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Dr. Watson Sleuth Helper
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detectivehappy
detectivehappy
Old Shoe

Mar-28-2007 12:03

I've been using the Sleuth Helper and I find it very helpful. Sometimes when I get a lot of true alibis, the sleuth finder assumes the rest of the suspects are fake, and automatically arranges it that way. Can I assume that the slueth helper is correct? Because sometimes my suspect won't tell me the alibi, but I don't want to falsly accuse. Thanks!

Replies

reda
reda
Well-Connected

Mar-29-2007 01:02

Till now, the watson helper is totally correct. It uses the same list of numbers Ive been using since I started 3 years ago. That might change if Ben ever changes the numbers :P

The other helper from Naomi is NOT always correct. Some of the numbers are after and some before research. So dont trust them blindly.

Verne Miller
Verne Miller

Oct-31-2007 11:37

Are anyone else having problems with Dr. Watson Sleuth Helper?
It has been a great help untill two days ago when it suddenly started to give some unexpected results. It has sometimes concluded that all suspects are innocent (!?), and other times the automated behaviour has stopped working. Restart of browser and computer does not help.

Stooby
Stooby
Well-Connected

Oct-31-2007 11:42

I don't use helpers at all, but I suspect you are not gettign the full list of suspects in your case....

Verne Miller
Verne Miller

Oct-31-2007 12:19

No, that's not the case. I have played with another detective for almost a year now, and would have noticed. But thanks for your suggestion. The problem is that Dr. Watson doesn't function as before. Any other suggestions?

Breitkat
Breitkat
Pinball Amateur

Oct-31-2007 12:40

*sighs*

How many times do I hafta say this?? HOW MANY TIMES???

A computer is NOT PERFECT, people. Despite what you've been taught by the media, your schooling, and whatever other propaganda that's out there, a computer's only as good as the idiot that built and programmed the thing. It's simply doing what a HUMAN told it to do somewhere down the line. Somewhere, somehow, it's gonna make a mistake. May not happen often, but it WILL happen. Our boards are full of reported boo-boos all the time.

Bottom line, count your real alibis, keep an eye on your false ones. Use the helpers for what they are--A GUIDE. If you're not sure the computer's done it's work, go back and do it by hand. Double check everything yourself. Yeah, it's bothersome and boring. What, you'd rather be Shady's newest best friend??

*contemplates burning an effigy of Bill Gates....* :-.

Verne Miller
Verne Miller

Oct-31-2007 12:59

I'm sorry to make you upset on all hallows eve, Breitkat! Hope to see you at Big Lucys, where I'll buy you a drink if you forgive me.

I see your point, but still wonder why a formerly thrustworthy tool suddenly takes a turn for the worse. Haven't made any updates or changes locally, that's why I wonder if any others have noticed anything.

Breitkat
Breitkat
Pinball Amateur

Oct-31-2007 13:28

There was a similar bug and discussion with another helper a few days ago, Verne. Several people on that thread were convinced down to their bones that the computer was 1. doing everything perfectly, and 2. had picked up a bug. (Does this sound like a paradox to anyone else, or is it just me??) They could NOT be convinced that computers were not perfect entities, and would never have an occasional programming error or slipup.

To me, that's incredibly dangerous thinking. The best computer that's ever been built (or prob'ly ever will be) is the one sitting between your ears. Stop using it, and Shady really does deserve every penny he gets (and no, I don't think he DOES always deserve all the money we pay him, so don't start spamming me with hate mail, please).

I use a helper guide, and have for a few weeks now. But for a more than a year, every case that I worked on, I did by hand. I remain convinced that helpers are nice to use, but if you don't know the logistics behind solving a case, you shouldn't be using a helper until you figure them out (ie.--work cases by hand until you figure out how the intricacies behind them work.).

Within the last 10 days, the helper I use has started acting funny as well (and no, it's not the Dr. Watson one). I've tried reloading the program, and gotten the same results, so I don't think it's coming from my end.

However, it's not working screwily enough yet to make me stop using it. What I AM doing is what I always have been doing all along--counting the reals, watching the falses, doublechecking EVERYTHING before I accuse a suspect. And, in roughly 400 cases since the blips started happening, there's been no differences in results from before.

Breitkat
Breitkat
Pinball Amateur

Oct-31-2007 13:34

Am I mad at you, Verne? No, not really. Just please realize that you are your best ally, not the box sitting in front of you. There prob'ly is something going on with the helper. What, exactly, God knows. Unfortunately, He ain't talkin'. I think you still can use the helper with satisfactory results. Hopefully, the people who programmed our respective helpers will figure out what's goin' on with them and get them fixed. If they don't, oh well. If the bugs get worse, people (including me) will simply stop using them, and very probably fill up the boards with complaints (not including me), and we'll go from there.

I'm currently in London, tryin' my best to track down one of those bloomin' Arch Villains. I hope to make it to New York and Big Lucy's today, but this lady's bein' rather stubborn at the moment. So, if I don't make it, have a pint on me, okay?

Take care, Verne, and good luck!! ;-)

crunchpatty
crunchpatty
Old Shoe

Oct-31-2007 22:31

*Bevis voice*

Hehe. Verne said "thrustworthy tool".

:)

Treschaude
Treschaude
Washed Up Punter

Nov-1-2007 00:27

Thanks Crunch! I'd much rather have my mind focused on thrustworthy tools than the rant that went before it. :)

I'm glad I don't have to ask questions on this board any more. Yikes!

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