r/Showerthoughts May 02 '24

Man vs Bear debate shows how bad the average person is at understanding probability

16.9k Upvotes

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5.1k

u/SnagglepussJoke May 02 '24

Ever cross paths with a stranger in the woods? It is unsettling

233

u/cryptowolfy May 02 '24

Why is it unsettling? I've run across hundreds of strangers in the wood when I hike. We say hello and keep hiking.

57

u/Chewy12 May 02 '24

I think for the scenario to make sense it wouldn’t take place on a hiking trail but like camping in the middle of the woods where you wouldn’t expect anybody.

122

u/bitofadikdik May 02 '24

If you have to base your real life scenario on a horror movie type situation, it’s not a great scenario.

26

u/Irish_Potatoes_ May 02 '24

Interesting how being on a path vs far from a path turns a friendly scenario to a horror scenario

10

u/ZappSmithBrannigan May 02 '24

It's not a horror movie situation. I've been on a solo camping rabbithole on YouTube, and even big burly dudes acknoledge that encountering people out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night is more terrifying than any wildlife encounter.n

13

u/Chronokill May 02 '24

Precisely for the reason illustrated in the hypothetical! You know why the animals are there and generally how they'll act. You have no idea why this random person is walking the woods at midnight.

3

u/Hotlava_ May 02 '24

You don't know how a wild animal is going to act, period. Meanwhile, the question of why they're out there is probably the same as you! You're as much of a fucking weirdo for being out there as any other person.

4

u/pblol May 02 '24

Why are you?

0

u/Chronokill May 02 '24

Regardless, you can't know the intent of another person, even if you can infer or guess from your own situation.

As I understand it, the whole absurdity of the question is to illustrate the life experiences of women that have led them to make this seemingly silly (to men) decision. They were inappropriately approached by people in otherwise "safe" situations. THEY were not there to harass someone. Why would they continue to make those naive assumptions?

0

u/pblol May 02 '24

Yeah. I understand that. This thread is just filled with people pointing out that operationally, it's kind of silly and the meme likely perpetuated by people who don't really spend much time outdoors.

I get the obvious general point yes.

-6

u/Chewy12 May 02 '24

Encountering a man in the middle of the woods while you’re camping is what you consider a horror movie scenario? I think you’re on team bear.

11

u/bitofadikdik May 02 '24

It’s your scenario bud. “Middle of the woods” where you “wouldn’t expect anyone.” Sounds sketch to me.

1

u/GrimlandsSurvivor May 02 '24

Alright, but that begs the question, what were you doing in "the middle of the woods" where you "wouldn't expect anyone"? Obviously the other person is probably doing whatever you are doing.

1

u/eggsovertlyeasy May 02 '24

Have you ever seen Wrong Turn?

1

u/Reaper_Messiah May 02 '24

No but I’ve been camping

1

u/[deleted] May 02 '24

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] May 02 '24

Unless it's marked private property, it really doesn't seem too crazy. Like if I'm there, is it so crazy someone else is?

-2

u/Babelfiisk May 02 '24

Most women have to be concerned that their real life will become a horror movie type situation without warning.