I honestly believe in good and bad luck, but I also believe in karma good or bad I feel like the whole number 13 is a myth but you have to think about all of these movies talk about how bad it is on that exact same day, I think it also depends on how people see it and again were going back to society how it influences us to do and believe what they say or do. I personally don’t think of as bad thing but I am also very religious and I’ve heard so many stories and one or two that I’ve experienced, but it doesn’t mean that I believe what I hear to me if I don’t see it with my own eyes I think it’s fake. I can say luck is all around us, for example you go to Las Vegas and you gamble of course if people keep winning they’re going to think that they’re lucky and that the gods are next to them, me on the other hand I believe that thing happen for reason and all I have I to say is that if you work hard and keep trying your best to reach that goal you want, to me it’s not luck its hard work finally getting paid off. Like I previously mentioned I believe things happen for a reason and some might think it’s because of luck that they go where they’re at because of it, but we have to think outside the box and realized that things don’t just get handed to people like its call “working hard.”
I never understood why the number 13 was so bad that people wouldn't use it in their buildings. I believe in karma if you do something good for others it will come back around.
Hey, don't talk about Vegas :}. I go every year for the revenge, but I think it doesn't happen that way. I never come home with extra money. The good thing for me is that I see it as a game, and I know my limits. I feel bad for people that really believe they can win "this time"
Joaquin, I am also a firm believer that things happen for a reason, most of the time good things come to those who work hard and always keep a positive mindset, so I guess you can say luck is perhaps just an excuse for those who don't work as hard?
Growing up in a very traditional family, superstition and many unorthodox believes were planted to my brain. As a kid I believed everything my parents told. From credulous believes and supernatural human beings. As I grow as a person and experience things in life, many of this beliefs that my parents taught me isn't actually possible to happen. I strongly believe that the number 13 is just a myth. I mean I was born on the 13th day and I cant say that I have been through bad lucks throughout my life. I believe that bad luck is not possible but it is the choice that we choose in life that brings us this so called "bad-luck." I don't understand the reasoning behind the number 13 that is called a bad day, especially Friday the 13th. I mean my birthday this year was on a Friday the 13th, and I had the greatest time in my life. I choose the things that I did and had fun. Nothing bad happen to me because of all the decision that I made. This bad-luck or 13th day is just a myth, a total myth because there is no way to link an event or series of event to that "luck." There is no clear explanation why you are in a bad luck but through the decision that one made. Work hard, and sure "luck" will come.
The number thirteen is your lucky number instead of being considered bad luck. I think that people make up their luck based on their attitude about something or whatever they are doing.
John, I also grew up in a family where they believe in superstition, but I have learned that luck is a matter of hard work rather than something that just comes to us.
I certainly do believe in luck, but I believe one's luck is dependent on outside factors and variables. Be it good or bad, I feel one factor depends on one's heart and how the individual treats their fellow man, creatures, earth, etc. One’s view and philosophy life, religion, and other things also factors in, too, I believe. Was it bad luck that while I was playing/chasing after my dog I hyperextended my knee, which required a full reconstruction and 18 months of rehab? Though it was not good luck -by any means- I honestly thought I was lucky to an extent because of how much worse it could have been (glass is half full philosophy). Along with a few other "it could have been worse" occasions, it has prompted my girlfriend to say I have "the best bad luck" (lolol). Another instance was when I was backing out of my driveway and backed over a bucket and snapped my fuel line. It was a drag -no doubt-, but the crumpled bucket came within half an inch of damaging/crushing other components I had no idea what they were. The part was all of $8, w/labor was a $45 fix, and it could have been much worse, other than learning a lesson in being more careful. So, our luck, good or bad, is also how we choose to see it when it comes to certain circumstances. The number thirteen doesn’t bother me -other than rolling a 13 in craps-, though it’s associated with bad luck in Western Culture. The Egyptians consider thirteen a lucky number, and most of Asia avoids the number four. What the United States does with thirteen, much of East and Southeast Asia does with the number four because of “tetraphobia,” according to History.com, which I found pretty crazy. Besides, who’d pass up getting a baker’s dozen for the price of twelve? Not me.
You know Scot, I have a philosophy for life. When I have a problem or I'm dealing with a situation this is what I ask to myself: What could be a worst scenario? Once I figure it out, I'm thankful for not been on that situation. It helps me see things better. Thanks for your post.
Hi, Marisol. Yeah, I find that I have always been a 'make the best out of a bad situation' kind-of-guy. When I see someone beset with extreme hardship -I feel bad for the individual or course- I am grateful all the more for what I have as opposed to feeling bad for what I don't/can't have, and occasionally I'll tell myself "God doesn't give you what you want, but he gives you what you need".
I am definitely a firm believer in good and bad luck; growing up with my family's culture and believes I have learned how to be a superstitious person. I have heard all kinds of do's and don'ts in order to attract good luck and get rid of bad luck. One of my family's old time favorites is spilling salt. According to them it is completely bad luck to spill salt and when it happens one must throw salt over our shoulder to sort of reverse the bad luck I guess. Another one is walking under a latter, I have heard it is bad luck to walk under a latter although I have no idea of the reason behind it. Broken mirrors also represent seven years of bad luck, which to me sounds extremely scary. I rememberer hearing about broken mirrors everywhere though, it seems to be a common one amongst people. Well, the list goes on and on and although I might not necessarily follow through with most of my family's believes I've gotta say I do feel concerned with the salt and broken mirrors at times, It's not that I have personally experience bad luck from any of these but I feel like I have become such a superstitious person that it has started to creep me out a bit just by thinking about it. I have also heard of things that bring good luck such as keeping a two dollar bill near you to attract money, an itchy palm means money will come your way, and keeping elephants around the house. All of these are things I grew up hearing from my mom and I live by everyday. I will say I do believe in luck because my family brought me up that way. Everything I've done in the past has had its ups and downs but I still feel lucky to have experienced what I have. I think luck is more is just a matter of how we look at life and how much we believe in certain things. I think we all bring luck to our lives just by being positive and feeling lucky for what we already have everyday.
I would like to believe that I do not pay to much attention to luck. However, as a precaution, I always do the little things to prevent bad luck. Throwing salt over my shoulder, knocking on wood, going around a ladder instead of under it, I am guilty of all of these wired behaviors. Of course I do not have what one would call good luck. So that could possibly be why I do not believe in it. I have always been told that the number 13 was unlucky so of course I lean towards that position. But is it unlucky? Probably not. Why do buildings not have a 13th floor? I have no idea. But if it is unlucky I wouldn't want to be on that floor.
Instead of knocking on wood, I knock on my head, lol. Building do not have a thirteenth floor like Asian nations do not have a fourth floor due to "tetraphobia". What strange and funny customs and superstitions countries have, lol.
Hey Jamie. I am kind of like you, guilty of all these little behaviors of my own. Personally, I think there's no harm in avoiding certain things. Better safe than sorry right? Of course I understand it's all superstition but sometimes I can't help myself to not do those things.
I wouldn't necessarily say as there is such thing as good or bad luck, but I do believe there is such things as good and bad karma. I don't really believe as to say there is good luck, like when something goes good for you, you cannot automatically assume that is "luck". The same goes for bad things happening to you, people right away assume that they just have "bad luck". I don't believe in that, I honestly believe that we make our own luck in this world. However, I certainly do believe in karma. As in if you do something good and expect nothing in return, then eventually something good is going to come your way without expecting it. Same goes for the bad in this world. Superstitions are just things we have came to believe after hearing them over and over again. Like is my mothers back really gonna break if I step on a crack? I try to not pay to much attention to those kinds of things, but people around are always going to believe in those sorts of things.
You wrote a good post. This is because you clearly took a position on luck, and gave specific reasons for your side. I almost wrote a similar post compared to you. You clearly explained the definition of karma, you gave an example of superstition, and you also wrote what you would do, regarding the information you wrote. I noticed that even if a person does not do certain things, he or she will face certain consequences. If a person chooses not to do an important job, he/she will face a bad consequence. If a person chooses not to do a wrong action, he/she will face a good consequence. Almost everything a person does and does not do, creates a consequence for him/her. This also includes eating certain foods, playing certain games, and going on daring adventures. Overall, your post was enjoyable. In my post, I wrote about responsibilities, actions, prayers, and decisions.
