News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Nearly Cheating by brookst on Saturday November 25, 2023 @11:30AM (#38414500)
It’s human psychology. Imagine you guess the birthday of everyone you meet. Your odds of being right are the same no matter whether you always say “January 1” or if you pick a date that feels right for the person (assuming there is no astrological or other magical sensing).

But getting Jan 1 right would feel like an inevitable event, like you’re testing statistics and, yep, they work. Getting a custom date right would feel like you made a smart choice. Even if you know it’s just the same statistics.

At least I expect most people would feel that, or at least as many as enjoy gambling in games of chance.

Re:Nearly Cheating by idiotsecant on Saturday November 25, 2023 @03:56PM (#38416602)
I have the strongest urge to be pedantic and point out that birthdates are not normally distributed. But I get your point.
Re:Nearly Cheating by Lukas_Skywalker on Saturday November 25, 2023 @04:26PM (#38416826)
They are indeed not normally distributed, but did you mean that they are not uniformly distributed?
Re:Nearly Cheating by idiotsecant on Saturday November 25, 2023 @05:30PM (#38417346)
That's what happens when you give into the pedantry gremlin. He comes for you too.
Re:Nearly Cheating by qaisjp on Saturday November 25, 2023 @05:32PM (#38417362)
Uno reverse card right there.