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Politics : Just the Facts, Ma'am: A Compendium of Liberal Fiction -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jim S who wrote (53698)	11/20/2006 2:14:37 PM
From: jlallen	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 90947

You make your own luck....IMO.

To: Jim S who wrote (53698)	11/20/2006 2:52:23 PM
From: Solon	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 90947

The things we call good and bad "luck, Jim, are simply events and how we feel about them. Yes, drawing to an inside straight and making it is an improbable event--but it is governed strictly by percentages. The event is not lucky or unlucky. The guy drawing it considers it good. He/she will probably draw the conclusion that it was a lucky event. Of course, the person holding 3 aces will consider it an unlucky event. In reality, it occurs with exactly the probability that random chance would dictate. I am trying to make the distinction between how one feels about events which are governed strictly and only by percentages, and the belief many people hold that somehow an event received a "supernatural assist". This latter is the way that many people understand the concept of "luck". Casinos make billions of dollars, and they will be the first to tell you that their fortunes have absolutely nothing to do with being lucky even though they (of course) are happy to have things work out according to the inexorable laws of probability... And yes, Jim, I have no problem with feeling "lucky" when a meteorite goes through your window instead of mine! <g> But I know that it is simply the laws of physics interacting with circumstances. I am not such a purist that it bothers me when people look at past events and interpret the event by using the word" lucky" or "unlucky". I catch myself saying the words the odd time myself! <g>