The Loser's Guide To Getting Lucky

BBC ^ | 12-26-2003 | Professor Richard Wiseman

[Lazamataz]

I think there is real luck, not just noticing opportunities.

Whenever I go to a party with a door prize, I invariably win it. I've gotten more frozen turkeys, screwdriver sets, and even expensive software packages then anyone else in history.

[GOPJ]

Great story. Thanks for sharing:

Senior year Comp. Science class written final exam. Teacher says "read the directions completely before begining the test." He says again, "read the directions completely before begining the test." He talks some more and answers some questions, then for a third time he says "read the directions completely before begining the test."

Now the third time he said it really got my attention. So read the directions and sure enough the last line in there said, "Do not answer any of the test questions. Write your name and date on the test, bring it to my desk and don't say anything. Then get your books and go to the library and study for your other tests. If you answer any questions on the test you will be given a zero for a score.Poor saps.

[Lazamataz]

Getting lucky with a dog is pretty sick!

Yeah, but you should see her sister.

[GOPJ]

Great story. Thanks for sharing:

Senior year Comp. Science class written final exam. Teacher says "read the directions completely before beginning the test." He says again, "read the directions completely before beginning the test." He talks some more and answers some questions, then for a third time he says "read the directions completely before beginning the test."

Now the third time he said it really got my attention. So read the directions and sure enough the last line in there said, "Do not answer any of the test questions. Write your name and date on the test, bring it to my desk and don't say anything. Then get your books and go to the library and study for your other tests. If you answer any questions on the test you will be given a zero for a score.Poor saps.

[WKB]

This is bogus from the start because there is no such thing as luck

[AdA$tra]

Perhaps, but the self fullfulling prophecy thing is sure true. I don't ruin my own day.

[Prodigal Son]

I don't know about that. I have met some incredibly lucky people in my life. One Irish fellow in particular, he owned a pub in Germany. I used to play him at Backgammon quite a lot. Never saw someone who could roll so many double 6's in my entire life. Seemed to be able to do it at will. I've met a lot of 9 ball players who were quite good skills-wise but who seemed to rely on luck more than their skill. Lost lots of money to these types of fellows. Also, don't play Irish people at games of chance in Ireland if you're not Irish ;-)

[WKB]

You can insert Blessed for lucky EVERYTIME it never fails

Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
Acts 17:25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else
Acts 17:26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined. the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
Acts 17:27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
Acts 17:28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’

[Protagoras]

I have always thought that a lot of it was a matter of perception on the part of the recipient.

For instance, a medical test that brings a diagnosis of cancer or heart disease can be perceived by the person either way.

[pabianice]

LOST!

7-yr-old male cat. Neutered. Missing right ear and left hind leg. Blind in left eye. Nose bitten-off in fight. Epileptic, has degenerative nerve desease and feline AIDS. Answers to name "Lucky."

[John Lenin]

The harder I work the luckier I get.

[Paulus Invictus]

I have been supremely lucky at several moments in my life as there were numerous instances when luck or extraordinary coincidences intervened when they were needed.

I was once dead last in one of those very long lines in the service when the troops were being interviewed for a new service job in Japan. As the line moved slowly towards a building where the job interwiews were held, the guys got more and more aprehensive, and for a good reason. Out of the office came each guy looking very unhappy as they were all bound for Hokkaido and nothing jobs.

I finally got to the office, walked in and found a captain there with my papers in his hand. He smiled and said,"hey, this is a coincidence, we have the same last name and are both from Los Angeles. You don't want to follow these other guys to Hokkaido do you?" Naturally, I said no. Then he told me he had one job left at the Air base and it was mine if I wanted it. I shouted YES and jumped for joy.

Another great piece of luck then occurred-- that new job at that base also changed my life as it was there that I discovered the company where I wanted to work after I got out of the service. It worked, I got the job, based upon the experience I gained while in the job I had in Japan. Is that luck, or what?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Or as we say at this company,

"Thirty minutes of sucking a$$ is worth two years of college education and 10 years of on the job training.

[Centurion2000]

This is bogus from the start because there is no such thing as luck

Don't tell Murphy .. he gets revenge in creative ways.

[Centurion2000]

bump

[EggsAckley]

She's a bunch of terriers-mix. Lovely doggie. Love of my life!

[pizzalady]

Your post brought back memories from 45 years ago.

In Junior High, mid term, we were assembled for a test with the same instruction. I believe there were only two of us who actually read the whole test before answering a question.

We were excused for the remainder of the day, while the rest of the class had to listen to a lecture on the importance of following directions.

Thanks for sharing.

[MaeWest]

and her she is ! !

What a sweetie. But, cough, are you sure that's a "she"??

[Prodigal Son]

You can insert Blessed for lucky EVERYTIME it never fails

For those that believe- sure. Whatever works out for you. It's hard for me to imagine God giving a guy a lucky hand at the craps table though ;-)

[EggsAckley]

Heheheh! Yes, she's a she. It's her odd markings playing a visual trick on you. LOL!