Ambush Interview #82 TheProfessor (Owner/Founder of Adult Friend Finder) - Page 3 - GoFuckYourself.com

JFK · 02-17-2006, 10:03 PM

100..............Ambush Interviews

Xenophage · 02-17-2006, 10:04 PM

Q: If you had to choose between money, power, or women, which would you choose?

A: I'd choose the lesser of three evils.

ahahahahahah man your good .. from now on you get to be the GFY poster My marketing days are numberd LOL

kristin · 02-17-2006, 10:08 PM

Wow, this is an excellent interview ... I'm amazed at what I am reading.

JFK · 02-17-2006, 10:08 PM

JFK · 02-17-2006, 10:10 PM

detoxed · 02-17-2006, 10:13 PM

Thanks for the checks

TheProfessor · 02-17-2006, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike33

Some more of his questions...

Q: In 1996, did you see the potential of the internet already, or are you pretty surprised at how things turned out (from a business perspective)?

A: By 1996, I had been building websites and selling commercial
web software for a few years so I knew that this was going to
change how many things were done. Unfortunately, I was still
working full time on my PhD while working full time on building
sites so had little time to capitalize on it.

Q: Who would you say is instrumental or highly influential in launching your online endeavors?

A: I was lucky to be in a department at Stanford that was one of the
first to put up a webpage in late 1992. A few people showed me how
to setup a webserver and get a T1 to host some pages.

Q: Did it require much investment to get started?

A: I didn't have much cash but was able to get a couple Sun servers
for about $10K. Funded the rest by getting lots of little devel gigs.
The market was so weak for web developers that I was making about
$5/hr after paying out staff. By the time started Friend Finder, I had
about 15 developers who worked on writing banner ad servers and visitor tracking software. Now we have almost 300 people.

Q: Who do you consider to be your peers, adult or mainstream? Seeing that your one if not the most successful in the business, who do you look up to?

A: I don't look around much - mostly towards mainstream sites.

kristin · 02-17-2006, 10:19 PM

Question:

What are all of your degrees in?

and ... still paying those student loans?!? ; )

xlogger · 02-17-2006, 10:26 PM

Holy shit, 300 staff? Damnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

Peaches · 02-17-2006, 11:23 PM

I have never met this person!

Lars, Sean and Sagi - you've been hiding someone with cute dimples from me??!!

Very interesting interview - I always wondered about who started AFF

Vitasoy · 02-17-2006, 11:25 PM

I'm all eyes on this one.

baddog · 02-17-2006, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mn

Ofcourse you should change to door 3.

No way. Multiple choice you should always go with your first inclination.

Linguist · 02-17-2006, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

No way. Multiple choice you should always go with your first inclination.

Wrong, statistically you have a better chance if you choose another door.

Edit: to be more precise, the actual probability of winning: if you stay: 33%, if you switch: 67%

baddog · 02-17-2006, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linguist

Wrong, statistically you have a better chance if you choose another door.

Edit: to be more precise, the actual probability of winning: if you stay: 33%, if you switch: 67%

Why is that? and where did you come up with that stat?

detoxed · 02-18-2006, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

Why is that? and where did you come up with that stat?

Well I see his logic I'm just not smart enough to know whether its actually true or not. I usually stick with my first instinct because when I've changed from it in the past its been a mistake.

Snake Doctor · 02-18-2006, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linguist

Wrong, statistically you have a better chance if you choose another door.

Edit: to be more precise, the actual probability of winning: if you stay: 33%, if you switch: 67%

If you stay or switch your probability of winning is exactly 50%. There are two possible choices and only one of them is right, whether you switch or stay your odds remain the same.

baddog · 02-18-2006, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenny2

If you stay or switch your probability of winning is exactly 50%. There are two possible choices and only one of them is right, whether you switch or stay your odds remain the same.

Exactly. You went from a 33 1/3% chance of being right, and now that it is 50-50 your odds have decreased? I would sure like to see that explained.

