Understanding the Random Oracle Model
For those who are new to this term "Random Oracle Model," let me give a gist.
Given a query, this model returns a result. But how does it return? If it has already seen the query, it just returns the result in O(1) time; otherwise, it does a lookup operation in evaluating and returning the result.
It can be interpreted as a form of permanent caching and is used in almost all cryptographic algorithms. For more info, check this Wikipedia article.
The Human Random Oracle
Then I thought about the way we live our lives. It sounded similar to me. Maybe these models were invented by those who were able to model these data structures based on their personal life—or I'm just a douche :)
Anyway, here's the thing: everyone should have similar examples in their life. We come across many people in our lives. We maintain a cache for those people with whom we want to always move or respond. For others, it's just a random response or no response.
Random Oracles in Interviews
Consider you're attending an interview. The interviewer asks a question which you've already come across. Now what would you do? Would you behave like a random oracle model? :)
Would you answer the question instantly as you know the solution already, or drag out the time doing fake thinking, returning some false positives similar to a bloom filter... and finally give the solution?
I would suggest notifying the interviewer that you've already come across this question and use ROM in your head to provide the answer directly. But many people don't do that. They act like they've seen it for the first time.
To be frank, I was educated by my undergrad college seniors not to respond quickly though I knew the answer...
Social Caching and Response Mechanisms
Let's consider another example: your friend introduces you to their friend. Do we immediately consider the new person a friend? I guess not. Most of us just remember them, and when we see them on another occasion, we greet them and that's it. We maintain a cache for this person, but we're responding to them with answers which may or may not satisfy them.
A Case Study in Social Oracle Failure
Recently, one of my friends came across this situation. Let's use notations for privacy:
Let A, B, C be three persons defined as follows:
- A - My friend
- B - A's friend
- C - B's friend who is not A
The following events took place:
- C had gone to his home country for vacation.
- A had asked B to get some items from persons who are returning from that country.
- B informs C.
- C brought those items as requested by B.
- Now C brings those items back.
- A queries B and reaches C's house.
Now, whenever someone visits your house, it's common to greet them with drinks or sweets, learn about them, and rejoice with them if there are any common moments. In this case, A was taken aback by C's behavior:
C: "Oh. It was you. Good. Good... Okay. Here is your item which was requested by B. Have it." A: "Thanks for bringing it. [Some pleasant conversation]"
// C and A stare at each other for some time. A expects C to welcome him and ask him to take a seat.
C: "Make yourself comfortable. Take some sweets [pointing to some room]." C leaves the scene. A: Perplexed on what to do, leaves.
Why did C behave like that?
- Probably C had already known about A that he is difficult through some other person D.
- He was so busy that he didn't have the courtesy to explain to A.
- He himself observed A and made a quick judgment. ...or whatever.
Maybe you can justify that I'm in the wrong here, so is A, and that's the reason C behaved like that.
If any of the above cases were true, C should not have brought those items for A when informed by B. It's better to avoid getting committed rather than taking on such tasks and making the situation awkward.
This could be compared with stories a programmer takes for implementation: either take a requirement and implement it correctly, or don't take it at all.
The Courtesy Protocol
Random Reader: "I already have lots of friends. I don't want anyone new in my group." My answer: "Yeah, buddy. Sure. But one should have the courtesy to politely decline the new person."
Is that the reason Facebook came up with lists, groups (secret, closed, etc.), and the ability to block updates from people who are still on your friend list? :)
Coming Back to the Original Theory
Are we violating the Random Oracle Model in our lives?
Now you might ask why we need to follow the Random Oracle Model. I'm not advising anyone to follow this model. I just noticed that our life design patterns are akin to this.
I guess all of us are selfish in one way or another.
We use the model only when it benefits us, or we behave in a way similar to existing models :)
It can be business, personal, or anything.
The Ultimate Question
So one more question arises: Is life deterministic enough to be accommodated into some model?
What do you think about this?
[For readers who made it through this philosophical exploration, thank you very much for visiting my blog. Please post comments on what you feel as well as suggestions so that I can improve my writing.]
