Okay so I was a sci-fi geek and when asked to think of a number between 1 and 100 I would probably say 42. I was watching two different demo vids for the Super Sharpie and in both two different spectators said 42. Now I figured the significance of 42 was mostly appreciated by a certain generation of Sci-Fi buffs from generation X but come to think of it the Hitch-hiker's Guide was probably a 10-15 year old book when I read it. So my question is, has it's popularity continued and if so does it show up in "think of a number" effects more often than chance? If it does has anyone here been able to capitalize on it or, conversely, has it hindered any one's performance?

just curious....

I think it's just coincidence. It's possible that if people are asked to think of a favourite number, it would be likelier for it to crop up if you are performing for a sci-fi fan.

I have some hypotheses on what people tend to pick when asked to think of a random number, and discouraged from picking a favourite number: numbers with few factors, or that have a 3 or a 7 in them. I don't have any evidence to back that up, but that's the feeling I get. As hinted at in the next paragraph, the probabilities of one of these criteria being fulfilled by a true random number generator is quite high (higher than you'd expect) but I still think that the chances of them being picked are even higher with people.

This would lead to some interesting cold reading possibilities if you ask someone to think of a number but you don't know what it is (and they're not trying to catch you out): regarding numbers between 1 and 100, 25 of them are prime, so that would be a good first guess. Failing that, you could fall back to "a few prime factors": an additional 35 numbers are the product of only two prime numbers, for example, so that's a 60% chance of success when I imagine people thinking it's a lot lower than that.

There are 20 numbers that end in a 3 or a 7, and 38 numbers that contain one of these.

I also think people try to avoid repeating digits.

Interestingly, my favourite "random" two-digit number is 43, which is not only prime but has a 3 in it. It is also, by pure coincidence, the number Randall Munroe used in his xkcd comic about human random numbers. And it's close to 42.


You can do a lot better than 1% if you start keeping track of the patterns in what numbers people pick.

(Not tipping as this is common form)

I haven't seen the videos but the 1% is irrelevant, if you do not see what goes on before the camera rolls, you can't be sure they wasn't forced a number via number cards or Svengali and then toled when the camera rolls that is their number and when I say think of a number from 1-100 just think of the number card you stopped on.

hide cards in pocket roll camera, 'Ok we have not met before today? (NO) you wont lie for me (NO) and you most definitely are not a stooge? (NO) can I ask you your name (its Suzanne)

right Suzanne I would like you to get a number from 1-100 in your mind, make the number bold and bright take a few seconds to bring it force and nod when you have,

blah blah I think you can figure the rest yourself and they will be amazed as they believe you guessed the number they looked at on the card (so no need to fake a reaction)

I just cant see why a film crew would waste time when they can do the above

Good points. I doubt he was doing a number force since he was demo-ing essentially a boon writer but it is always possible that he is a fan of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and he thought it would be funny to have a friend say "42" as his own in joke....I'd do something like that Oh well....Still need to figure out how to use my towell for mind reading....works for everything else!

I haven't seen the video, didn't know it was a boon writer

how is everyone?

Doing great. Just performed a revealation in which I tried out Banechek's "Letter In a Word" ploy. Totally blew them away! It was awsome!

Oh and here is a link to that Sharpie...Looks like an interesting gadget but $40.00 is a bit steep for a Boon....even if it is a sharpie tip!
http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/853

I wouldn't use it, they have been out a while I had an original that just sits in my box

Thanks for the heads up. I almost bit...then I realized that with my wallet organized as I have I can structure a routine that allows me to do a more impressive number prediction without the need for a boon. I really think I need to play with that thing for another year so I can "discover" all the features it has before I try to release it.

Patience is the key