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Re:The Big Alien Theory by marcus_holmes on Thursday March 24, 2016 @01:16PM (#11354580)
yeah OK that makes sense.

So what about:

- Humans are an ordinary species

- Humans live in an ordinary galaxy

Does that change our relative height?

Re:The Big Alien Theory by wrsh07 on Thursday March 24, 2016 @06:41PM (#11357086)
I see what you're trying to do, but it doesn't work. Our arguments need to be like the Doomsday argument, presented here: https://what-if.xkcd.com/65/

If most species looked at themselves and said "my species is ordinary" the majority of them would be right; however, it doesn't give you any statistical reason to think that humans are ordinary.

Re:The Big Alien Theory by marcus_holmes on Thursday March 24, 2016 @10:41PM (#11358188)
that was fascinating, thanks :)

The counter-intuitiveness of it all is really intriguing. We really are evolved to think in small numbers.