I know there is a spacing problem in the last two sentences. I checked with my word document and found no spacing problem, so this might be a technical problem.
As a child, I absorbed everything my parents ever thought me. They were true believers of good and bad luck, myths, and old Mexican remedies. As I grew older& experienced things, I felt very different than what my parents thought me. In my opinion, everyone is lucky if they happen to have the "right" value of a random variable. For example : There is a lottery going on. And only one person wins the jackpot. The person who wins the jackpot is considered lucky, when in reality he could just as easily be replaced by anyone else in the lottery pool. Successful people hate being called lucky. When you call someone lucky, you are ignoring the hard work they may have put in to "tune" those random variables into their favor. I don’t believe in the notion of luck because I believe very strongly that we make our own way. Meaning that it is not some arbitrary, uncontrollable, outside force, but instead one found within each of us.
Viridiana i totally agree with you i too follow all the myths and remedies that my mother would use because as a Mexican family i was taught so many things that now as an adult dont care for or choose to believe in them you know.
Viridiana, I like your point about how when you call someone lucky you are ignoring the hard work. I do believe that luck is only a matter of hard work, at the end of the day if you work hard for what you desire you will get it, so rather than wishing to get "lucky" we should work harder to achieve whatever we want.
I agree with you Viridiana, that people who have worked hard to get somewhere are not necessarily lucky because it was not a random thing that happened from chance. However, I do sometimes think that people get lucky with opportunities. Say for example, I apply for a job and within the job someone knows me and recommends me and as a result I get the job over other potential competitive employees? I think that to some degree that is luck.
Islia- I guess it's just a matter of perspective. If you got the job because someone within the business recommended you, is it really luck? or you had a bigger chance than other outside applicants because that inside resources help you out in a way?
I find it interesting that some buildings exclude the number 13 in their design. Because technically, there is a thirteenth floor, however it is labeled as the next number or so on. It might be convenient for some to not have to stay on the thirteenth level and that is why some buildings don’t have them. I do not think that the number has any negative implications however some cultures may have formed a belief based around that due to their own folklore and storytelling. The number might also include something that interferes with religious ideas or other things that would be offensive to certain groups. Luck is something that I do believe in. I do not believe in it as a superstition rather a mathematical miracle. There are some things that can happen in life that are extremely rare and when something happens at an overwhelmingly convenient moment then that can be viewed as luck. The neat thing about luck is that it can happen to anyone. In my experience, I have seen a lot of different ways that luck shows itself. People get lucky when they win the lottery or when they score after a night at the club. Luck is something very mysterious and it is complicated to explain. Luck is something you can’t just expect and you can’t see it either. Its like you have it or you don’t and you’ll know when you are feeling lucky.
I thought that was funny as well, where I work they skipped over the number thirteen. But this year the new person who took over the building added the number thirteen which isn't bad because its just a number.
Hi Nich, I think your thought about the 13th floor in a building was interesting and funny. Just because we don't call it the thirteenth floor doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I agree though, luck is kind of like faith. You can't see it or explain it, but you know when you have it.
A few years ago I noticed that some buildings didn’t have the number thirteen on them and I always wondered why. I work for the schools here in Porterville and there was not a class that had the number thirteen. They skipped that number in every school site. One of the school sites that I am at; I just noticed this year that they added room thirteen. I do think that there is bad luck and good luck but it seems that it is determined on the attitude you have that day. If you are having a positive day everything will go great, which makes you feel lucky. But if you are having a bad and negative day then nothing will go right and it will seem like you are just not having any luck. I think that people make their own luck in a way and that’s on their way of feeling. I don’t think that the number thirteen is unlucky and to be quite honest I’m not sure why people think it’s not a lucky number. This is something that I will have to look up and do a bit of research on why people think it’s such a bad number. I’ve heard people say it’s bad but never understood why.
When I was thinking about what I thought about luck, and the number 13 especially, I looked up why it is considered unlucky. Many sources said that it was a biblical creation, and that Judas (who betrayed Jesus), or Jesus himself were the last people to sit down at the last supper. I think that people believe these things because it is just precedented to do so. While I do believe that there are lucky and unlucky things that happen in life, I don't consider myself superstitious. Working as a nursing student in the hospitals, I have found that other healthcare professionals think it's unlucky to say "it's a slow day" or anything of the sort, because that will "jinx" the day and cause it to be busy. I have a hard time with that, because I really don't think it's true! I have said "it's slow in here" and nothing happened...all day! I think sometimes it just happens to get busy, and if something like that was said before, they blame it on that.
Hi Nikki, I have also heard people say its a slow day, but sometimes to me it seemed as the day went by fast. Maybe just depends on how the owns persons day is going.
Nikki, I too work in the healthcare industry and the same has happened to me. Staff always tells whoever says "it's a slow day" to "jinxing" us. Which in reality, there just weren't enough patients or doctors for that day.
Nikki, You are right I guess it just depends on what people really believe, if you don't consider yourself superstitious then I'm sure those things are a bit unusual to hear but i also think when talking about luck is should not be used t represent your field of work.
Honestly, I'm not sure if I believe in luck or if I just say it because it's what I'm used to hearing. For example, if something bad happens I say "just my luck", but I think I say that because I've heard other people say it so much. On the other hand, I do believe some people happen to randomly get lucky. For example, thousands of people play the lottery or gamble and one of them ends up winning millions of dollars. How does this happen? I feel that there's no other way besides luck. Although, I do feel that your amount of luck depends on karma and that sort of thing. I feel that if a person has good intentions, good things will happen and vice versa. Overall, luck is a topic that is hard to understand. I feel that we should all strive to be good people and luck will come our way.
I don't know how or why people win the lottery, and millions don't. That is just a game, I guess. I do agree that people should strive and become better. Good things could happen to humanity and our planet.
I absolutely believe in luck but not in superstitions. I think that every one has their turn in good or bad luck. Some people are more lucky than others such as those that win the lottery or win tickets on a radio show. Some people may have a long term of bad luck. superstitions are different though. I do not believe that the number 13 is unlucky or if I walk under a ladder I will have bad lucky. In my opinion, Superstitions are a silly but many people seem to follow them and religious believe in them. Luck is just "the luck of the draw" to me.
I do believe in destiny, luck, and hard work. They work all together that its almost impossible to explain which one happens on our life. It’s true that if we work hard, we will be at better position than others. But sometimes no matter how hard we try. We may do all the possible and sometimes what it seems to be impossible, and we all frustrated because we don’t get what we want (or at least I do). I do also believe that things happen to us for a reason, because that’s the way it should be. There is this quote from a co-worker. I do not know where he got this from, but it’s true. It’s some like: “If it is not your turn, even if you wait. And if it's your turn, even if you take off.” About the number 13, I didn’t know some buildings skip it. I don’t believe on things like that. See, here in America we say that Friday the 13th is for bad luck. Well, in Mexico they say the same for Tuesday 13th, and in Italy is Friday the 17th.
Jose i also think that good and or bad luck depends on the experience one has bee through, and i also think that a lot of things do happen for a reason and we just have to learn from our mistakes and move on.
Personally I do not believe the number 13 is unlucky. Hotels do however, or most them do skip the 13th floor essentially. Since so many people have this phobia to the number 13 it helps guests feel more comfortable. If 13 was such an unlucky number I would be a super unlucky guy because my birthday is on October 13th. Nothing terrible has ever happened to me on my birthday over the past 22 years of my life so I don't believe the number 13 is unlucky. When one person begins to say something, a multitude of people try to relate and began to say the same. The number thirteen is just another number and is not unlucky.
I don't think hotels believe in superstitions. They might skip the 13th floor just to make their guests (who do believe in superstitions) feel a little safer. If not, I think they would get some complaints and would rather not deal with people requesting to switch rooms often.