Mr Pheer · 02-18-2006, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linguist

Wrong, statistically you have a better chance if you choose another door.

Edit: to be more precise, the actual probability of winning: if you stay: 33%, if you switch: 67%

wtf?

did you pay attention in math class?

Mr Pheer · 02-18-2006, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenny2

If you stay or switch your probability of winning is exactly 50%. There are two possible choices and only one of them is right, whether you switch or stay your odds remain the same.

Yes this is correct. I'm glad that Linquist's name isnt Mathematician

Mr Pheer · 02-18-2006, 01:39 AM

And for the record, if I first picked door #2, and door #1 was eliminated, I would stay with door #2. I never second guess myself.

BigBen · 02-18-2006, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

Why is that? and where did you come up with that stat?

It's a common statistics problem. Google "monty hall problem" or "monty hall dilemma".

baddog · 02-18-2006, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBen

It's a common statistics problem. Google "monty hall problem" or "monty hall dilemma".

Like my dad used to always say, "you can prove whatever you want with statistics. Doesn't make it true."

TheProfessor · 02-18-2006, 02:17 AM

For those trying to figure out if they should choose a different
door to get the car, here's a little game you can play to test
your idea: http://expos.com/doors.cgi. Hopefully
you can get on a game show and win!

Snake Doctor · 02-18-2006, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

Like my dad used to always say, "you can prove whatever you want with statistics. Doesn't make it true."

Statistics are worthless. 39% of people know this.
If 69% of people knew this, then they would be meaningful.

baddog · 02-18-2006, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheProfessor

For those trying to figure out if they should choose a different
door to get the car, here's a little game you can play to test
your idea: http://expos.com/doors.cgi. Hopefully
you can get on a game show and win!

With all due respect (one of the times I mean it), can't that be programmed to give those results?

beta-tester · 02-18-2006, 02:27 AM

Great interview Professor!

TheProfessor · 02-18-2006, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

With all due respect (one of the times I mean it), can't that be programmed to give those results?

Sure it could... but I programmed it to be fair

Try
the 4 and 5 window test - it's a bit more dramatic there.

baddog · 02-18-2006, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheProfessor

Sure it could... but I programmed it to be fair

Try
the 4 and 5 window test - it's a bit more dramatic there.

Okay, then why?

Snake Doctor · 02-18-2006, 02:39 AM

Ok so I googled the Monty Hall Problem and found lots of different explanations for why switching doors is the right thing to do, however none of them are based on sound mathematical principle.

For instance

Quote:

Let's say that you choose your door (out of 3, of course). Then, without showing what's behind any of the doors, Monty says you can stick with your first choice or you can have both of the two other doors. I think most everyone would then take the two doors collectively.

No matter which door you choose after one of the non-winning doors has been revealed, you still have "two doors collectively".

Quote:

You'll lose 2/3 of the time if you don't switch. If you do switch, then the prize is still available 2/3 of the time, and you'll make the wrong choice 1/2 the time, so the chance of losing when you switch is only (2/3)*(1/2) = 1/3. You've halved your chance of losing = doubled your chances of winning by switching.

This is also an erroneous statement, because "if you switch" the prize isn't available 2/3 of the time, it's only available half of the time because there are only two choices left.
Regardless of how many choices you started with, when given the option to switch it becomes an entirely new situation, one with only two choices and not three.

I'll keep looking for a better explanation, but at this point none of them have me convinced.

baddog · 02-18-2006, 02:40 AM

I just got 6 in a row that I would have won if I stayed (3 door). I don't think I have yet to get more than 4 (maybe 5) in a row if I switched.

jonesy · 02-18-2006, 02:47 AM

somebody PLEASE call a mathematician - or a statitician

baddog · 02-18-2006, 02:48 AM

Is there somewhere that we can watch old Let's Make A Deal shows?

