Bad luck people...
Discussion
Some people just seem to be s
t magnets. Fortunately I'm not one, but I know two people
- friends of friends for whom bad stuff just happens.
In the last few months
One person has had a teenage child take their own life with no previous clues there was a problem. (with all the grief and anguish that entails) Their car stolen and wrecked, an accident that injured them and this week emergency surgery. Before their son died, they were the victim of hacking, and internet fraud.
Another, had her marriage break down. Her child diagnosed with a curable illness which will need lots of operations and aftercare. She got a new home, post divorce which would suit her daughter's recovery needs (a bungalow I'm guessing) and the place caught fire.
Circumstances can put you more at risk of bad luck. Things like losing your job, meaning you move to a less secure area where you're more likely to have bad things happen, taking to drink or drugs with the associated pitfalls.
Neither of the cases above have situations like that. Indeed, the person who lost their son comes from a caring stable comfortable background. The other person I don't knew well.
So is it purely bad luck?
t magnets. Fortunately I'm not one, but I know two people - friends of friends for whom bad stuff just happens.
In the last few months
One person has had a teenage child take their own life with no previous clues there was a problem. (with all the grief and anguish that entails) Their car stolen and wrecked, an accident that injured them and this week emergency surgery. Before their son died, they were the victim of hacking, and internet fraud.
Another, had her marriage break down. Her child diagnosed with a curable illness which will need lots of operations and aftercare. She got a new home, post divorce which would suit her daughter's recovery needs (a bungalow I'm guessing) and the place caught fire.
Circumstances can put you more at risk of bad luck. Things like losing your job, meaning you move to a less secure area where you're more likely to have bad things happen, taking to drink or drugs with the associated pitfalls.
Neither of the cases above have situations like that. Indeed, the person who lost their son comes from a caring stable comfortable background. The other person I don't knew well.
So is it purely bad luck?
I don't know of any personally, but I'd imagine one thing leads to another like a domino effect and it just snowballs out of control for some people. I appreciate something like a suicide in the family could make someone adopt a "what's the point of caring" mindset and go off the rails.
There’s no such thing as luck, either good or bad. Just things that happen. Sometimes a good thing can happen that actually ends up bad (eg multi million pound lottery winner, life ends up ruined and sometimes suicide); and vice versa of course.
Having said that I wouldn’t fancy explaining my theory to the examples given in the OP, who have my utmost sympathy.
Having said that I wouldn’t fancy explaining my theory to the examples given in the OP, who have my utmost sympathy.
I find luck interesting.
Maybe it doesn't apply to everything, like the child in my original post getting I'll or the lad's suicide.
Luck in one sense is a case of changing circumstances for better or worse. If you read those circumstances, you may be able to change your luck.
You've never met Mr or miss Right. Your life is pretty solitary and you don't meet many people of the opposite sex. You join a club or a gym or a dating site and your chances of "getting lucky" increase.
Late at night you choose not to get a taxi home and walk. You get mugged. Had you taken a taxi the circumstances would make the chance of a mugging less likely. Is that luck or just risk taking?
I also buy into the domino effect. I don't think this is luck. There was a guy who lived in our town who went from bank manager to homeless in the space of a decsde. Drink and gambling were his downfall, but every slip down the ladder brought more bad fortune..
He was made redundant. Got a less secure job. That ended and he ended up as a pub manager . That's where drink got him. He was sacked for being drunk and invested his savings in a cab license. He bought a cheap taxi. It broke, he then got robbed, and so on. He ended up being left £50k. A change of "luck" but by that time he was a hopeless drunk mixing with other hopeless drunks. The cash went into drink and on horses. I last saw him a year or two ago he didn't look long for this world.
Then there are the chaotic people. You know the type. Head in the clouds, disorganised always late. They make their bad luck. Losing phones, bank cards car keys ect.
Maybe it doesn't apply to everything, like the child in my original post getting I'll or the lad's suicide.
