this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2024
16 points (69.0% liked)

Showerthoughts

29698 readers
928 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

Rules

  1. All posts must be showerthoughts
  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
  3. Avoid politics
    1. NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out
    2. Political posts often end up being circle jerks (not offering unique perspective) or enflaming (too much work for mods).
    3. Try c/politicaldiscussion, volunteer as a mod here, or start your own community.
  4. Posts must be original/unique
  5. Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct-----

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
16
quantum mechanics (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

Playing the lotery is a good analogy to the Schroedinger cat experiment. That is, as long as you don't check the numbers

all 8 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Schrödinger was responsible for so much good work in science, but all we remember him for is his cruelty to animals. :(

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 month ago (2 children)

This is a gross misinterpretation of the Schrödinger's cat thought experiment and how the lottery actually works. That said, this is genuinely a shower thought because it's logic evaporates as quickly as you dry off and put your thinking pants on.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Well pardon me sir, my scientific background is entirely made of yt science videos for middle-schoolers!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

I suffered from the wrong interpretation myself for a long time, and I think it's worth a brief explanation as to why it is wrong. It's clear why so many people misunderstand it, and I'm incapable of providing a concise, correct explanation to other people myself. But I like to see other people try, and hope one day to come across an elegant explanation that I can plagiarize.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Well you have both won and not won the lotery as long as you don't check the results = measure the results of the experiment

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Hm. I suppose you could see it like that philosophically.

I'd say it more like, you have not won yet until you check and see you've won, but I guess that train of thought works, as well.