How come nobody generates an existing Private key

[yona]

So, maybe I am a missing something here but how come nobody generates an existing Private key [by chance/mistake] and gets access to an existing wallet?
i know it's a one in a zillion chance [or even less] but even so,
 does it not make it a little less safe?
and the more people use bitcoins and more wallets and keys they use, does this chance not grow?

[totaleclipseofthebank]

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Weaknesses#Generating_tons_of_addresses

[yona]

thanks for the quick reply totaleclipseofthebank
so can i gather a collision between keys [addresses] is possible but not probable?

[DannyHamilton]

thanks for the quick reply totaleclipseofthebank
so can i gather a collision between keys [addresses] is possible but not probable?

This depends on what you mean by "possible".  The human mind seems to have a difficult time understanding just how "big" really big numbers are.

Would you say it is "possible but not probable" that you will "be struck by lightning while taking a crap every year for 17 years in a row"?

[yona]

here is a post dealing with the question:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=104461.0
guess this has been discussed.
possible but extremely not probable...
 
guess i will sleep better now.

[DannyHamilton]

here is a post dealing with the question:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=104461.0

That would be a link to the exact same discussion I linked to already?

guess this has been discussed.

Yes. Many times in the past four years.

[blub]

99.99%

[DannyHamilton]

But what is the probability that it will be discussed again?

1 - x

Where x is the odds of a collision while generating truly random private keys.

[Peter Lambert]

But what is the probability that it will be discussed again?

1 - x

Where x is the odds of a collision while generating truly random private keys.

Beautiful response.