damn egg crates! and this does happen.)
to work for the common good? or try to accomplish individual goals?
every winter, the city of chicago gets lots of snow. the city doesn't bother plowing side streets. so residents dig out their own cars. people put lawn chairs and egg crates in "their" spots after they pull out, trying to mark the public street as their private spot, since they dug it out.
the greater common good of public parking is harmed by individuals who don't work to get their streets plowed, instead turning against each other and settling for crappy dug out spots. surrounded by mud. yuck.
the prisoner's dilemma: mark the spot i dug out with egg crates? or leave it unmarked, and risk coming back to someone else's car in "my" spot? (or even worse, someone else's god damn egg crates! and this does happen.)
to work for the common good? or try to accomplish individual goals?
by danagram February 21, 2009
Get the prisoner's dilemma mug.Related Words
by Da Krooo January 14, 2010
Get the Nigger Dilemma mug.A difficult situation where a decision to commit must be made between two women one is dating simultaneously in which one woman is angelic and the other is demonic.
Person 1: Man, I can't decide which girl to commit to, one is super nice but the other is a freak!
Person 2: Yeah man, sounds like you got yourself a real Arssi's Dilemma.
Person 2: Yeah man, sounds like you got yourself a real Arssi's Dilemma.
by DestTheBest May 29, 2018
Get the Arssi's Dilemma mug.The inability to decide which seat to take due to the quantity of friends both "kickin' in the front seat" and "sittin' in the back seat." Characterized by indecision and anxiety as the individual has "gotta make their mind up."
A largely ignored condition until early 2011, the "front-seat back-seat dilemma" was widely publicized upon the advent of Rebecca Black's viral single "Friday."
A largely ignored condition until early 2011, the "front-seat back-seat dilemma" was widely publicized upon the advent of Rebecca Black's viral single "Friday."
Friend 1 (From the front seat): "Why won't Tim get in the car? I have a dermatologist appointment in 5 minutes!"
Friend 2 (From the back seat): "Dude, give him a break. He's suffering a front-seat back-seat dilemma. Everyone's been there once."
Friend 2 (From the back seat): "Dude, give him a break. He's suffering a front-seat back-seat dilemma. Everyone's been there once."
by Word Bendo April 13, 2011
Get the front-seat back-seat dilemma mug.The situation where any given smoker is driving while smoking, during a down pour of rain. The smoker is faced with the choice of either getting rained on or rolling up the window and suffocating themselves.
Ole Sharon was needing her nicotine dose when she was incoherently faced with the "Smoker's Dilemma". She rolled her window up to avoid ruining her mullet perm and later suffocated in the car.
by Clintawesome August 24, 2010
Get the Smoker's Dilemma mug.Having failed to confirm paper-roll occupancy, the still-seated bathroom hostage is confronted with a shockingly irresponsible, post-evacuation condition and presented precious few options...shirt sleeve, sock, fingers; air-dry, yell/text for help, pull'em up and carry-on...
by YAWA March 11, 2019
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