Snake Doctor · 02-18-2006, 02:56 AM

Hmmmm this is an interesting explanation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Hall_problem

It's very counter-intuitive, but if looked at the right way can be understood.
The advantage to switching comes from the fact that the game show host doesn't open a door at random, he ALWAYS opens a non-winning door.
That is, if the player picks a door with nothing the game host picks the other door with nothing.
And if the player picks the door with a car, the game host randomly picks either of the two doors with nothing

This means there are three possible scenarios, each with equal probability (1/3):

The player picks empty door number 1. The game host picks the other empty door. Switching will win the car.
The player picks empty door number 2. The game host picks the other empty door. Switching will win the car.
The player picks the car. The game host picks either of the two empty doors. Switching will lose.

Kind of hard to get your mind around that one, but I'll be damned if it isn't right.

TheProfessor · 02-18-2006, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenny2

The advantage to switching comes from the fact that the game show host doesn't open a door at random, he ALWAYS opens a non-winning door.

Great job!
(off to bed now - more posts in a few hours)

OY · 02-18-2006, 03:05 AM

LOL - these last few posts are MONEY!!!

ffmihai · 02-18-2006, 03:08 AM

very good to read this!

baddog · 02-18-2006, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenny2

The advantage to switching comes from the fact that the game show host doesn't open a door at random, he ALWAYS opens a non-winning door.

Wait . . . . never mind . . . too late for this.

JFK · 02-18-2006, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

Wait . . . . never mind . . . too late for this.

you're just going to give up n go??

baddog · 02-18-2006, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFK

you're just going to give up n go??

Not a matter of giving up . . . I am trying to convince myself, but am not having much success.

JFK · 02-18-2006, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

Not a matter of giving up . . . I am trying to convince myself, but am not having much success.

Go the extra Mile

Drake · 02-18-2006, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SleazyDream

i guess you didn't like my questions....

Your questions are great as usual. I just like to compliment them

Drake · 02-18-2006, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheProfessor

Q: Do you own offline businesses?

A: Not yet - want to start one?

A close friend of mine does, I'll ask him to contact you. It's not a brick and mortar project per se either.

breaker · 02-18-2006, 08:40 AM

I've learned from school in math that you should always change your mind if you are presented to this 3 option game problem :D We even did a few tests in class and it showed up to be true.

Xenophage · 02-18-2006, 09:09 AM

Now you see the mental mastrubation I have to go through on a daily basis to get andrew to agree with me hahahha the 3 door conversation is like our every day debate. He always pulls some math outta the woodwwork. its good though keeps me on my toes. He is also a ruthless negotiator due to his Jimmy Neutron syndrome

kristin · 02-18-2006, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by breaker

I've learned from school in math that you should always change your mind if you are presented to this 3 option game problem :D We even did a few tests in class and it showed up to be true.

My earth science teacher taught us that if you didn't know touch the tip of your four fingers and smash them on the desk, whichever tingles the most, go with that answer. I did a few of those "test" answers in class ... showed up to be ... eh, true and not so true. ; )

Personally, I am suppose to go with my first inclination, but I always switch. Gets me in trouble everytime, I'm trying to learn to go with my first instinct.

Anyways, let's get some more answers, we're waiting! : )

JenniDahling · 02-18-2006, 09:58 AM

Q: If you had to choose between money, power, or women, which would you choose?

A: I'd choose the lesser of three evils.[/QUOTE]

What if each of these are behind door #1, #2, #3......

p.s. hi Andrew -- great interview! Awesome questions Sleazy -- "inquiring minds" want to know!!!!!!

gecko · 02-18-2006, 11:01 AM

Great interview.

TheProfessor · 02-18-2006, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SleazyDream

6. What about that Jerry Wang kid that wanted to borrow one of your servers in the 90s. What deal did he offer you?

Oh, I think his name was Jerry Yang - he started a little website
called Yahoo. One day in 1994 he visited my web development company
looking for someone to give him free hosting for his site (probably
for a cut). Well, to make a sad story short, he didn't host with us.

