True vs Pseudo-Randomness

The cluster revolves around debates distinguishing true randomness from pseudo-randomness, with commenters correcting misconceptions about randomness in computing, generators, and statistical properties.

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#1485
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Keywords

RNG HN RN GenerateRandomBit NIST DIY ycombinator.com random randomness random number generator uniformly pseudo number hash numbers git

Sample Comments

mike741 May 16, 2023 View on HN

It's not random, its pseudo-random. Those are not the same thing.

kragen Feb 7, 2020 View on HN

No, it isn't random enough for that.

dylan604 Feb 3, 2022 View on HN

That's pretty psuedo random.

yolkedgeek Jun 1, 2024 View on HN

we should not be throwing the word "random" around so loosely. this is pseudo randomness. The fact that it is only pseudo random should be mentiond in the writing.

mewpmewp2 Sep 22, 2025 View on HN

Prove to me that it's not perfectly random.

SoftTalker Oct 13, 2024 View on HN

Randomness doesn't look random.

MagicMoonlight Jan 24, 2024 View on HN

Maybe we can’t pick random numbers because we’re just LLMs

hypertele-Xii Mar 30, 2022 View on HN

I wasn't aware randomness had behavior.

adrianN Nov 22, 2023 View on HN

So does a random number generator.

ok123456 Oct 18, 2022 View on HN

So does a random number generator.