You are right Jason 13 is just a number. I believe that people will try to find any excuse to say 13 is related to bad luck. The 13th day of the month is just like any other day. The 13th floor of a hotel is the same as any other floor even if they call it 14 instead of 13.
I don’t believe that number 13 is unlucky. It was okay for me, except for one moment in my life. There used to be this day, where I fell sick on May 13th. Other than that, number 13 was okay. I am not sure why certain buildings have a 13th floor. This probably might mean that 13 is just a number, and does not mean that it has anything to do with luck. I noticed that actions and immunity are two elements, which mask luck. I would also like to let you know that I am an October fan. This is because October has cool weather, and certain festivals (like Halloween). Nobody has to believe in luck, unless he/she does certain things to make his/her days unlucky. Luck is never certain in so many cases; it is mostly up to the individual to take the correct measures in his/her life. I noticed that all of your statements were correct, and that you wrote a concise paragraph. Overall, I really enjoyed your post.
I don't believe in luck, and I do not believe that the number 13 is unlucky. Actually, this is the first time I hear that buildings skip the 13 floor. I did not know that some people believe that 13 might be an unlucky number. But traditions do go around and sometimes I do catch myself knocking on wood. It just comes naturally, but sometimes I try to avoid it, because I don't think knocking on wood will be any good benefit. I find it pretty funny when I do such thing like that. Numbers just come in a random choice, for example, the game Bingo. The people playing that game want to win, but the numbers come in a random order. We don't know what number will come next or what person will win the game.
I don't believe in luck either, but I do find myself knocking on wood. I think it is because I've done it so often it's more of a habit than a superstition.
I was the same, I did not even know the number 13 is unlucky. It is funny i also do not believe in good or bad luck but I do find myself knocking on wood.
Oh boy, here we go! There is no such thing as unlucky thirteen. I used to work in buildings where there was no thirteenth floor on the elevator. Being from a different culture where I heard no such thing, I could not believe what I was hearing when I asked the question, why? Not only did it not make sense to me, but also when I questioned my co-workers, they could not explain it to me. This only frustrated me further. Finally I gave up my attempts to try and make it make sense and accepted that it was just a cultural superstition that I would never understand. My question to my co-workers was; if I start the elevator on the first level and went to level fourteen, how many floors did I go up? Now the elevator buttons skipped the number thirteen and went to the number fourteen, but the number of floors did not change, so does the fact that you avoid putting the number thirteen on the elevator change the number of floors in the building? When you go outside and look up at the windows on each floor, the windows do not simply skip over thirteen and jump to fourteen, so would this not make floor fourteen unlucky also? Anyway, as I said, I gave up looking for the logic on the other side of this argument. By the way, the number thirteen is the call number of one of the most successful radio stations where I am from, and have been that way for over fifty years now. I bet they would say different about the number thirteen. If luck is to be defined as success or failure brought by chance, then I do believe in luck. Someone born on Christmas day could be considered lucky, as they may receive double the amount of presents or celebrations on that day. This is just due to chance and has nothing to do with that individual’s efforts. Whhshhhww!
Albion, I found what you wrote very interesting. I agree there is people who have different meaning to things such as how you said about the radio station. There is no such thing as bad luck it all has to do with bad choices and chance.
I found it interesting too--and scary. He's right--it's only the numbering on the outside that changed. The building still knows which floor is the 13th. Albion and his logic! :)
I never paid much attention to building levels before, but when I stayed at a hotel last year and they did not have a 13th floor I was very surprised. I understand that some people believe in good and bad luck, but to go so far as to renumber building levels to accommodate them seems ridiculous. I am not someone who believes the things that happen to them are based on luck. I believe good and bad things happen to everyone; that is life. There are altruistic, charitable, kindhearted individuals who still find themselves with terminal diseases. In the same way, there are deceitful, selfish individuals who are successful and wealthy. This is not luck. This is the hand that life deals you. You can complain and wallow or you can gather yourself and make the most of it. If people choose to believe in luck, that is their decision. But when that belief becomes the basis of their thought-processes and influences the important decisions they make, then luck can be destructive. For some, believing in luck helps them feel in control because it means their luck is dependent on staying away from or doing certain things. For others, they believe because they do not want to put in the effort to achieve success. I believe hard work is one of the building blocks of true success. There are many people who choose to believe in luck, but I am not one of them.
Hey Kimberly! Your response is so true. I especially like how you said a person can gather him or herself and make the most out of whatever they got. And most importantly, I like how you pointed out luck can be destructive. I think it can be the most destructive for gamblers.
Hi Kimberly. I would add that some who believe in luck, also find it easy to blame their "bad luck" for failures on their behalf that are a result of their lack of effort and poor decision making. Wonderfully written points. I almost stood up and said AMEN! :)
I personally do not believe in good luck or bad luck. I think it is strange that buildings sometimes don't have a 13th floor because people are concerned by it being unlucky. If you go to a casino and win money on a slot machine it just happens by chance, you can just as easily lose money. I like athletes like James Harden and Dan Marino who said the heck with luck and wore number 13 on their jersey. I don't like when people say they have bad luck. I think what people perceive as luck could also be boiled down to making poor choices. People who think they have good luck or carry a lucky key chain or wear a lucky pair of socks are just as superstitious. I think luck boils down to making good choices and living with the result. Things happen by chance that are often out of our control. The number 13 is not an evil entity sworn to ruin people’s lives.
Sean, I agree that things happen by chance. Also, if people make poor decisions then they try to find something to blame it on such as saying they had bad luck.
Hi Sean, My brother-in-law's soccer jersey has the number 13 on it so I applaud him for not being superstitious. It is true, some things are out of our control but some people prefer saying that they have "bad luck."
Gambling is a dangerous sport. The moment you win is really the moment you can lose. People should cash out early before taking more risks. It's why I really fear becoming a gambler if I go to Vegas.
Nich and Alma, I think athletes that choose to wear 13 are showing confidence in themselves. I also like this because in the world of sports someone is always trying to be better than you are. When an athlete wears 13 they show their teammates and fans that something like superstition and bad luck doesn't effect them. Having confidence in yourself is very important.
Neida and Michael, things like gambling are low risk and high reward. You are right about cashing out early Michael I have won $70 dollars on a slot spin in Vegas before and decided to keep playing and lost $40 before I cashed out. I didn't blame bad luck or anything on it. Games of that nature are purely chance. Everyone involved with them needs to know the possible outcome of spending money so you don't get carried away and end up in debt or something. I will always think luck is more based on good and bad decisions than if you are lucky or unlucky.
I don't believe in the number 13 is unlucky. I think it's a myth that has been passed down from generation to generation. For instance, they say Friday the 13 is bad luck but in reality not everyone is going to have "bad luck" that day. I also don't believe in good luck. I don't believe in good luck because I don't think a person didn't happen to get something they didn't deserve. The person might have worked hard and that hard work paid off. In other instances, I think the people might have just been at the right place and right time in which something good was being offered.
I do not believe the number 13 is unlucky. However, in my culture, we believe that the number 4 is unlucky because the pronunciation of 4 is similar to "death". I do believe in luck, but I do not believe luck makes up the bulk of an individual's chances of being successful. Luck to me is like finding 5 dollars on the ground or winning a raffle. I think that a person's belief in luck is mostly a placebo effect. It's all a mental process. We as humans try to make sense and find an explanation to everything.
I agree with you that it can be a type of placebo effect when people believe in bad luck. I also think that when people believe a number or an item has some type of bad luck, they are already expecting something bad to happen, and in return when one has that mentality of negativity, anything can really go bad, or one can view it as a bad luck. It can also be the same with good luck. For example, when people have a good luck charm they believe to do better than when they don't have it. That can also be said to be a person's belief in themselves or a situation. I think that whatever one beliefs it will hold true to our expectations.
Hi Yang, I like that you brought the placebo effect into this. It could be all in their minds. The mind is a powerful thing and it can trick us into believing something is bad just because it is considered "bad luck" and not because of facts.
Hi Yang, ' I agree with you and believe it is mostly all in our minds. Also, I found it very interesting about your culture and the number 4. I never realized that was a thing.
