50/50 chance, wrong every time

[MuirWannabe]

I’ve got at least a couple examples of things that seem like they offer a 50/50 chance of getting right, but nevertheless, every time I get it wrong.

First example is throwing on a pullover shirt/t-shirt. If I’m too lazy to look beforehand, you’d still think 50% of the time I’d accidentally get it on the right way. Nope, never happens.

Second example is plugging in my USB cord into a plug. You’d think 50% of the time I’d have it turned the correct way to plug it in. Again, nope. Never happens, always have to flip it over and try again.

Other examples? Am I wrong in some way? Maybe it’s a mirage that it’s really a 50/50 chance. We all know numbers is hard.

 

[pb4uski]

We have USB-C plugs on our phones and I get them right 100% of the time.

 

[Dtail]

I find with my DB, that when there is this 50% chance of right/wrong, his wrong % is way above 50%.

 

[Aerides]

We have USB-C plugs on our phones and I get them right 100% of the time.

Hah, when I first got one of those with my latest phone, I didn't know the difference, and was thinking "hey I'm on a roll lately I always get it right!" before I found it...

 

[DanP]

Rule of thumb is that the older square USB plugs usually only go in on the third try.

 

[MuirWannabe]

Rule of thumb is that the older square USB plugs usually only go in on the third try.

Ha. I think this is actually true for me.

 

[NYEXPAT]

I find that 60% of the time, I am 100% right!

 

[RunningBum]

On the older USB plugs, I took a paint marker to all of them to make one side of the cable and the side of the device where it goes. I was way under 50/50 also, because they are hard to fit to begin with, so when it doesn't go, you flip it and try the other way, and that might not go either, so it becomes 3 or 4 tries to get it right.

 

[Walt34]

Didn't a guy named Murphy create a rule of thumb for this phenomenon?

 

[jimbee]

I find that 60% of the time, I am 100% right!

There are studies...

 

[MuirWannabe]

There are studies...

Boy, that escalated quickly

 

[JP.mpls]

Muir,
I swear if I need a Phillips screwdriver, the first one I pick up out of my screwdriver drawer on my toolbox is a standard, and Visa versa.
I'm almost comforted by this now.
Of course I could organize the drawer better, but what fun is that?
JP

 

[clobber]

On the older USB plugs, I took a paint marker to all of them to make one side of the cable and the side of the device where it goes. I was way under 50/50 also, because they are hard to fit to begin with, so when it doesn't go, you flip it and try the other way, and that might not go either, so it becomes 3 or 4 tries to get it right.

This is actually already done. The USB symbol is typically printed on one side of the connector. That side goes up.

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

 

[RunningBum]

This is actually already done. The USB symbol is typically printed on one side of the connector. That side goes up.

Typically, and hard for me to see most times. And then you have to know which way the device you're plugging it into needs it.

 

[skipro33]

Garden hose sprayers. You know, the kind that has a trigger, looks like a pistol. Every single time I drop one, it hits the trigger and....
every single time, it sprays me directly in the face.

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN!!??

 

[MuirWannabe]

Garden hose sprayers. You know, the kind that has a trigger, looks like a pistol. Every single time I drop one, it hits the trigger and....
every single time, it sprays me directly in the face.

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN!!??

Yes, that does seem to happen. And it seems like the odds should even be worse than 50/50 for that occurrence.

 

[Koolau]

I agree. Same problem with T-shirts and USB plug ins. I think it's because I'm a glass half empty person but YMMV.

 

[DrRoy]

I heard a report yesterday that people hearing a news story were upset that half of schools are worse than average.

 

[pb4uski]

Garden hose sprayers. You know, the kind that has a trigger, looks like a pistol. Every single time I drop one, it hits the trigger and....
every single time, it sprays me directly in the face.

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN!!??

I dunno, but DW is even better, not only does it hit the trigger and spray her in the face, but it also breaks trigger or the housing.

 

[Time2]

On the older USB plugs, I took a paint marker to all of them to make one side of the cable and the side of the device where it goes. I was way under 50/50 also, because they are hard to fit to begin with, so when it doesn't go, you flip it and try the other way, and that might not go either, so it becomes 3 or 4 tries to get it right.

All my USB devices are marked with White Out. Example I have dot on my bluetooth earbuds and one on its USB charger, I just line up the dots.

It could be perfect, if I had glow in the dark White Out.

 

[DayDreaming]

I think we just remember the 'wrongs' more than the 'rights'. When you do something right, you just go on to the next thing and forget about it.

 

[John Galt III]

Standard electrical connector 'plug' on the end of a wire that you plug into the wall socket. Always wrong the first time. (One prong bigger than the other one) But even if you switch it around at the last second, it is still wrong. Just accept it.

 

[clobber]

Typically, and hard for me to see most times. And then you have to know which way the device you're plugging it into needs it.

I still say typically, but the symbol is usually etched and you can feel it - no need to rely on you're eyesight.

Also typically, it should point up.

 

[pjigar]

Back to OP's question: What you experience is really a perception due to evolutionary reasons.

https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20070829/bad-memories-easier-to-remember

For survival: Remembering where/when you got in trouble is far more important (so you don't repeat it) vs when everything worked out.