"Kris Baker" <kris.baker@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> writes:
Allan Adler wrote:
> > What I'm wondering now is how many booksellers might be listing the
very
> > same books, all sitting on the library sale shelf.
> Into conspiracy theories, eh?
Actually, no. First of all, by wondering how many booksellers might be
listing
the very same book, one doesn't rule out the possibility that the number
is
zero, which is your position. Second, even if one assumes the number is
greater than one, it is entirely possible that the booksellers in question
are not acting in concert but that, instead, they coincidentally happen,
in
some cases, to have listed the same book. Coincidences do happen and the
recognition of that fact is diametrically opposed to the main premises of
most consipiracy theories (leaving aside the outright lies).
> An intelligent bookseller (or picker) would have base his picks on
whether
> the market was already flooded, if there were known needs for the books
*at
> a certain price point*, etc. But most of the automated systems I'm
acquainted
> with, are just databases tied to an ISBN. I can't imagine anyone
listing
> books he hasn't bought yet.
You might be right. I'm keeping an open mind about it. But, since you
seem to know how these systems actually work, which is an interesting
topic in its own right, maybe you can say a little more about them.
For starters, what are the automated systems you're acquainted with?
--
Ignorantly,
Allan Adler <ara@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
* Disclaimer: I am a guest and *not* a member of the MIT CSAIL. My actions
and
* comments do not reflect in any way on MIT. Also, I am nowhere near
Boston.
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