The Joy of Statistics and Huge Populations
I've been working in a research company for a couple of years now and really like my job, like a whole host aspects about it. Among them is the new understanding of stats and numerical relationships that I've learned. I've always been good with numbers (go on, just ask me what my first phone number was waaaay back in the 70's when we lived in Maryland) but this revelation has been a welcome one as its given me a better perspective to view the world.

And then there's the data that we have access to. Snapshots of the development universe made fresh twice a year in all kinds of technology areas. Sure, if you're not a geek then its about as exciting as watching dust collect. But I am a geek and the information fascinates me.

A thought I had a while ago is pretty self evident but still poignant and interesting, to me at least.

The thought is that, at any given time, there are very likely millions of men and women masturbating or having sex. That, at any given time, there are millions and millions of people sitting on the pot taking a shit. That, at any given time, there are those same numbers of people picking their nose (hopefully nowhere near that number are eating their boogers) and that, at any given time, there are a huge number of people daydreaming at work, staring out the window, surfing the net for porn, faking busy work as the boss goes walking by or whatever else people do when they loaf. That there are millions of people creating something new with their minds and bodies, that art is being made, that music is being composed, that the next great novels are being hacked out, that, all over the world, babies are rolling over for the first time, saying their first words and taking their first steps. There are also many people dying, waiting for death and getting into bad accidents that may threaten their lives.

Nothing earth shattering there but still, it makes me stop and think. If all of that is happening right now then there are all those other unpleasant events also occuring right now. Rapes, murder, thefts, suicides, abuse, self loathing, guilt and a whole host of other actions.

And also, a huge number of people blogging about their morning commute, the asshole who took the last cup of coffee and didn't make more, how their wife woke them up with a blowjob and some morning sexing.

The world is a huge numbers game and it stands to reason that what you're feeling now is being felt by a whole bunch of other people. In some sense, you're never alone, you're never engaged in a unique activity.

Just kind of a cool thought. And grist for the mind to churn through the next time you're digging for gold in your nasal repository.