is there such a thing as coincidence?
2007-01-29 03:02:02 · 18 answers · asked by lambert 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The chance is only as good as if they are thinking the same thing as you. Then you will both be in the same place you were 20 years ago.
2007-01-29 03:06:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I've actually considered such questions before.
It would depend on individual circumstances to a large extent - if they've moved abroad the chance is going to be astronomically small.
If its a small town and you're standing in the city centre, on the weekend, the chance could be as high as say 1 in a 10 depending on how often they shop.
Not sure what you mean by is there such a thing as coincidence? Of course there is, its just probability theory.
*When we say its a coincidence we're not saying its fate, we just mean the random probabilities have presented us with something familar, and if probability is random this is bound to happen from time to time. I'd believe in fate if there were no such thing as coincidence - get your head around that one!*
2007-01-29 11:05:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Depends on a lot of factors such as:
1) Proximity to the persons home/ place of work
2) Time of year (if its a public holiday you're likely to be shopping in the same area for example)
3) How observant you are
4) Whether you've arranged to meet them there
and many many other factors.
Yes there is such a thing as coincidence and, despite appearances, there is no such thing as fate.
2007-01-29 11:16:34 · answer #3 · answered by Edit_Cat 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe every person we meet we do so for a reason, it is an exchange of information, we don't always know what that reason might be but sometimes as the years pass it can become apparent.
If you are talking about returning to a spot you stood in to meet a certain person 20 years ago. I would think the answer would be 98% possible if you arranged with them before hand and 100 to 1 against it happening if you had not arranged to meet them.
If the latter and providing you are not stalking the person, I think it would be an oman and should not be ignored, especially if you had not had any contact with them or their family during the 20 years that had passed.
2007-01-29 11:12:28 · answer #4 · answered by Jewel 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If they'd been standing there for 20 years, i'd think they were a bit sad. A coincidence is just a word to describe something happening that you wouldn't think was that likely, it is a coincidence thats the word to describe that situation. It wasn't fate!
2007-01-29 11:09:20 · answer #5 · answered by agius1520 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
For most the odds against are too much. I'm not a grat believer in coincidence. Mostly is probably something contrived masked as a coincidence.
2007-01-29 11:08:27 · answer #6 · answered by Barbara Doll to you 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can work it out. Given there are 7 billion people in the world I would say the chances approach 1 for someone out there.
Check out the PETWHAC theory, it was either Dawkins or Sagan.
2007-01-29 11:06:37 · answer #7 · answered by fourmorebeers 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
of course there is such a thing as cooincidence. Its making more out of it than you should thats the problem.
2007-01-29 11:05:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well I guess it could happen....my Aunties been sat in the same chair for 20 years in the same spot!!
2007-01-29 11:06:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, coincidence.
2007-01-29 11:05:17 · answer #10 · answered by Cold Fart 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