I do believe in luck to a certain point. For example, there have been many situations that I believed people or even myself were lucky: when winning money at a Casino or winning a car from a raffle. I believe that luck is to have something good happen to someone by chance; this can also apply to having bad luck. For some reason I have unconsciously believed that the number 13 is unlucky. I mean unconsciously because I do not necessarily believe it to be bad luck, but when situations have come up with the number 13, whether it has been a date, a number behind my soccer jersey or even a building I have tried to avoid it somehow, maybe because people have made the number 13 to be unattractive for its "bad luck", even if I does not believe in it. I think where we see the most bad associations with the number 13 and an event is on the media. Recently a new show came out in Netflix called "13 Reason Why" and that title is associated with the reason why someone committed suicide. You see? subconsciously there is an association of the number 13 and a bad event. Therefore I believe that those types of subliminal messages could be the reason why one might think the number 13 is just a bad number; whether one really believes in luck or not, in my opinion. I mean how did the number 13 even become associated with bad luck to begin with? I wonder.
I never thought about luck in that way, but I agree. If the title of the show would've had any other number I don't think people would have thought about it in the same way.
Islia, great way to makes us see both sides of luck. I do agree with you. I think you see the number 13 as bad because the people that surround you say that it's bad so you believe that its bad. Also, the media isn't helping.
I'm not really superstitious, because I don't really do things for good luck. In turn I don't relate to people who believe in bad or good luck. I've always been more of a logical thinker but at the same time understand that not all things have clear concise answers like I'd like them to. I think not having a 13th floor would be smart way to appease guests who are superstitious. I don't think the number 13 is unlucky its just a number as far as I'm concerned. Luck to me is just something people use to cope with and to label extreme circumstances. So no, I do not believe in luck myself.
Daniel, that is a good observation and I have never really thought of it in that way. It would make sense people use luck to explain or understand "extreme" circumstances.
I honestly am not a very superstitious person. I do not believe in luck. I am more of an abstract thinker who believes everything happens for a reason. There are explanations to all our doubts and we as individuals are capable of figuring them all out. For that reason, I do not believe in luck. I believe there are negative and positive forces. People who are negative produce many illogical explanations to things they do not understand. For such, a specific number being unlucky can be an example. I believe luck as a superstition was created when individuals could not explain why certain things happen, so they needed a reason.
Melissa, I agree that luck can be a superstition people use. Some people think that they are having bad luck and blame luck instead of blaming whoever caused those bad things to happen.
I honestly split luck and superstition altogether. Luck can certainly happen, but it can definitely be used as you stated it. Luck can definitely be a convenient excuse.
I am not sure if I can say if I believe in luck or not. I do constantly say that I was unlucky or that I was lucky, but I say it without really thinking of the connotation it has. I think it could just be a habit or could be that I believe it. I am actually unsure about that. I always grew up hearing that people had bad luck, but I never thought if I really believe it or just if I say it. What I can say about the 13rd floor is that 13 is not an unlucky number. Lot’s of people have superstitions that the number in general is bad. It’s kind of sad that places have to leave off the number 13 to say it’s the 14th floor when in reality it’s the 13th. Those people normally believe in bad luck and all superstitions. I personally don’t think that the number 13th is bad luck. It’s just a regular number like any other number. There is not something odd that the number 13 has. I think it all goes back to Friday the 13th. Everyone thinks it’s a very bad day and some people get scared that they don’t even want to leave their house. All they talk about is Freddie and Jason. No, Friday the 13 is the same as Thursday the 12 or any other day. Since 13 is thought to be an unlucky number and it landed on Friday, it’s a bad day. I’m not sure of how Friday the 13 came to be, but it all goes back to the superstition people have.
Hi Bianca, I am always saying that I am luck or unlucky also, but not because I believe in luck. It is just something I say to express my happiness or disappointment.
I would have to say that I don’t believe in luck, but maybe more so in chance. Some people, by chance, are in the wrong place at the wrong and “unlucky” things happen and vise versa, people can be in the right place at the right the time and have “lucky” things happen. I’m not one to believe in superstitions like don’t walk under a ladder, or when a black cat walks in front of you something bad is going to happen. I actually find Friday the 13th to be fun as a lot of places give discounts! lol However, I do believe in karma, which I guess in a way is kind of like luck. I strongly believe that if you put positivity out into the universe that is what you will receive in return and the same with negativity. What goes around comes around and I don’t want to be on karma’s bad side.
I don't believe the number 13 is unlucky. I don't really believe in "luck" at all. I think "luck" is just a mind set. People who are optimistic and focus on the good things that happen in their life may consider themselves "lucky". I think when people forget to acknowledge the small positive events that happen in life, they feel as though they can't catch a break and are "unlucky". It is important to acknowledge our failures, but there is no need to dwell on them.
I personally haven't encountered anything unlucky dealing with the number 13, such as a bad Friday the 13th. With that being said, just in case it really is unlucky I'd appreciate all tall buildings to forget the 13th floor. I believe in luck for sure because of how bad of luck I have! I have this really weird thing that happens, which is, when I say or think something bad hasn't happened to me in a while, it will literally happen within a week! For example, I once said "I haven't cracked my screen in forever" then it happened the next day! I do forget to do superstitious routines, like not splitting a pole, so maybe that's why my luck hasn't been looking up...
I grew up in a household that taught me to believe in good and bad luck. Most good luck was because of God. I remember being younger and my parents would have this belief where if you spilled salt, you would have bad luck. My mom would tell me to gather as much as I could and throw it in the sink to dissolve it. I used to be terrified when I spilled salt. I also remember being in the 4th grade and believing all the Friday the 13th, crossing a black cat, walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror, picking up a penny off the ground, knocking on wood, and opening umbrellas indoors myths. One year, it was my sister’s birthday and we were stuck celebrating inside because there was a storm out. I recall her telling me that it was raining because her birthday landed on Friday the 13th that year and she was having bad luck. As I got older, I stopped believing all these “bad luck” superstitions. I happen to think that people are in the right place at the right time or in the wrong place at the wrong time. So to answer the question, the number 13 is not unlucky and I do not believe in luck.
I wouldn't say I believe in bad luck or good luck, I do believe in karma though. But I never really seemed to believe those superstitions like walking under a ladder or a black cat crossing in front of you. Its super interesting to hear those stories and what could happen due to bad luck but it never really scared me. I actually have a black cat and a lot of my friends were scared of her at first but now they love her!
In an inherent sense, I believe that luck certainly can exist. Sometimes people can catch a break, and some people can't. To me, that is just life. Many things can happen in life and even though it can fail, you have to try again. I think you have to keep trying in order to really survive in the world nowadays. It's very often that people will jump on your back for any given reason, and it all rotates to making someone else's life miserable in order to life to them pleasurable. The number 13 to me always felt like it was never an unlucky number; superstition can exist as well. People walking under ladders or seeing black cats in an alleyway have never struck me as something I should fear. I really do reject most superstition, but when it comes to luck, I especially deny it.
In my opinion, I think luck does not always mean anything. Some people are conditioned to certain beliefs, because other people spread certain news in a convincing way. I think that making the right choices, is a way to prevent bad luck from happening in the future. I always try not to believe in good and bad luck. I noticed that making the correct choices, avoids 99% to 100% of the problems. I even gave several examples regarding luck, in the first paragraph, at the bottom of the blog page. In many cases, everyone has to take the correct actions, in order to achieve his/her goals. Superstition is based on people convincing other people to believe in certain ideas, like the following: Black cats, dead crows, and Halloween all symbolize bad luck. I make sure I stay away from superstition, as much as possible. Karma is more realistic than luck, because it involves the intensities of actions leading to similar intensities of consequences.
I didn’t know that some buildings didn’t have a 13th floor but then again, I don’t go into buildings that have that many floors. The number 13 to me doesn’t seem to be unlucky, I personally do not believe in luck but more of being in the right place at the right time. The way I grew up might have also framed the way I think my parents never showed any signs of being superstitious so I never bothered with such ideas. I think good things come to you by working hard not really by how much luck you have, if you just wait around and wait for luck to bring you good things nothing will ever happen. Society now puts a big emphasis on Friday the 13th but I think it’s more of a tradition than actually believing it will bring you bad luck. Around town they are also beginning to cash in on the “Friday the 13th” craze by putting up haunted houses on those weekends. Movies also cash in on this in order to scare us but there is no superstition behind it just a scary movie.