Luck in one sense is a case of changing circumstances for better or worse. If you read those circumstances, you may be able to change your luck.
You've never met Mr or miss Right. Your life is pretty solitary and you don't meet many people of the opposite sex. You join a club or a gym or a dating site and your chances of "getting lucky" increase.
Late at night you choose not to get a taxi home and walk. You get mugged. Had you taken a taxi the circumstances would make the chance of a mugging less likely. Is that luck or just risk taking?
I also buy into the domino effect. I don't think this is luck. There was a guy who lived in our town who went from bank manager to homeless in the space of a decsde. Drink and gambling were his downfall, but every slip down the ladder brought more bad fortune..
He was made redundant. Got a less secure job. That ended and he ended up as a pub manager . That's where drink got him. He was sacked for being drunk and invested his savings in a cab license. He bought a cheap taxi. It broke, he then got robbed, and so on. He ended up being left £50k. A change of "luck" but by that time he was a hopeless drunk mixing with other hopeless drunks. The cash went into drink and on horses. I last saw him a year or two ago he didn't look long for this world.
Then there are the chaotic people. You know the type. Head in the clouds, disorganised always late. They make their bad luck. Losing phones, bank cards car keys ect.
I don’t seem to be as bad a st magnet as others but I don’t feel like I have any ups or wins to hold on to either, I feel like I just exist. I seem to try and try but nothing seems to go my way whereas others seem to just flow through life and get where they want to be or progress.
For example I managed to line up an interview for my dream job. Had a hotel booked , days off work etc then the kung flu turned up and cancelled the lot. Now the industry the job was in is being decimated and the government seems to want to kill it off completely.
It’s like being the awwwww bugger bloke from the fast show.
t magnet as others but I don’t feel like I have any ups or wins to hold on to either, I feel like I just exist. I seem to try and try but nothing seems to go my way whereas others seem to just flow through life and get where they want to be or progress.For example I managed to line up an interview for my dream job. Had a hotel booked , days off work etc then the kung flu turned up and cancelled the lot. Now the industry the job was in is being decimated and the government seems to want to kill it off completely.
It’s like being the awwwww bugger bloke from the fast show.
TheDrBrian said:
I don’t seem to be as bad a st magnet as others but I don’t feel like I have any ups or wins to hold on to either, I feel like I just exist. I seem to try and try but nothing seems to go my way whereas others seem to just flow through life and get where they want to be or progress.
For example I managed to line up an interview for my dream job. Had a hotel booked , days off work etc then the kung flu turned up and cancelled the lot. Now the industry the job was in is being decimated and the government seems to want to kill it off completely.
It’s like being the awwwww bugger bloke from the fast show.
OY! You're living my life, get off!!!t magnet as others but I don’t feel like I have any ups or wins to hold on to either, I feel like I just exist. I seem to try and try but nothing seems to go my way whereas others seem to just flow through life and get where they want to be or progress.For example I managed to line up an interview for my dream job. Had a hotel booked , days off work etc then the kung flu turned up and cancelled the lot. Now the industry the job was in is being decimated and the government seems to want to kill it off completely.
It’s like being the awwwww bugger bloke from the fast show.
I know of a guy who lost his wife to cancer who subsequently came out and then had his BF kill himself a few years down the line.
Very nice guy by all accounts and although I haven't personally seen him in some time I'm lead to believe he is doing fine and just gets on with life.
I suppose we all encounter tragic events in our life at some point, its just a matter of when or maybe you will be the first to depart in which case you will never know much about it.
Very nice guy by all accounts and although I haven't personally seen him in some time I'm lead to believe he is doing fine and just gets on with life.
I suppose we all encounter tragic events in our life at some point, its just a matter of when or maybe you will be the first to depart in which case you will never know much about it.
A mate of mine had the engine blow on his VW Camper van at a music festival. The AA flatbed that picked him up also had engine failure while they were on their way home.
