What is the hangman paradox?

 It’s one of my favorite paradoxes.

A man is sentenced to death.

The judge says, “You will be executed the following week between Monday and Friday. It will be a surprise to you.”

The condemned man goes back to his cell and thinks about what the judge said.

He deduces that if he isn’t executed by end of day Thursday, he won’t be executed on Friday, because it would no longer be a surprise to him.

He then realizes, “If they haven’t executed me by end of day Wednesday, it can’t happen on a Thursday either, because Friday is already not possible. And with no other options, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they executed me on Thursday either.”

He works back from this line of reasoning, and concludes that he won’t actually be executed the following week.

Then, he’s shocked when the executioner knocks on his door on Wednesday at noon.

And because he was surprised, the judge was still proven correct.

Like many paradoxes, it’s a word game.

The prisoner didn’t realize that, no matter how much he plays games with semantics, or how much he convinces himself it won’t happen—he will be executed the following week.

It’s akin to convincing yourself you can win a random-chance game of slot machines because you are smart.

A wealthy man walked into a bar in Miami.

 A wealthy man walked into a bar in Miami.

As soon as he walked in, he noticed an African (Black) woman sitting in the corner, went to the bar, grabbed his wallet, and yelled, "Bartender! I buy drinks for everyone in this bar except for that Black woman over there!"

The bartender collected the money and began serving free drinks to everyone at the bar except the African woman.

Instead of getting upset, the black woman just looked at the guy and yelled, "Thank you."

This angered the rich man. So again, he took out his wallet and shouted, "Boy!

This time I'm buying extra bottles of wine and food for everyone in this bar except for that African woman sitting in the corner!"

The waiter collected the man's money and began serving free food and wine to everyone at the bar except the African woman.

When the waiter came to serve the food and drinks, the African woman simply smiled at the man and said, "Thank you!" Which infuriated him.

So he leaned over the counter and asked the bartender, "What's wrong with this black woman... I've bought food and alcohol for everyone in this bar except for her, and instead of being mad, she sits there, smiles at me, and yells, "Thank you!"

Is she crazy?" The bartender smiled at the rich man and said, "No, she's not crazy. She owns this place."

By wanting to harm our neighbor, we often end up doing them good, without knowing it. May your enemies work in your favor without realizing it... Amen