| | Strong-link problems | Weak-link problems | | ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Definition | Problems related to maximizing the best element in a set. | Problems related to minimizing the worst element in a set. | | Examples | Music curation; that there is bad music out there does not decrease my enjoyment of good music, so we don't need to regulate that. | Food safety; objective is to eliminate dangerous bacteria that could kill you. This makes the case for regulations. | | Course of action | Increase outliers, variance, and weirdness because you'll benefit from having more very good things. | Decrease outliers / variance / weirdness because you'll be harmed by having more very bad things. | | | Don't gatekeep because you might accidentally keep the best out. | Gatekeep because it keeps the worst out. | | | Ignore the worst. | Ignore the best. | | | Accept risk, because the downside doesn't matter. | Avoid risk, because the downside is all that matters. | (Adapted from Mastroianni, 2023). ## References - Mastroianni, A. (2023). Science is a strong-link problem. *Experimental History*. https://www.experimental-history.com/p/science-is-a-strong-link-problem