Previous to that the two of us went on a two week business trip to the US. A week at our HQ in Cincinnati then a week in Detroit.
First week went ok but on the last day we left the canteen on the third floor got into a lift to leave for the airport. Lift got stuck. We were released in time for the plane though. The weekend in between we went to Chicago to see another mate of mine. Flight there ok. Flight back to Cincinnati ok to catch a flight to Detroit.
Flight to detroit cancelled. Managed to get transferred to another an hour later. Got to Detroit - no bags. Bags arrived overnight. Week in Detroit ok. Then we got the flight tickets out for a flight back to Cincinnati to catch a flight to Gatwick. Our flight was scheduled to arrive at Cincinnati 1/2 before the Gatwick one was due to leave. Thanks due to the secretary. Flight was 1/2 late to Cincinnati andyes we missed our flight to Gatwick
Helpful person at the airport managed to find another flight home - via Chicago to Heathrow. We were told to just get home, and they would sort our baggage as it’s still in transit in the import somewhere. Flight to Chicago went ok. Then 3 hours later got on the flight to Heathrow. We sat at the back of a 767 in the 2 seats by the window. As we were settling in, an old woman with hippy clothes sat across the aisle from me. She started to annoy the gut in front by tapping his seat in time to the music she was playing. He asks here to stop. She starts arguing. Then I noticed that half her teeth were missing. The other half were in a bad state.
We thought nothing more of it other than sinking a few whiskies and logging out for the night. Which we did perfectly. Well until we were awoken by the captain. We’re diverting to Shannon because of an on-board incident overnight. Strange woman opposite has gone too. Hangover was in full swing as we touched down in Shannon with full emergency attendance.
The plane parked up away from the terminal, and the police boarded to remove the strange woman who was now handcuffed a bit further up the plane. Paramedics then removed three or four flight attendants. Breakfast was served. Head was banging now. Captain then came on and explained what was happening.
Said woman was under a blanket picking her teeth and numbing them with a spray. The seatbelt sign came on (I’m out of it by the way
). A flight attendant moved strange woman’s blanket to check her belt. That startled her and she sprayed the attendant. Attendant was knocked out in the aisle right next to me. Another attendant rushed up. She got sprayed too which knocked her out too. A third attendant rocked up. She got sprayed, but also managed to overpower the woman. She was taken up front and cuffed. Captain then explained that due to this spray in the cabin, he was unsure if he was safe to fly. Hence the divert. Off he then went to get advice from his HQ.
He came back a couple of hours later with no news yet. If the news that he could still fly didn’t arrive soon, then they would be out of hours and another crew would have to be shipped in. Hangover is now a belter. News arrived, and we took off for Heathrow hours after arriving in Shannon. Got to Heathrow and caught a bus to Gatwick to get our car minus our bags as we were told to not bother with them. Got home to be told that Heathrow had called to ask why we hadn’t picked our bags up. Arrrtggghh!
So next day we’re went to Heathrow to get the bags. That’s when we found out the flight we were on had made front page news.
Needless to say, I didn’t travel with that mate again.
Previous to that the two of us went on a two week business trip to the US. A week at our HQ in Cincinnati then a week in Detroit.
First week went ok but on the last day we left the canteen on the third floor got into a lift to leave for the airport. Lift got stuck. We were released in time for the plane though. The weekend in between we went to Chicago to see another mate of mine. Flight there ok. Flight back to Cincinnati ok to catch a flight to Detroit.
