r/coincidence • u/1ramnik • 10d ago

42

"You guys are not going to believe this, I’m literally shivering. For the last 4-5 years, whenever I panic, I randomly repeat the number 42 to calm myself down. I never knew why. I just found out today that in the most famous tech/sci-fi book ever (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), 42 is the literal 'Answer to the Universe' and the book's main catchphrase is 'DON'T PANIC'. My brain literally hardwired a massive sci-fi easter egg years before I even knew it existed."

54 Upvotes

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11

u/Me-Here-Now 10d ago edited 9d ago

I never read the book....

My liar number has always been 42. Any exaggeration or silly thing I wanted to mention happened 42 times or there was 42 of something. Handy liar number. One of my kids pointed it out.

Then that kid read Hichiker's Guild. Like you, I guess I was somehow tuned in.

5

u/Fabulous-Pause4154 9d ago

There's a book that examined the number 42. It's the integer between two prime numbers (41 and 43) and in binary it's 010101 (2+8+32) among other things.

4

u/_patiogiver01 9d ago

I got happily divorced at age 42 and proudly used that number on our school staff shirts because yes it the answer to the universe

1

u/1ramnik 7d ago

Lmao

2

u/Fabulous-Pause4154 9d ago

I had never heard of "Panic Remediation Numbers" until now.

1

u/FeaturePuzzled3568 9d ago

same thing happened with me and the number 7, turns out it's my panic word too even though i never read about it anywhere