Sometimes I can’t say I do agree there is good and bad luck. Mainly because if I believe I’m having a bad luck day I oversee all the good things that will happen that day. For example, when my debit card was compromised I didn’t see how my day went, and that I was able to eat that day. I do believe in Karma, and then I had gone to the eagle mountain casino with friends on a whim and I ended up winning about a months’ worth paycheck. To say that luck is associated with a number seems a little odd. It is fun to say bad things will happen Friday the 13, but I have yet to see guaranteed bad luck. I would also never wish it on anyone.
I don't really believe in luck and I don't believe the number 13 is unlucky. I never fully understood the reasoning behind the unluckiness of 13; I just see it as a number. I feel that most people associate the number thirteen with bad luck because of "Friday the Thirteenth" and some horror films. People might see 13 as an outlier because 12 is an even and complete number. For example the superstition of seeing a black cat in the street at night will give you bad luck, many people are very superstitious. I believe that it depends on a persons past experiences and the kind of encounters they have had, it really just is perspective . If you've had a lot of good things happen to you then you might consider to be lucky, and if you have had a lot of bad experiences you might consider yourself very unlucky.
I agree that it had a lot to do with your past experiences. Some of the choices you make in life will without a doubt have an impact somewhere down the line. This could be just a part of life or also seen as bad luck.
I do not believe there is such thing as bad luck or good luck. I believe the things that happen to us are all just a coincidence. I always hear about all these superstitions and how if you do not follow them you get bad luck for a certain number of years. It is fun to participate in these superstitions because they are silly and sometimes you can’t help but think about whether you really will get bad luck. I have broken many of these superstitions like walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror, and opening an umbrella indoors and after doing all those things I have had no bad luck. As for the number 13, I actually have not noticed that there are no 13th floors and I believe the number 13 has no association with being bad luck, it is simply just a number.
I think luck depends on the individual. Almost everyone has unique views based on luck. Some people believe in it, and some don’t. In my case, I do not believe in it. I noticed that whenever I pray to God about certain things, my prayers sometimes work and sometimes do not work. Luck is never certain; making the right decisions and performing the correct actions work. I think thirteen is a lucky number for certain people, and it isn’t for others. In my case, I don’t believe in it. This also stands for the fact, that if you don’t know the rules of a game, you cannot help your team win. If you don’t take certain responsibilities in college, you cannot expect to succeed in your classes or graduate on time. This also happens with doing certain chores like the following: watering your plants, doing your homework, studying for a test, and even feeding your pets. Even deciding whether or not to go on a dangerous venture, can sometimes lead to serious consequences. Prayers sometimes work, and sometimes don’t. I used to pray for certain sick people to get well, and these prayers didn’t work. These people still died. I think what Christian Garibay said about karma, seems to be true. Karma causes people to get saved, die, fail, succeed, and face several consequences. An action today could cause any present or future consequences. This means that people should be aware of their actions, thoughts, desires, and characters. I know that everyone is having certain individual problems, and he/she should work on his/her own actions (including me).
I personally do believe in good and bad luck. I think that the number thirteen is unlucky therefore only because its and odd number but that is my opinion. Therefore I don't believe that is the reason many buildings don't go up to the thirteenth floor. I believe in good luck when I do great things for others and make good decisions because I believe that what you give you get in return. Then in the bad luck I believe it goes the same way. For me, the bad luck part happens most to me when I lie. It all catches up to me and then I realize that it wasn't even worth telling the lie. In my opinion it all depends on the person because it's always the type of situation one is in.
I agree with you. Things catch up to you if your doing something negative such as lying. Eventually you can't keep up with the lies you tell and make mistakes.
I find it interesting how you think 13 is unlucky because it is an odd number. I love hearing about different opinions from everyone and that is one I have never heard! (not a bad thing).
I don't really believe in the luck and unlucky. I know the number 13 is associated with black cats and an unlucky Friday. I think unlucky things happen to people that believe in that kind of stuff. In my opinion, people use it as an excuse to justify things that happen to make them feel better or more understanding. Most people believe in good luck but try to ignore the bad luck side. There are movies and songs that have gained a lot because of things like Friday the 13th. Tattoo shops have tattoo specials just for this day to help put people in the spirit i guess. People may not believe in the bad luck but some people enjoy this day because it's dark. A lot of people enjoy the other side which isn't always so bright and typical. So I guess I sometimes believe in luck when it's good and it's beneficial but when it's bad luck I look at it like something else. I think this is how a lot of people think as well.
In regards to people using things that are associated with bad luck to justify things that happen to them; isn't it amazing how people's minds influence their behavior?
I have never thought about bad things happening to people because they believe in that kind of stuff. To me, that makes sense because I know people who literally worry themselves sick. Applying that to people who believe in bad luck is a very interesting approach.
I've never really been a superstitious person so I don't think that 13 is an unlucky number. Nothing bad has ever happened to me on days like Friday the 13tb either. In regards to believing in luck, I do believe in luck. Some things that happen to some people, even to me, are just so rare and unpredictable. When I make a shot in basketball that I don't think I will make, I consider myself to be lucky. I usually point out when someone else is lucky if I'm playing sports with them or when I'm playing a game of chance with them. Some people just get really lucky in life.
- This is a difficult question. I do believe in luck , but I do not believe in the number 13 being bad luck. I guess my emotions are mixed when it comes to different things. I know several people who are superstitious and several that are not. People's own experiences is what I think molds their beliefs. Say someone has received luck with the number 13 or simply have not had bad luck with the number 13; that someone will probably have a different perspective on what the number 13 means to them than someone who has had bad luck or has experienced something good. It all varies.
Majority of society would say that the number 13 is unlucky. In my lifetime I have never experienced any bad luck with it or from different objects like opening and umbrella inside or walking underneath a ladder. With that being said I do believe in luck just I don't believe that objects like those would be the cause of bad luck, I believe overall as a person either you have good luck or you don't. So basically you are born with it. Some individuals have better luck then others while others simply always have bad luck.
I never knew that some buildings do not have a 13th floor; it is because I do not think I have been in such tall buildings. I do not believe that the number 13 is unlucky but I do believe many people believe it is because of Friday the 13’s. I believe it is more of a superstition because I do not believe people have bad luck on those days. I do not believe in good or bad luck because I think good things happen to people because they work hard for them or it is just destiny if they win the lottery. Also, the same goes for bad things it is just destiny.
I agree Denise. I feel like it is mostly superstition as well. And I wouldn't say luck has anything to do with it, but some people seem to be at the right place during the right time.
I don't really think the number 13 is unlucky. In fact, I don't believe in luck at all. I think everything happens for a reason. I know a lot of people are superstitious, especially with all the movies that are made about the number 13. People start to think its so unlucky that it becomes true. I'm sure a lot of hotel owners do it because they do think 13 is bad luck. Sure some people are born in better situations than others, but I still don't think thats luck. I think there is a reason why some are born with better or worse circumstances than others. I think people are meant to be where they are. I think things that happen in life are either random or happen for a reason.
It's interesting, I do not believe in bad luck, but I do think some people get lucky sometimes. I've always said that I think there is no such thing as coincedence so maybe I have just been contradicting myself my whole life hahah!
I'm not sure if I believe in luck but I really don't think the number 13 is unlucky. In fact, the number 13 has been my favorite number since kindergarten and I have no idea why. Maybe because somehow that number always found its way back to me. For example, in elementary and middle school the students in our class would either have their desk numbered or the number of their locker, and I would always get the number 13 . However, I've never seen it as good luck or bad luck, I was just excited and fascinated that it always led its way back to me and it grew on me. As for luck, I believe things just happen for a reason. I mean other people will talk about successful being lucky or that successful people don't like being told they're lucky because of hard work, but there are also people who haven't been able to find success not because of lack of work but just other issues that others are "lucky" or fortunate to not have to go through. Sure everyone has their own problems, some mental and some physical, but none of it really has to do with luck or bad luck. I guess it just all falls back to science or actuality but I'm not going to lie, it is tricky to actually know if luck is real in this universe or just a myth.
