Have you ever used a random number generator?

[bean2k21]

Yes and I got a 5

Yes and I got a 10

Yes and I got a 6

Yes and I got some other number

No

[Anonymous]

I wrote a true random sample selector using a pseudo random number generator. I could not find a true random number generator that used computer technology, which is I why I invented the random sample selector. I found some very strange patterns in the various pseudo random number functions while doing this, and I ended up utilizing modules which are generally used for cryptography.

I wrote the program in python, and I have not shared it with the general public, but it was confirmed as logical by my college's CS department chair.

[bean2k21]

Software by design is deterministic, which is why you had an issue generating a truly random number. Usually there's is a "seed" value that must be changed each time you call the random function. I would be surprised if Python doesn't have one, but I primary use Java. Why are you anonymous? Are you random?

[Opinion Owner]

None of the underlying algorithms I encountered were truly random, even those that used random processes, as once the environmental factors were known, the randomness was compromised. Over time, I ran into the leaning towards higher numbers and even number bias this guy talks about as well: engineering.mit.edu/.../

The problem was that I wanted a random way to generate numbers on a massive scale --numbers with billions of digits-- and high accuracy --numbers with 1000 digit accuracy. My remedy was to create finite sets, and operate a very complex pseudo random number generator, ie. those which require a seed and are accepted for use in cryptography, inside of an algorithm to populate the sets in random ways.

I literally wanted the most absolutely random set to be produced, which became my sample selection process.

[Opinion Owner]

I initially wrote the project in C++, then I used F#, but I ended up using Python because it was the quickest language I could use to produce a flexible GUI on a web server.

I'm anon because you sometimes frighten me.

[bean2k21]

I apologize, because you seem like an interesting person. If I frighten people, it's because I'm testing a theory of some sort. Testing people, algorithms, etc. I'm more interested in how this site works than the people. If you are who I think you are, my theory is that you have mastered influencing online behavior in a way that I find incredibly intriguing.

[bean2k21]

Atmospheric noise would be really interesting and fun, though. I wonder if you could grab a random pixel from a web cam in a crowded place: www.surfchex.com/.../

[bean2k21]

How do I frighten you by the way? Did I make a necrophilia joke? When I came on the site, my girlfriend had just died, and I was making a joke with myself, like "What if I pretended to be asking questions about dead girls?" LOL. Not funny at all looking back on it.

[Opinion Owner]

I love the random pixel from a pic/vid idea.

I'm fine with your humor, you just said some hurtful things to me. It was not a critique of my morals or knowledge, just words meant to belittle me and negatively effect my self image. I'm not going to go further into it, but you actually hurt my feelings, and I don't have the time to figure that kind of thing out.

I really wanted to have this kind of interaction with you, and this is the best way I can foresee achieving that.

[bean2k21]

I'm sorry. There's just so many trolls, it's hard to know who's who or when to be real on this site. I'm sure that in real life I would respect you greatly.

[Anonymous]

[TheMajesticKing777]

If you are talking about those apps that create a fake phone number that hides your real number then yea

[exitseven]

I have a app that will do that. I used it in teaching my CS course.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[AviatorTom]

I spent much of my career programming computers, and very often a random number generator was used to make decisions in the software, where there wasn't enough information to make a black-and-white decision.

[Guy__]

It probably had many digits.