The waiting time paradox: why is my bus always late? (2018)

It's not just that the bus is always late, it's also that when you are late yourself, the bus is always on time and just leaving.

When I first started going into the office regularly back in February, I would stop in a 7-Eleven a block away from my “L” stop on my way in.¹ Every day for the first couple of weeks, I would watch the train leaving the stop right when I walked out of 7-Eleven, regardless of when I left my apartment.

My solution has been to stop looking at the station when I leave 7-Eleven.

⸻

1. I still do.

Same energy as ``Doctor, it hurts when I raise my arm.''

``Then stop raising your arm.''

My favorite version:

A patient comes into a doctors office complaining of pain all over. The patient grabs their elbow and says: "It hurts when I touch my elbow like this." They then grabs onto their shin and says "When I grab my shin like this, it starts hurting too!" Finally, they massage their forehead and say "It even hurts when I rub my head! Doctor what's wrong with me!?"

The doctor runs a few tests and replies: "Your finger is broken."

My favorite doctor joke, semi related:

Patient: Doctor will I be able to play piano after the procedure?

Doctor: Yes, I don't see why not.

Patient: That's wonderful! I could never play piano before!