I definitely agree with you. Everything happens for a reason. As in some cases luck may have something to do with it but I'm a firm believer of something happening for a reason.
The whole belief or myth of the "luck" situation is an interesting one because growing up I always taught that everything happens for a reason. Not saying I do not believe in luck would be hypocritical of me because I do believe in luck, I just a lot of cases have a lot to do with it being just it was suppose to happen in a sense. Like for example, a bad relationship usually will help you for any future relationships. Sometimes a bad relationship in life is needed for many of us because it allows you to progress and become an overall better person. But there are some instances where luck has a lot to do with it, like videos of people literally surviving near death experiences could be a case of luck or it just wasn't meant to be.
!!!!NO MEETING THIS SATURDAY!!!! (we will meet later in the semester)
EMAIL: bschmoll@csub.edu
Greetings,
This course has some weekly assignments that you must keep up on. There are also a few other papers and books to read throughout the semester. But if you keep up with the weekly assignments on here, your writing will improve and you will put yourself in a great position to do well in this class!
These are time sensitive. You do not receive credit if you write them after the deadline(Saturday) each week. Furthermore, if you are in the habit of writing everything on Saturday you will not receive full credit. Why? There would be no time for others to interact with your writing. Write early; write often! Right? Right!
HERE IS THE WORK THAT MUST BE COMPLETED EACH WEEK...
FIRST, there's a blog entry (about 250 words) which will have you respond to a hopefully thought-provoking question. Each week, you must do the blog entry with enough time left in the week to be able to enter into dialogue online with your classmates. Write, reply, write more, reply more, and then write and reply more.
SECOND, there's a reading. There’s no blog entry associated with this. Just read.
THIRD, there's a written response to the reading. Your reading and writing on the blog must be completed by the SATURDAY (by midnight) of the week in which the reading falls. This entry should be a long paragraph. YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESPOND TO OTHER STUDENTS IN PART THREE EACH WEEK.
I honestly believe in good and bad luck, but I also believe in karma good or bad I feel like the whole number 13 is a myth but you have to think about all of these movies talk about how bad it is on that exact same day, I think it also depends on how people see it and again were going back to society how it influences us to do and believe what they say or do. I personally don’t think of as bad thing but I am also very religious and I’ve heard so many stories and one or two that I’ve experienced, but it doesn’t mean that I believe what I hear to me if I don’t see it with my own eyes I think it’s fake. I can say luck is all around us, for example you go to Las Vegas and you gamble of course if people keep winning they’re going to think that they’re lucky and that the gods are next to them, me on the other hand I believe that thing happen for reason and all I have I to say is that if you work hard and keep trying your best to reach that goal you want, to me it’s not luck its hard work finally getting paid off. Like I previously mentioned I believe things happen for a reason and some might think it’s because of luck that they go where they’re at because of it, but we have to think outside the box and realized that things don’t just get handed to people like its call “working hard.”
ReplyDeleteI never understood why the number 13 was so bad that people wouldn't use it in their buildings. I believe in karma if you do something good for others it will come back around.
DeleteHey, don't talk about Vegas :}. I go every year for the revenge, but I think it doesn't happen that way. I never come home with extra money. The good thing for me is that I see it as a game, and I know my limits. I feel bad for people that really believe they can win "this time"
DeleteJoaquin,
DeleteI am also a firm believer that things happen for a reason, most of the time good things come to those who work hard and always keep a positive mindset, so I guess you can say luck is perhaps just an excuse for those who don't work as hard?
Growing up in a very traditional family, superstition and many unorthodox believes were planted to my brain. As a kid I believed everything my parents told. From credulous believes and supernatural human beings. As I grow as a person and experience things in life, many of this beliefs that my parents taught me isn't actually possible to happen. I strongly believe that the number 13 is just a myth. I mean I was born on the 13th day and I cant say that I have been through bad lucks throughout my life. I believe that bad luck is not possible but it is the choice that we choose in life that brings us this so called "bad-luck." I don't understand the reasoning behind the number 13 that is called a bad day, especially Friday the 13th. I mean my birthday this year was on a Friday the 13th, and I had the greatest time in my life. I choose the things that I did and had fun. Nothing bad happen to me because of all the decision that I made. This bad-luck or 13th day is just a myth, a total myth because there is no way to link an event or series of event to that "luck." There is no clear explanation why you are in a bad luck but through the decision that one made. Work hard, and sure "luck" will come.
ReplyDeleteThe number thirteen is your lucky number instead of being considered bad luck. I think that people make up their luck based on their attitude about something or whatever they are doing.
DeleteJohn,
DeleteI also grew up in a family where they believe in superstition, but I have learned that luck is a matter of hard work rather than something that just comes to us.
That's cool that you had an amazing birthday, regardless of the day it landed on.
DeleteI certainly do believe in luck, but I believe one's luck is dependent on outside factors and variables. Be it good or bad, I feel one factor depends on one's heart and how the individual treats their fellow man, creatures, earth, etc. One’s view and philosophy life, religion, and other things also factors in, too, I believe.
ReplyDeleteWas it bad luck that while I was playing/chasing after my dog I hyperextended my knee, which required a full reconstruction and 18 months of rehab? Though it was not good luck -by any means- I honestly thought I was lucky to an extent because of how much worse it could have been (glass is half full philosophy). Along with a few other "it could have been worse" occasions, it has prompted my girlfriend to say I have "the best bad luck" (lolol). Another instance was when I was backing out of my driveway and backed over a bucket and snapped my fuel line. It was a drag -no doubt-, but the crumpled bucket came within half an inch of damaging/crushing other components I had no idea what they were. The part was all of $8, w/labor was a $45 fix, and it could have been much worse, other than learning a lesson in being more careful. So, our luck, good or bad, is also how we choose to see it when it comes to certain circumstances.
The number thirteen doesn’t bother me -other than rolling a 13 in craps-, though it’s associated with bad luck in Western Culture. The Egyptians consider thirteen a lucky number, and most of Asia avoids the number four. What the United States does with thirteen, much of East and Southeast Asia does with the number four because of “tetraphobia,” according to History.com, which I found pretty crazy. Besides, who’d pass up getting a baker’s dozen for the price of twelve? Not me.
You know Scot, I have a philosophy for life. When I have a problem or I'm dealing with a situation this is what I ask to myself: What could be a worst scenario? Once I figure it out, I'm thankful for not been on that situation. It helps me see things better. Thanks for your post.
DeleteHi, Marisol. Yeah, I find that I have always been a 'make the best out of a bad situation' kind-of-guy. When I see someone beset with extreme hardship -I feel bad for the individual or course- I am grateful all the more for what I have as opposed to feeling bad for what I don't/can't have, and occasionally I'll tell myself "God doesn't give you what you want, but he gives you what you need".
DeleteI am definitely a firm believer in good and bad luck; growing up with my family's culture and believes I have learned how to be a superstitious person. I have heard all kinds of do's and don'ts in order to attract good luck and get rid of bad luck. One of my family's old time favorites is spilling salt. According to them it is completely bad luck to spill salt and when it happens one must throw salt over our shoulder to sort of reverse the bad luck I guess. Another one is walking under a latter, I have heard it is bad luck to walk under a latter although I have no idea of the reason behind it. Broken mirrors also represent seven years of bad luck, which to me sounds extremely scary. I rememberer hearing about broken mirrors everywhere though, it seems to be a common one amongst people. Well, the list goes on and on and although I might not necessarily follow through with most of my family's believes I've gotta say I do feel concerned with the salt and broken mirrors at times, It's not that I have personally experience bad luck from any of these but I feel like I have become such a superstitious person that it has started to creep me out a bit just by thinking about it. I have also heard of things that bring good luck such as keeping a two dollar bill near you to attract money, an itchy palm means money will come your way, and keeping elephants around the house. All of these are things I grew up hearing from my mom and I live by everyday. I will say I do believe in luck because my family brought me up that way. Everything I've done in the past has had its ups and downs but I still feel lucky to have experienced what I have. I think luck is more is just a matter of how we look at life and how much we believe in certain things. I think we all bring luck to our lives just by being positive and feeling lucky for what we already have everyday.
