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One factor that makes probability hard to understand on an intuitive level is that our human brains work against us to some extent. We have a natural tendency to look for patterns and to assume that patterns are meaningful even when they are random. Or aternatively to overlook meaningful patterns because they don't intuitively look like patterns.
Going back to the coin toss example, for instance, we might see a sequence of heads as a meaningful pattern. Sequences of heads thus "pop out" at us when reviewing a series of coin toss results. Any large sequence of heads intuitively seems unlikely and remarkable.
Meanwhile, we overlook patterns that are equally unlikely as any given sequence of heads. A sequence like H-H-T-H-H-T-T-T-H-T is equally likely as a sequence of ten heads in a row. But there's nothing about that first sequence that is easy for us to grasp, so we basically just ignore it, maybe file it away in the category of non-meaningful noise.
This is a failure of human perception. Our minds are constantly doing this to us, reinforcing some patterns, overlooking others.
In real life, that is our own personal lives, seemingly random events have occurred that have
resulted in profound changes to us. We see the events as random because we lack knowledge,
even though they aren't random.
I think that many events are random, and even with all the knowledge of the world it is not possible to predict them.
Of course, you can debate whether the random events are deterministic in the sense that one thing leads to another. But then you would need to take into account the butterfly effect. Even if there is a causality, complexity makes it impossible to take a deterministic view in practice, as the number of the different options to study will quickly exceed the number of atoms in the universe.
I agree that determining whether something is random requires a different perspective.
In my view, people are hard-wired to view the world as meaningful or purposeful, which makes it hard to judge what's random and what isn't. If event X happens, we might view that as a "sign"; we might believe that event X was meant to be, or be glad that event X happened because it took our lives in one particular direction rather than another.
The big question to me is whether we would feel exactly the same way if event Y had occurred instead of event X. The exact opposite of event X even. If event Y happens, our lives are diverted onto a completely different path, but I'd wager that this path will seem no less meaningful (i.e., non-random) than the path that would have been triggered by event X.
If this is true, then it means that our own perception of the meaningfulness of a particular event can't be trusted. The event might be random, or it might not be; we need a different metric outside our own perception to figure that out.
Actually, a sequence of 10 heads in a row is much less likely than the sequence you posted. It's very easy to calculate. On a simple coin toss example, the odds of 10 heads consecutively would be less than 1 percent (.00097), which would mean that over the course of several 10 series samples, you'd expect to see 10 consecutive same outcome strings about 1 out of 100 times (or once out of 1000 flips).
The first quoted post is correct. There is nothing special about heads. Assuming your calculation of .00097 to be correct (I haven't verified it), the odds of HHHHHHHHHH and the odds of HHTHHTTTHT (or any other specific sequence) are both .00097.
But how many times would you expect to see this exact sequence:
H-H-T-H-H-T-T-T-H-T
Consider that the sequence must occur precisely in the order posted.
I think you'll find that it's actually the exact same probability as 10 consecutive heads. In both cases, you need each flip to match the predetermined pattern precisely.
To think of it another way, the odds of successfully "calling" 10 tosses in a row are the same if you call heads each time, or if you vary your call between heads and tails. In either case, you're equally unlikely to get each call correct 10 times in a row.
I'd posit that the reason we tend to see the H-H-T-H-H-T-T-T-H-T sequence as more likely (even though it's not) is that we assign no particular "meaning" to H-H-T-H-H-T-T-T-H-T, which makes it harder for our brains to spot it.
Yes, I see your point. The odds of any string, specifically enumerated are the same, regardless of its makeup.
I took his point the wrong way, I thought he was saying the odds of 10 H's was the same as 5/5 randomly thrown about.
However, that's not nearly as useful as saying
Which is more likely to occur first....a sequence of 10 H's in a row, or a sequence with 5 H's and 5 T's? And that is my overall point...
If you were to draw a distribution diagram, you'd find on one end of the spectrum, all H's or T's and at the other end of the spectrum, Even H's and T's alternating perfectly. In the middle, you'd find an increasing probability or likelihood of sequences that are not evenly distributed, there's a whole bunch of permutations of 50/50 sequences for example....all distributed in some other sequence than all the heads first/tails second, or perfectly oscillating.
yes, I see your point and I agree. Any sequence that's specifically enumerated, has the same probability.
However, like I was trying to point out, that's not very useful. What IS more useful, is realizing the odds are much greater that you'll see 5H's/5T's in some random order before you'll see 10H's or 10T's in a row.
Furthermore, you'll see 5H's/5T's in some random jumbled, unevenly distributed order more often than you'll see a perfectly even H-T-H-T-H-T-H-T-H-T sequence.
When one talks of meaning, one is speaking in spiritual terms. I certainly have views on this subject.
If anyone believes they only are this body and there is nothing after death, then there is really no such
thing as meaning. If you survive an accident or die or anything in the middle it doesn't matter. Unpleasant
things that make us humble or more understanding are useless as well.