Flight to detroit cancelled. Managed to get transferred to another an hour later. Got to Detroit - no bags. Bags arrived overnight. Week in Detroit ok. Then we got the flight tickets out for a flight back to Cincinnati to catch a flight to Gatwick. Our flight was scheduled to arrive at Cincinnati 1/2 before the Gatwick one was due to leave. Thanks due to the secretary. Flight was 1/2 late to Cincinnati andyes we missed our flight to Gatwick
Helpful person at the airport managed to find another flight home - via Chicago to Heathrow. We were told to just get home, and they would sort our baggage as it’s still in transit in the import somewhere. Flight to Chicago went ok. Then 3 hours later got on the flight to Heathrow. We sat at the back of a 767 in the 2 seats by the window. As we were settling in, an old woman with hippy clothes sat across the aisle from me. She started to annoy the gut in front by tapping his seat in time to the music she was playing. He asks here to stop. She starts arguing. Then I noticed that half her teeth were missing. The other half were in a bad state.
We thought nothing more of it other than sinking a few whiskies and logging out for the night. Which we did perfectly. Well until we were awoken by the captain. We’re diverting to Shannon because of an on-board incident overnight. Strange woman opposite has gone too. Hangover was in full swing as we touched down in Shannon with full emergency attendance.
The plane parked up away from the terminal, and the police boarded to remove the strange woman who was now handcuffed a bit further up the plane. Paramedics then removed three or four flight attendants. Breakfast was served. Head was banging now. Captain then came on and explained what was happening.
Said woman was under a blanket picking her teeth and numbing them with a spray. The seatbelt sign came on (I’m out of it by the way
). A flight attendant moved strange woman’s blanket to check her belt. That startled her and she sprayed the attendant. Attendant was knocked out in the aisle right next to me. Another attendant rushed up. She got sprayed too which knocked her out too. A third attendant rocked up. She got sprayed, but also managed to overpower the woman. She was taken up front and cuffed. Captain then explained that due to this spray in the cabin, he was unsure if he was safe to fly. Hence the divert. Off he then went to get advice from his HQ. He came back a couple of hours later with no news yet. If the news that he could still fly didn’t arrive soon, then they would be out of hours and another crew would have to be shipped in. Hangover is now a belter. News arrived, and we took off for Heathrow hours after arriving in Shannon. Got to Heathrow and caught a bus to Gatwick to get our car minus our bags as we were told to not bother with them. Got home to be told that Heathrow had called to ask why we hadn’t picked our bags up. Arrrtggghh!
So next day we’re went to Heathrow to get the bags. That’s when we found out the flight we were on had made front page news.
Needless to say, I didn’t travel with that mate again.
One could posit the theory that the two examples the OP gives are also examples of normal or good luck.
Those people found a loving soulmate, a partner willing to have the sex thing without money being involved,
then after having lots the sex thing having the beautiful and uplifting experience of bringing the fruit of their loins into the world.
Millions of people have never experienced that amount of good fortune.
Those people found a loving soulmate, a partner willing to have the sex thing without money being involved,
then after having lots the sex thing having the beautiful and uplifting experience of bringing the fruit of their loins into the world.
Millions of people have never experienced that amount of good fortune.
I have a mate who does seem to often get given the sh!tty end of the stick in life. However, he has done well for himself financially and always seems happy, despite what life has thrown at him. One of the nicest chaps that one could ever meet and not the slightest bit bitter or negative.
So far:
So far:
- He was abandoned and adopted as a child
- His first child was born severely handicapped
- Told that this was a million to one occurrence and it was safe to have another child. Second child even more handicapped and only lives a few days
- Lovely wife dies of lung cancer (not a smoker, totally healthy otherwise)
- Gets cancer himself just before his second marriage
- Has to cancel wedding to enter aggressive chemo
- Second wife divorces him
Roofless Toothless said:
Could be that the "lucky" people are just the ones the st hasn't happened to yet.
Yup. I know someone who has lead a fairly luckily life. Things just always seem to go right on a daily basis. Seat upgrades on planes, getting offered great jobs out of the blue etc. I've known the guy for 40 years and good things just happen to him all the time.t hasn't happened to yet.A business deal which would have set him up for life has just fallen through, and he is now out of work as we head into a recession.
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