# Positive Feedsback -Reply

**URL:** <http://discourse.iapct.org/t/positive-feedsback-reply/8952>\
**Category:** CSG1996\
**Created:** [March 7, 1996, 10:44am UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/positive-feedsback-reply/8952 "1996-03-07T10:44:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HANS\_BLOM2](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HANS\_BLOM2](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/HANS_BLOM2)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 1996, 10:44am UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/positive-feedsback-reply/8952/1 "1996-03-07T10:44:51Z")

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[Hans Blom, 960307]

> I am looking for a metaphor to help me understand the concept of  
> positive feedback.

A metaphor that I find useful is the one of the hungry donkey right  
in the middle between the two stacks of hay. Which of the two stacks  
is going to be eaten first? Difficult choice. No, impossible choice  
at first: exactly 50-50. But then, by chance, it finds its snout  
somewhat nearer to one of the two stacks, and that in itself makes  
the choice clearer: one of the two initially equal choices now  
presents itself at a closer range, which makes for a choice that  
isn't 50-50 anymore. The choice is now resolved into a preference.

Note that the solution to this problem is simple only if there is  
just one goal: eating. As soon as additional goals arise, such as  
protecting the other hay stack from suspected competitors, behavior  
will start to be more complex. Especially, turning to one stack and  
attacking it with abandon will mean that the other one cannot be  
guarded anymore (as efficiently).

Greetings,

Hans

> **···**
>
> ================================================================  
> Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven, the Netherlands  
> Dept. of Electrical Engineering Medical Engineering Group  
> email: j.a.blom@ele.tue.nl
> 
> Great man achieves harmony by maintaining differences; small man  
> achieves harmony by maintaining the commonality. Confucius

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**Author:** ![G\_Scott\_Graham](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/ee7513/32.png) [@G\_Scott\_Graham](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/G_Scott_Graham)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 1996, 1:40pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/positive-feedsback-reply/8952/2 "1996-03-08T13:40:08Z")

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I am having trouble seeing how this exemplifies an increase in deviation  
from the intial status quo.

I am seeing the example as two negative feedback loops. In one the donkey  
wants food; in the other he wants to exert as little energy as possible.  
So the donkey controls for the first and second variable (food and  
distance) and goes the shorter distance toward the food.

I need to thik about his some more. Any more insights?

> **···**
>
> --  
> The truth us out there...
> 
> Scott \*\*\*\*\*\*\*  
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> [graham@sover.net](mailto:graham@sover.net)  
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