[extropy-chat] what is probability?

[gts]

Rafal, some clarification...

>> ### Now, is that true? Let's say you have an unfair coin, which 99% of
>> the time drops heads  and only 1 % tails. Would you call the results
>> of tossing it a "completely random sequence"?

I replied:

> Yes, because the tosses are independent and no gambling system could be
> devised that would result in a greater than 99% win rate.

I think I should qualify my reply...

Yes, I would call it a completely random sequence, because the tosses are  
independent and no gambling system could be devised that would result in a  
greater than 99% win rate; that is, it completely satisfies the conditions  
of randomness and so it is completely random.

But I realize now that I have been sloppy; I should be clear that  
"completely random sequence" does not mean the same thing as "maximally  
disordered sequence", which I think now is what you thought I meant.

You're right that a 99% weighted coin would generate a less disordered  
sequence (and in that sense might be said to be "less random"), even I am  
also right to say the sequence is still "completely random" in the sense  
that it meets the principle of excluded gambling systems.

-gts