More sex is safer sex 1

Don’t mistake me. I’m not talking about having sex but having paradoxes.

Paradox 1: If I eat a bit less, I would live a bit longer. Therefore, if I stop eating entirely, I would live forever. (p.21)

Paradox 2: Traffic lights can only reduce the number of accidents, while banning cars can stop accidents. Therefore, it would be irresponsible to preach the merits of traffic lights. (p.21-22)

Paradox 3: In America, ugly women earn about 5 percent less than ordinary women. And an extra sixty-five pounds typically cost a white woman 7 percent of her wages. A six feet tall man probably earns about US$6,000 more per year than his 5-foot-6-inch counterpart. Therefore attractiveness, slim and tall figure causes success. And we should subsidies beauty and tax the ugly one. (p.52-53)

Paradox 4: Inventiveness is good and should be rewarded. Monopoly power is bad and should be discouraged. The patent system rewards inventiveness with a license to monopolize! (p.105)

Paradox 5: The firefighters bear 100 percent of the firefighting cost so they should get 100 percent of the benefits by allowing them to keep all the property they rescue – including your house.

Paradox 6: Workers with computers on their desks are 10 to 15 percent more productive (and 10 to 15 percent better paid). Workers with pencils on their desks are also 10 to 15 percent more productive. Therefore, pencils are as productive as computers. (p.131)

Paradox 7: In America, on average, a 10 percent increase in the rate of home ownership is associated with a 2 percent increase in the rate of unemployment. Throughout the industrialized world, unemployment and home ownership go hand in hand. Therefore, buying a flat causes unemployment. (p.141 – 142)

Paradox 8: In America, family with one daughter is nearly 5 percent more likely to divorce than a family with one son.  Therefore, daughter causes divorce. (p.145)

Have fun and find out the solutions to these paradoxes yourself.

Landsburg, S. (2008). More sex is safer sex. NY: Free Press