Off Topic — HabitableZone

Off Topic » in reply to As a scientist you know....

Chances are you'll not get hit by lightning if you never go outside.
podrock — (archived)

I agree completely, RL. It is within those fractions of standard deviation that the "magic" happens. It is not super-natural or un-natural or anything but just natural.

Roy was a ranger working at high elevations. Therefore his chances of getting hit by lightning are dramatically increased verses the average, but are still very rare. A mentor of mine used to call it "Enhancing Serendipity". If you want to get hit by lightning you have to go to where the lightning is. Same thing in exploration geology. The chances of finding an ore body are remote. Many millions of dollars are spent every year finding nothing. Almost like getting struck by lightning. But we don't explore for gold in areas where there isn't any. We strive to understand the science of the anomaly and enhance the chances of discovery.

I'm willing to believe Roy's story. I saw him on TV once, being interviewed holding the hat with the hole in it. I remember him saying that a couple of times just before he was hit, he'd be in an exposed place with black clouds overhead, he'd mutter to himself, "This is a bad place for Roy to be right now" . . . ZAP! I've muttered that to myself hundreds of times in the field and did my best to find a place to make myself less attractive to the static. Change the odds, as it were.

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