ReplyDeleteI would like to believe that I do not pay to much attention to luck. However, as a precaution, I always do the little things to prevent bad luck. Throwing salt over my shoulder, knocking on wood, going around a ladder instead of under it, I am guilty of all of these wired behaviors. Of course I do not have what one would call good luck. So that could possibly be why I do not believe in it. I have always been told that the number 13 was unlucky so of course I lean towards that position. But is it unlucky? Probably not. Why do buildings not have a 13th floor? I have no idea. But if it is unlucky I wouldn't want to be on that floor.
ReplyDeleteJamie,
DeleteI also tend to do those things, it might not necessarily be true that bad luck exists but like they say I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Instead of knocking on wood, I knock on my head, lol. Building do not have a thirteenth floor like Asian nations do not have a fourth floor due to "tetraphobia". What strange and funny customs and superstitions countries have, lol.
DeleteHey Jamie. I am kind of like you, guilty of all these little behaviors of my own. Personally, I think there's no harm in avoiding certain things. Better safe than sorry right? Of course I understand it's all superstition but sometimes I can't help myself to not do those things.
DeleteI wouldn't necessarily say as there is such thing as good or bad luck, but I do believe there is such things as good and bad karma. I don't really believe as to say there is good luck, like when something goes good for you, you cannot automatically assume that is "luck". The same goes for bad things happening to you, people right away assume that they just have "bad luck". I don't believe in that, I honestly believe that we make our own luck in this world. However, I certainly do believe in karma. As in if you do something good and expect nothing in return, then eventually something good is going to come your way without expecting it. Same goes for the bad in this world. Superstitions are just things we have came to believe after hearing them over and over again. Like is my mothers back really gonna break if I step on a crack? I try to not pay to much attention to those kinds of things, but people around are always going to believe in those sorts of things.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteChristian,
DeleteYou wrote a good post. This is because you clearly took a position on luck, and gave specific reasons for your side. I almost wrote a similar post compared to you. You clearly explained the definition of karma, you gave an example of superstition, and you also wrote what you would do, regarding the information you wrote. I noticed that even if a person does not do certain things, he or she will face certain consequences. If a person chooses not to do an important job, he/she will face a bad consequence. If a person chooses not to do a wrong action, he/she will face a good consequence. Almost everything a person does and does not do, creates a consequence for him/her. This also includes eating certain foods, playing certain games, and going on daring adventures. Overall, your post was enjoyable. In my post, I wrote about responsibilities, actions, prayers, and decisions.
Roshaan S.
I know there is a spacing problem in the last two sentences. I checked with my word document and found no spacing problem, so this might be a technical problem.
DeleteRoshaan S.
As a child, I absorbed everything my parents ever thought me. They were true believers of good and bad luck, myths, and old Mexican remedies. As I grew older& experienced things, I felt very different than what my parents thought me. In my opinion, everyone is lucky if they happen to have the "right" value of a random variable.
ReplyDeleteFor example : There is a lottery going on. And only one person wins the jackpot. The person who wins the jackpot is considered lucky, when in reality he could just as easily be replaced by anyone else in the lottery pool.
Successful people hate being called lucky. When you call someone lucky, you are ignoring the hard work they may have put in to "tune" those random variables into their favor. I don’t believe in the notion of luck because I believe very strongly that we make our own way. Meaning that it is not some arbitrary, uncontrollable, outside force, but instead one found within each of us.
Viridiana i totally agree with you i too follow all the myths and remedies that my mother would use because as a Mexican family i was taught so many things that now as an adult dont care for or choose to believe in them you know.
DeleteViridiana,
DeleteI like your point about how when you call someone lucky you are ignoring the hard work. I do believe that luck is only a matter of hard work, at the end of the day if you work hard for what you desire you will get it, so rather than wishing to get "lucky" we should work harder to achieve whatever we want.
I agree with you Viridiana, that people who have worked hard to get somewhere are not necessarily lucky because it was not a random thing that happened from chance. However, I do sometimes think that people get lucky with opportunities. Say for example, I apply for a job and within the job someone knows me and recommends me and as a result I get the job over other potential competitive employees? I think that to some degree that is luck.
DeleteIslia- I guess it's just a matter of perspective. If you got the job because someone within the business recommended you, is it really luck? or you had a bigger chance than other outside applicants because that inside resources help you out in a way?
DeleteViridiana, I as well absorbed everything my parents taught me. I really like how you gave an example.
Delete
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that some buildings exclude the number 13 in their design. Because technically, there is a thirteenth floor, however it is labeled as the next number or so on. It might be convenient for some to not have to stay on the thirteenth level and that is why some buildings don’t have them. I do not think that the number has any negative implications however some cultures may have formed a belief based around that due to their own folklore and storytelling. The number might also include something that interferes with religious ideas or other things that would be offensive to certain groups. Luck is something that I do believe in. I do not believe in it as a superstition rather a mathematical miracle. There are some things that can happen in life that are extremely rare and when something happens at an overwhelmingly convenient moment then that can be viewed as luck. The neat thing about luck is that it can happen to anyone. In my experience, I have seen a lot of different ways that luck shows itself. People get lucky when they win the lottery or when they score after a night at the club. Luck is something very mysterious and it is complicated to explain. Luck is something you can’t just expect and you can’t see it either. Its like you have it or you don’t and you’ll know when you are feeling lucky.
I thought that was funny as well, where I work they skipped over the number thirteen. But this year the new person who took over the building added the number thirteen which isn't bad because its just a number.
DeleteHi Nich,
DeleteI think your thought about the 13th floor in a building was interesting and funny. Just because we don't call it the thirteenth floor doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I agree though, luck is kind of like faith. You can't see it or explain it, but you know when you have it.
A few years ago I noticed that some buildings didn’t have the number thirteen on them and I always wondered why. I work for the schools here in Porterville and there was not a class that had the number thirteen. They skipped that number in every school site. One of the school sites that I am at; I just noticed this year that they added room thirteen. I do think that there is bad luck and good luck but it seems that it is determined on the attitude you have that day. If you are having a positive day everything will go great, which makes you feel lucky. But if you are having a bad and negative day then nothing will go right and it will seem like you are just not having any luck. I think that people make their own luck in a way and that’s on their way of feeling. I don’t think that the number thirteen is unlucky and to be quite honest I’m not sure why people think it’s not a lucky number. This is something that I will have to look up and do a bit of research on why people think it’s such a bad number. I’ve heard people say it’s bad but never understood why.
ReplyDeleteHi Claudia, that is pretty interesting that there was no number 13 classroom. They must have thought about the unlucky 13.
DeleteClaudia, I think people think its a bad number because it's odd, maybe.
DeleteWhen I was thinking about what I thought about luck, and the number 13 especially, I looked up why it is considered unlucky. Many sources said that it was a biblical creation, and that Judas (who betrayed Jesus), or Jesus himself were the last people to sit down at the last supper. I think that people believe these things because it is just precedented to do so. While I do believe that there are lucky and unlucky things that happen in life, I don't consider myself superstitious. Working as a nursing student in the hospitals, I have found that other healthcare professionals think it's unlucky to say "it's a slow day" or anything of the sort, because that will "jinx" the day and cause it to be busy. I have a hard time with that, because I really don't think it's true! I have said "it's slow in here" and nothing happened...all day! I think sometimes it just happens to get busy, and if something like that was said before, they blame it on that.
ReplyDeleteHi Nikki, I have also heard people say its a slow day, but sometimes to me it seemed as the day went by fast. Maybe just depends on how the owns persons day is going.
DeleteNikki,
DeleteI too work in the healthcare industry and the same has happened to me. Staff always tells whoever says "it's a slow day" to "jinxing" us. Which in reality, there just weren't enough patients or doctors for that day.
