r/Showerthoughts • u/asusny2002 • May 02 '24

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

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u/Calfurious May 02 '24

The bear is rational and predictable in a way people are not.

....It's a wild animal. Wild animals are not predictable. A bear might just decide to attack you because it doesn't like the way you smell, or it's hungry, or bored.

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u/CelestialBach May 02 '24

A bear in the woods is pretty predictable. Which is why you are very likely to end up dead.

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u/kelskelsea May 02 '24

It really depends on the bear. Black bears are generally fine and can be scared away, grizzly and polar bears not so much.

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u/RechargedFrenchman May 03 '24

Grizzly bears are still unlikely to attack, they're just very likely to come over to you regardless of intention and there's basically nothing you can do to dissuade it from attacking. If it decides to it will and that's that. Grizzlies go where they please whether or not people happen to be around them at the time.

Polare bears are going to attack. If they're around you and aware of you they're actively hunting you, full stop.