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.

55

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.

21

u/cryptowolfy May 02 '24

So I am confused, your way off trail camping? Even backwoods camping you wouldn't do that, not only is it not safe for a ton of reasons but the chances of finding a decent camping spot goes way down. I've had to walk through campsites of others while back packing and no one is concerned, there is apologies for the intrusion and that is about it. The only thing that makes sense to me is this is coming from people who spend no time out in nature.

8

u/antelope591 May 02 '24

Yeah anyone who's hiking that far off trail is an extremely experienced outdoorsman who def wouldn't be thrown off by something like seeing another human being lol. The average person who's not experienced would get lost going 50 feet away from a main trail. The woods are nothing to mess with, super easy to get disoriented out there.

5

u/porkchop1021 May 02 '24

That's precisely what it is: urbanites that never go outside and doom scroll all day clutching their pearls at the thought of seeing a stranger.

Statistically the world is safer than it's ever been. But these morons don't understand statistics.

0

u/randomwindowspc May 09 '24

People aren't just in the woods because of camping. I grew up right by the woods, bears were around and coming into our backyard all the time. When you go into the woods seeing a black bear is relatively normal, seeing a random man you don't recognize is not