Karupted Charles · 02-18-2006, 11:31 AM

Its always a pleasure to see intelligent people that use real business principals to make money in adult get recognized.

TheProfessor · 02-18-2006, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SleazyDream

7. Discuss your fear of flying. How did it come about? Will you ever get on an airplane again?

Ever since I had an engine burst into flames on a flight over the
pacific -- the electrical systems went haywire and not just the passengers
but the stewardesses were going hysterical -- it's been hard to hop in a plane.
But I've resolved to do it this year or become buds with John Madden.

02-17-2006, 10:03 PM	#101
JFK FUBAR the ORIGINATOR Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: FUBARLAND Posts: 67,374	100..............Ambush Interviews __________________ FUBAR Webmasters - The FUBAR Times - FUBAR Webmasters Mobile - FUBARTV.XXX For promo opps contact jfk at fubarwebmasters dot com Last edited by JFK; 02-17-2006 at 10:06 PM..

02-17-2006, 10:08 PM	#103
kristin GOO! Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Back Home : ) Posts: 9,768	Wow, this is an excellent interview ... I'm amazed at what I am reading. __________________ Vacares rules. "Usually only fat guys have the kind of knowledge and ability that Kristin has."

02-17-2006, 10:08 PM	#104
JFK FUBAR the ORIGINATOR Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: FUBARLAND Posts: 67,374	__________________ FUBAR Webmasters - The FUBAR Times - FUBAR Webmasters Mobile - FUBARTV.XXX For promo opps contact jfk at fubarwebmasters dot com

02-17-2006, 10:10 PM	#105
JFK FUBAR the ORIGINATOR Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: FUBARLAND Posts: 67,374	__________________ FUBAR Webmasters - The FUBAR Times - FUBAR Webmasters Mobile - FUBARTV.XXX For promo opps contact jfk at fubarwebmasters dot com

02-17-2006, 10:19 PM	#108
kristin GOO! Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Back Home : ) Posts: 9,768	Question: What are all of your degrees in? and ... still paying those student loans?!? ; ) __________________ Vacares rules. "Usually only fat guys have the kind of knowledge and ability that Kristin has."

02-17-2006, 10:04 PM	#102
Xenophage Registered User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 12,122	Q: If you had to choose between money, power, or women, which would you choose? A: I'd choose the lesser of three evils. ahahahahahah man your good .. from now on you get to be the GFY poster My marketing days are numberd LOL

02-17-2006, 10:13 PM	#106
detoxed vip member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 17,798	Thanks for the checks

02-17-2006, 10:26 PM	#109
xlogger Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: NY Posts: 9,507	Holy shit, 300 staff? Damnnnnnnnnnnnnn. __________________ ---------- XLOGGER [REFLECTED] [OH]

02-17-2006, 11:23 PM	#110
Peaches Old broad Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Away Posts: 13,933	I have never met this person! Lars, Sean and Sagi - you've been hiding someone with cute dimples from me??!! Very interesting interview - I always wondered about who started AFF

02-17-2006, 11:25 PM	#111
Vitasoy GFY HALL OF FAME DAMMIT!!! Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 58,202	I'm all eyes on this one. __________________ [email protected]

02-18-2006, 01:39 AM	#120
Mr Pheer Retired Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 21,264	And for the record, if I first picked door #2, and door #1 was eliminated, I would stay with door #2. I never second guess myself. __________________ 2 lifeguards for Jessica

02-18-2006, 02:17 AM	#123
TheProfessor Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 103	For those trying to figure out if they should choose a different door to get the car, here's a little game you can play to test your idea: http://expos.com/doors.cgi. Hopefully you can get on a game show and win! __________________ CEO, Friend Finder The company you can trust for the highest personals payout - AdultFriendFinder.com (up to $173/order or $1.00/uni), Cams.com(crazy-high webcam conversions), ALT.com(up to $173/order or $1.00/uni), OutPersonals.com (up to $173/order or $1.00/uni), Friend Finder (up to $2/free member,100% cut), Amigos.com, and more!. Make money from chinese, indian, filipino, and korean traffic (no dialer or CCs needed!)

