How the h**l do "They" figure the odds of a person getting struck by lightning?

Question

You always hear, like about the lottery, "well listen pal you've got a better chance of getting struck by lightning three times in one day than winning the lottery" but there is an actual statistic, how do they come up with that number? Based on incidents?

Surely your odds increase if you're running around outside in a thunderstorm with a pocket full of change and an aluminum foil hat. 8 people got struck in the last storm around here, that sounds like pretty good odds to me!

Answer 1

I think the "chances of being struck by lightening" refers to the number of people actually struck vs the number of people in the world.  It has nothing to do with the chances with variables.   If ten people stand in the middle of an open area holding on to tall metal poles, of course they are increasing their chances.  Or, if lightening is about to strike a person on a beach, the chances are greatest for those in that vicinity.

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