3 ms·
We're bad at generating randomness because we're bad at detecting randomness. Given a sequence, and asked to grade how closely it fits sampling from uniform ra
by xnorswap 3y ago
We're bad at generating randomness because we're bad at detecting randomness.
Given a sequence, and asked to grade how closely it fits sampling from uniform random, we typically get it very wrong.
For example we underestimate how often streaks or clustering happens in uniform data.
We are wired to find patterns. This gives us an advantage for some tasks, but for assessing the randomness of data, makes us very bad.
- magicalhippo 3y agoReminds me of a rather lively IRC debate I had on a programming channel about how 1,2,3,4,5 was a perfectly fine random sequence of digits. Some just flat out refused to accept that, even though I repeatedly highlighted that it was just very unlikely.
- koolba 3y agoAs always there’s a relevant xkcd: https://xkcd.com/221/ https://xkcd.com/221/