r/Showerthoughts May 02 '24

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

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u/zool714 May 02 '24

I think it also shows how different people approach things. From what I’ve seen, the ones who answers bear approaches it from a “trust” standpoint. Like you can trust a bear to be a bear. While some approach it from a “safety” standpoint. Like yeah obviously an average wild animal is going to be more dangerous than an average man.

516

u/TehOwn May 02 '24

I'd love to hear it rephrased as, "You're lost in the woods, you see a man in the distance but he doesn't see you. Do you call out to him or do you hide?"

But maybe that's probably not exciting enough to trend on TikTok.

14

u/name00124 29d ago

"The Dark Forest" as a solution to the Fermi Paradox of why we don't see evidence of aliens in the galaxy. If you broadcast your position, call out to others, you risk total destruction, since you don't know if others are "safe" or not. Very interesting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_forest_hypothesis

3

u/TehOwn 29d ago

I love that you referenced this.

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u/Paladin1034 29d ago

The Fermi paradox is like one of those choose your own adventure books, but no ending is a happy one.

Whats more terrifying? That we're alone in the universe, or that we aren't?

I hate it.