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PaperclipPerfector  11d ago (text post)   1910 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for November 10, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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I hate how my brain works.

Alright Motte, here's your odd question for the day;

There's a term that I've apparently forgotten, that refers to the idea that 'a single random sample from a data set is likely neither unique nor uncommon'.

I first recall hearing the term and phrase when reading about arguments for the likelihood of life on other planets and solar systems, utilizing Earth as the lynchpin of said argument.

So... does anyone have any idea as to what term I've apparently forgotten?

Anthropic principle?

Or related terms like the self-indicating assumption.

Neither. I finally answered my own question after going down a long train of research involving statistical probability, Bayesian mathematics, the German Tank Problem, and finally found what the term it is that I was thinking of.

For the curious, it's the Mediocrity Principle. Which is pretty much the inverse of the Anthropic Principle.

Thanks for the help, though.

For what it's worth, ChatGPT gets this answer in one shot if you just paste your original comment into it.

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