02-18-2006, 02:27 AM	#126
beta-tester Rock 'n Roll Baby! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: USA, temporarly Posts: 22,562	Great interview Professor! __________________ Sig for sale. Affordable prices. Contact me and get a great deal ;) My contact: ICQ: 944-320-46 e-mail: manca {AT} HotFreeSex4All.com

02-18-2006, 02:40 AM	#130
baddog So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: the beach, SoCal Posts: 107,089	I just got 6 in a row that I would have won if I stayed (3 door). I don't think I have yet to get more than 4 (maybe 5) in a row if I switched.

02-18-2006, 02:47 AM	#131
jonesy Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,688	somebody PLEASE call a mathematician - or a statitician __________________ . Shooting Bikini Girls

02-18-2006, 02:48 AM	#132
baddog So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: the beach, SoCal Posts: 107,089	Is there somewhere that we can watch old Let's Make A Deal shows?

02-18-2006, 02:56 AM	#133
Snake Doctor I'm Lenny2 Bitch Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: On top of my soapbox Posts: 13,449	Hmmmm this is an interesting explanation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Hall_problem It's very counter-intuitive, but if looked at the right way can be understood. The advantage to switching comes from the fact that the game show host doesn't open a door at random, he ALWAYS opens a non-winning door. That is, if the player picks a door with nothing the game host picks the other door with nothing. And if the player picks the door with a car, the game host randomly picks either of the two doors with nothing This means there are three possible scenarios, each with equal probability (1/3): The player picks empty door number 1. The game host picks the other empty door. Switching will win the car. The player picks empty door number 2. The game host picks the other empty door. Switching will win the car. The player picks the car. The game host picks either of the two empty doors. Switching will lose. Kind of hard to get your mind around that one, but I'll be damned if it isn't right.

02-18-2006, 03:05 AM	#135
OY Industry Pioneer Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: USA/EU/ASIA Posts: 5,401	LOL - these last few posts are MONEY!!! __________________ Around since 1997, and the company that introduced "Cascading Billing" in MPA3® Affiliate Management and Tracking Software Outsourcing With A Norwegian Twist - NordBits - Inquire within!

02-18-2006, 03:08 AM	#136
ffmihai keep walking... Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,177	very good to read this! __________________

02-18-2006, 08:40 AM	#143
breaker Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: .EU Fiasco Posts: 652	I've learned from school in math that you should always change your mind if you are presented to this 3 option game problem :D We even did a few tests in class and it showed up to be true. __________________ Cash Breaker Latinas Deliciosas Blonde Loves Black She's Fuckable Fresh Blowjobs ICQ: 147104800

02-18-2006, 09:09 AM	#144
Xenophage Registered User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 12,122	Now you see the mental mastrubation I have to go through on a daily basis to get andrew to agree with me hahahha the 3 door conversation is like our every day debate. He always pulls some math outta the woodwwork. its good though keeps me on my toes. He is also a ruthless negotiator due to his Jimmy Neutron syndrome

02-18-2006, 09:58 AM	#146
JenniDahling Market Penetration Specialist Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Out of my Suitcases Posts: 5,285	Q: If you had to choose between money, power, or women, which would you choose? A: I'd choose the lesser of three evils.[/QUOTE] What if each of these are behind door #1, #2, #3...... p.s. hi Andrew -- great interview! Awesome questions Sleazy -- "inquiring minds" want to know!!!!!! __________________ cLick my kitty, you know you want to jenni {at} prkitty.com Meet me at The Island Gathering

02-18-2006, 11:01 AM	#147
gecko ****** Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 21,846	Great interview. __________________ [email protected]

02-18-2006, 11:31 AM	#149
Karupted Charles Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: MI Posts: 1,662	Its always a pleasure to see intelligent people that use real business principals to make money in adult get recognized. __________________ TPF 2010 "They are eating our sausages!"