TED Community » Nikolay Frolov

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Promoting government efficiency
Improving statistical services
Overcoming supra-natural world-view

Comments

• TEDCred score: +44.00 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• A comment on Talk: Alain de Botton: Atheism 2.0

  Jan 28 2012: Orly? Aha. So, that's what we should adopt from religion. We should adopt brainwashing, deceiving and appeals to emotions instead of rationality. I would also suggest very insightful pratice of the fascism to look into. Very efficient technologies indeed.

• A comment on Talk: Yasheng Huang: Does democracy stifle economic growth?

  Sep 12 2011: Not convincing at all. The case against infrastructure was poor. If infrastructure doesn't explain the difference entirely it doesn't follow that it plays no role. Maybe it becomes extraordinary effective exactly in non-democratic environment.
  And hey, you've just said that it's not correct to make your argument based on picking winners-only. How could you argue against infrastructure using the USSR case as an example? Picking losers-only looks more scientific?
  To sum up, there is a few (if any) logically correct economic arguments in this presentation. The only probable truth, as he said in the end, is that he BELIEVEs that democracy is better and India will overcome China in the distant future. Really, it's a pity watching such excruciating desire to present own wishful thinking against robust 30 years long statistical evidence.

• A reply on Talk: Wael Ghonim: Inside the Egyptian revolution

  Mar 11 2011: I agree. Well, I'm not sure that situation in Egypt is so desperate but if this chaos happened it surely has its reasons. I just like to see more reasonable and constructive discussion, not just witness emotional uplift.
  I hope it sounds more like rational thought and voice of reason than insensibility or lack of compassion.
• +2

  A reply on Talk: Wael Ghonim: Inside the Egyptian revolution

  Mar 11 2011: Well, I agree that it's all about winners and losers. And your point of view strongly depends on where you see yourself afterwards.
  I simply doubt that the speaker understands true cost of this event. Perhaphs I'm wrong but I did not hear any attempts to estimate these costs. Only emotions.
  By the way, "permanent oppression" also sounds too stagy. Do you think most of egyptians will answer "yes" on a question "do you feel oppressed"?

• A reply on Talk: Wael Ghonim: Inside the Egyptian revolution

  Mar 11 2011: I agree that as an insider he can feel "the mood in the air" better. On the other hand, it's also very easy to be carried away by emotions.
  Who do you think will capture the power? Will the situation in Egypt really change dramatically? What are the reasons of this revolution? Do we believe that facebook and twitter really cause these events and not just rising food prices (as many western economist have been pointed out)?
  In no way am I against freedom or reforms. I just like to point at the gap between expectations and what's looks like more reasonable forecast of where the situation will evolve.
• +7

  A comment on Talk: Wael Ghonim: Inside the Egyptian revolution

  Mar 9 2011: Wow. This is incredibly naïve presentation. Not just far from inspiring. Speaker really turn a blind eye on the unintended chaotic consequences of these events. There is so much ignorant euphoria in the air, you can actually smell it.
  Good intentions are always good. Just be ready to face results.

• A comment on Talk: Michael Pollan: A plant's-eye view

  Dec 27 2009: WOW! What an extraordinary example of completely wrong usage of reverse causality. I hope this man does not think that Sun rises because he's awaking...