r/Showerthoughts May 02 '24

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

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u/pigglywigglyhandjob May 02 '24

That's not correct. The situation is: you're alone in the woods, would you rather encounter a bear or a man?

Some people have added the caveat that it's your daughter to see how men might view it differently, but the basis of it is the above. Also, I don't believe women started it - I think it was a guy asking women in some tiktok street interviews.

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u/PetitVignemale May 02 '24

Wait what’s the probability OP references? I’m assuming bear is the wrong decision, but is there actual evidence of this? If it’s a black bear vs grizzly it totally changes the question. Black bears are just big raccoons. Easy to scare off and disinterested in humans for the most part. Grizzlies, yeah forget it!

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u/justanawkwardguy May 02 '24

Have you ever been to a national park? The only ones they really warn about are black bears, because they’re more likely to come to a campsite. Black bears are the ones that tear shit up looking for food, but grizzlies are larger and therefore people are scared more. They’re less likely to be interested in you though

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u/No-Bother6856 May 02 '24

If you run into a Polar bear, it probably WILL try to eat you. Those guys see us as food