# A real paranormal poll... What number am I thinking of? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 11, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456 "2010-01-11T01:18:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/21 "2010-01-12T18:31:05Z")
It reminds me of the time a friend asked me to write down a sequence of ten digits while he would write down a prediction about it. Feeling contrary, I wrote 1111111111, while he predicted that I would not have two consecutive digits the same. Anyway, I chose 1 since I was trying for an incorrect prediction. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/22 "2010-01-12T18:34:54Z")
I thought of seven as the most commonly-chosen number, then chose a different one, because that’s just how I roll. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/23 "2010-01-12T18:53:18Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > Most people are really bad at picking a “random” number. So even though you said you’re thinking of a number between 1 and 10, it’s unlikely that you’re thinking of 1, 2, 5, 9, or 10, since people don’t tend to pick the extremes or right in the middle Except for a minority who pick 1 or 10 just to be contrary, if the curve I’m seeing is any indication. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/24 "2010-01-12T19:26:19Z")
You need a control. You should have got another Doper to open an identical poll but only one of you (and you do not say who) would have thought of a number. As soon as I saw the poll I knew that 7 would be the most chosen. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/25 "2010-01-12T19:59:58Z")
The premise of the test is fundamentally flawed. You can’t possibly spend the entire seven days thinking about your number and nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/26 "2010-01-12T20:18:08Z")
I just saw an ad for a fantastic four cartoon, sooooooo…4 ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/27 "2010-01-12T20:22:06Z")
I’m going with 8. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/28 "2010-01-12T20:24:39Z")
Please think louder – there are too many people thinking ‘7’ and it’s messing me up. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/29 "2010-01-12T23:48:04Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > Most people are really bad at picking a “random” number. So even though you said you’re thinking of a number between 1 and 10, it’s unlikely that you’re thinking of 1, 2, 5, 9, or 10, since people don’t tend to pick the extremes or right in the middle. > > That leaves 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 as likely choices. There is no “right in the middle” here. 5 and 6 are equally middlish. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/30 "2010-01-13T02:14:31Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Please think louder – there are too many people thinking ‘7’ and it’s messing me up. Hey, I’m already using that excuse! Find your own one to cover your ass with! ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/31 "2010-01-13T02:32:59Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Please think louder – there are too many people thinking ‘7’ and it’s messing me up. I’ll turn up my brainwave patterns to the maximum possible amplitude. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mojo\_Pin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mojo\_Pin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo_Pin)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/32 "2010-01-13T04:56:08Z")
As soon as I read the title I thought ‘62’, but then I saw the poll, so 6 it is. ---
**Author:** ![LunarPlexus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LunarPlexus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LunarPlexus)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/33 "2010-01-13T05:43:06Z")
> [@Dragwyr](#): > > I’ll turn up my brainwave patterns to the maximum possible amplitude. 😃 11? ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/34 "2010-01-15T02:43:29Z")
> [@LunarPlexus](#): > > 11? Uh… no. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/35 "2010-01-15T13:29:51Z")
8 is my psychic choice but I just had breakfast. So if it’s wrong, it’s because of something I ate. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/36 "2010-01-15T14:47:28Z")
I chose 7. ---
**Author:** ![LunarPlexus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LunarPlexus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LunarPlexus)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/37 "2010-01-15T15:29:41Z")
> [@Dragwyr](#): > > I’ll turn up my brainwave patterns to the maximum possible amplitude. 😃 > > > [@LunarPlexus](#): > > > > 11? > > > > > [@Dragwyr](#): > > > > > > Uh… no. Well, **my** brain goes to 11. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/38 "2010-01-15T23:24:44Z")
> [@LunarPlexus](#): > > Well, **my** brain goes to 11. Perhaps you are interpreting in binary what you think I may be sending in decimal? ---
**Author:** ![LunarPlexus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LunarPlexus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LunarPlexus)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/39 "2010-01-16T03:41:20Z")
> [@Dragwyr](#): > > Perhaps you are interpreting in binary what you think I may be sending in decimal? There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who recognize a Spinal Tap allusion, and those who don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456/40 "2010-01-17T18:15:07Z")
So… it’s the 17th. Well? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-paranormal-poll-what-number-am-i-thinking-of/524456.md?page=3)