Re:What's wrong with OKCupid's matching algorithm.
by rorrr on Thursday November 24, 2011 @02:11AM
(#3273495)
The question is worded "Do you consider astrology to be a legitimate science?". So if you answered "Yes", you're an idiot in my book.
Re:What's wrong with OKCupid's matching algorithm.
by inopinatus on Thursday November 24, 2011 @05:40PM
(#3275604)
Many, many years ago I had a girlfriend who I adored because she was a wonderful musician. She had loads of conflicting crackpot spiritual opinions that we argued about, but I didn't care. It was fun whilst it lasted. It wasn't going to last, and I knew that and didn't mind because I liked being with her in the meantime.
I still have the astrology chart she drew for me.
I didn't know I didn't care about the nutty side until I met her.
I wouldn't have met her via this algorithm.
Just saying.
Re:What's wrong with OKCupid's matching algorithm.
by crasshopper on Friday November 25, 2011 @02:26AM
(#3276494)
OK, so -- the point of the article is not (1) whether astrology is a science, (2) that there are 7 continents, (3) whether the sun is bigger than the Earth, or (4) whether any of those are good filters on dates.
It's about the general principle that (a) OKC should make Mandatory questions only count as negatives, and (b) unless they do that, users shouldn't make "factual" questions including (1, 2, 3) mandatory.
Maybe they shouldn't have been mandatory in the first place because you can love someone who believes wrong facts, that's a valid point as well but doesn't relate to the algorithm design issues.
There are lots of otherwise smart people who believe in "stupid" things. For example, in Japan many people believe that your blood type is an indicator of your personality. I'm talking about educated people.
So, there are many women who are interested in astrology. Some don't really believe that astrology is scientific, but they read the horoscope column anyway. Unless she takes it seriously and makes life/relationship decisions based on it, I wouldn't consider it a deal-breaker.