July 5th, 2024

Something happens to everyone

The article explores the question of adversity and probabilities of facing challenges like cancer and depression. It emphasizes cultivating empathy and understanding others' struggles, highlighting the universal nature of suffering.

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Something happens to everyone

The article discusses the common question of "Why did this happen to me?" when facing adversity and explores answering it from a mathematical perspective. It delves into the probabilities of experiencing various challenges like cancer, depression, genetic disorders, and premature death. The calculations show a 60% chance of facing at least one of these issues personally and a 99.99% probability that someone in your circle of 11 loved ones will encounter a similar challenge. The exercise aims to cultivate empathy by highlighting the universal nature of suffering and the importance of understanding and connecting with others' struggles. The math exercise serves to remind us that everyone faces difficulties in life, fostering compassion and a sense of shared human experience. The article concludes by emphasizing that challenges are a part of everyone's life, debunking the notion that others have it easier and highlighting the importance of empathy and understanding in navigating life's obstacles.

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Link Icon 3 comments
By @mittermayr - 3 months
I would love for this to be extended by a time scale. Same math, but split up into the four quarters of life. My 'hope' would be that a lot of the probability of things going wrong around you shifts towards the later stages?
By @cut3 - 3 months
If something didnt happen, that something happening being a change, there would be no time, as time is a measurement of the smallest increment of change.
By @Borrible - 3 months
Well, in the long run we're all dead, right?

No math involved and you probably don't have to experience it.

Case closed.