Nikki,
DeleteYou are right I guess it just depends on what people really believe, if you don't consider yourself superstitious then I'm sure those things are a bit unusual to hear but i also think when talking about luck is should not be used t represent your field of work.
Honestly, I'm not sure if I believe in luck or if I just say it because it's what I'm used to hearing. For example, if something bad happens I say "just my luck", but I think I say that because I've heard other people say it so much. On the other hand, I do believe some people happen to randomly get lucky. For example, thousands of people play the lottery or gamble and one of them ends up winning millions of dollars. How does this happen? I feel that there's no other way besides luck. Although, I do feel that your amount of luck depends on karma and that sort of thing. I feel that if a person has good intentions, good things will happen and vice versa. Overall, luck is a topic that is hard to understand. I feel that we should all strive to be good people and luck will come our way.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how or why people win the lottery, and millions don't. That is just a game, I guess. I do agree that people should strive and become better. Good things could happen to humanity and our planet.
DeleteI absolutely believe in luck but not in superstitions. I think that every one has their turn in good or bad luck. Some people are more lucky than others such as those that win the lottery or win tickets on a radio show. Some people may have a long term of bad luck. superstitions are different though. I do not believe that the number 13 is unlucky or if I walk under a ladder I will have bad lucky. In my opinion, Superstitions are a silly but many people seem to follow them and religious believe in them. Luck is just "the luck of the draw" to me.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, they both are completely different. I'm jealous of those that seem to be so lucky, like good things are just chasing them!
DeleteI'm jealous also! But I guess we never know if they're unlucky without us knowing
DeleteI do believe in destiny, luck, and hard work. They work all together that its almost impossible to explain which one happens on our life. It’s true that if we work hard, we will be at better position than others. But sometimes no matter how hard we try. We may do all the possible and sometimes what it seems to be impossible, and we all frustrated because we don’t get what we want (or at least I do). I do also believe that things happen to us for a reason, because that’s the way it should be. There is this quote from a co-worker. I do not know where he got this from, but it’s true. It’s some like: “If it is not your turn, even if you wait. And if it's your turn, even if you take off.” About the number 13, I didn’t know some buildings skip it. I don’t believe on things like that. See, here in America we say that Friday the 13th is for bad luck. Well, in Mexico they say the same for Tuesday 13th, and in Italy is Friday the 17th.
ReplyDeleteJose i also think that good and or bad luck depends on the experience one has bee through, and i also think that a lot of things do happen for a reason and we just have to learn from our mistakes and move on.
ReplyDeletePersonally I do not believe the number 13 is unlucky. Hotels do however, or most them do skip the 13th floor essentially. Since so many people have this phobia to the number 13 it helps guests feel more comfortable. If 13 was such an unlucky number I would be a super unlucky guy because my birthday is on October 13th. Nothing terrible has ever happened to me on my birthday over the past 22 years of my life so I don't believe the number 13 is unlucky. When one person begins to say something, a multitude of people try to relate and began to say the same. The number thirteen is just another number and is not unlucky.
ReplyDeleteI don't think hotels believe in superstitions. They might skip the 13th floor just to make their guests (who do believe in superstitions) feel a little safer. If not, I think they would get some complaints and would rather not deal with people requesting to switch rooms often.
DeleteYou are right Jason 13 is just a number. I believe that people will try to find any excuse to say 13 is related to bad luck. The 13th day of the month is just like any other day. The 13th floor of a hotel is the same as any other floor even if they call it 14 instead of 13.
DeleteJason,
DeleteI don’t believe that number 13 is unlucky. It was okay for me, except for one moment in my life. There used to be this day, where I fell sick on May 13th. Other than that, number 13 was okay. I am not sure why certain buildings have a 13th floor. This probably might mean that 13 is just a number, and does not mean that it has anything to do with luck. I noticed that actions and immunity are two elements, which mask luck. I would also like to let you know that I am an October fan. This is because October has cool weather, and certain festivals (like Halloween). Nobody has to believe in luck, unless he/she does certain things to make his/her days unlucky. Luck is never certain in so many cases; it is mostly up to the individual to take the correct measures in his/her life. I noticed that all of your statements were correct, and that you wrote a concise paragraph. Overall, I really enjoyed your post.
Roshaan S.
I don't believe in luck, and I do not believe that the number 13 is unlucky. Actually, this is the first time I hear that buildings skip the 13 floor. I did not know that some people believe that 13 might be an unlucky number. But traditions do go around and sometimes I do catch myself knocking on wood. It just comes naturally, but sometimes I try to avoid it, because I don't think knocking on wood will be any good benefit. I find it pretty funny when I do such thing like that. Numbers just come in a random choice, for example, the game Bingo. The people playing that game want to win, but the numbers come in a random order. We don't know what number will come next or what person will win the game.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in luck either, but I do find myself knocking on wood. I think it is because I've done it so often it's more of a habit than a superstition.
DeleteHi Kimberley, I totally agree! It is like a habit now.
DeleteI was the same, I did not even know the number 13 is unlucky. It is funny i also do not believe in good or bad luck but I do find myself knocking on wood.
DeleteOh boy, here we go! There is no such thing as unlucky thirteen. I used to work in buildings where there was no thirteenth floor on the elevator. Being from a different culture where I heard no such thing, I could not believe what I was hearing when I asked the question, why? Not only did it not make sense to me, but also when I questioned my co-workers, they could not explain it to me. This only frustrated me further. Finally I gave up my attempts to try and make it make sense and accepted that it was just a cultural superstition that I would never understand. My question to my co-workers was; if I start the elevator on the first level and went to level fourteen, how many floors did I go up? Now the elevator buttons skipped the number thirteen and went to the number fourteen, but the number of floors did not change, so does the fact that you avoid putting the number thirteen on the elevator change the number of floors in the building? When you go outside and look up at the windows on each floor, the windows do not simply skip over thirteen and jump to fourteen, so would this not make floor fourteen unlucky also? Anyway, as I said, I gave up looking for the logic on the other side of this argument. By the way, the number thirteen is the call number of one of the most successful radio stations where I am from, and have been that way for over fifty years now. I bet they would say different about the number thirteen. If luck is to be defined as success or failure brought by chance, then I do believe in luck. Someone born on Christmas day could be considered lucky, as they may receive double the amount of presents or celebrations on that day. This is just due to chance and has nothing to do with that individual’s efforts. Whhshhhww!
ReplyDeleteAlbion, I found what you wrote very interesting. I agree there is people who have different meaning to things such as how you said about the radio station. There is no such thing as bad luck it all has to do with bad choices and chance.
DeleteI found it interesting too--and scary. He's right--it's only the numbering on the outside that changed. The building still knows which floor is the 13th. Albion and his logic! :)
DeleteHaha! Sometimes logic gets me in trouble, but I logically work my way out of it. Thanks to you also Neida.
DeleteI never paid much attention to building levels before, but when I stayed at a hotel last year and they did not have a 13th floor I was very surprised. I understand that some people believe in good and bad luck, but to go so far as to renumber building levels to accommodate them seems ridiculous. I am not someone who believes the things that happen to them are based on luck. I believe good and bad things happen to everyone; that is life. There are altruistic, charitable, kindhearted individuals who still find themselves with terminal diseases. In the same way, there are deceitful, selfish individuals who are successful and wealthy. This is not luck. This is the hand that life deals you. You can complain and wallow or you can gather yourself and make the most of it. If people choose to believe in luck, that is their decision. But when that belief becomes the basis of their thought-processes and influences the important decisions they make, then luck can be destructive. For some, believing in luck helps them feel in control because it means their luck is dependent on staying away from or doing certain things. For others, they believe because they do not want to put in the effort to achieve success. I believe hard work is one of the building blocks of true success. There are many people who choose to believe in luck, but I am not one of them.
ReplyDeleteHey Kimberly! Your response is so true. I especially like how you said a person can gather him or herself and make the most out of whatever they got. And most importantly, I like how you pointed out luck can be destructive. I think it can be the most destructive for gamblers.
DeleteHi Kim! Hard work definitely seems to have more positive and consistent results than luck alone.
DeleteHi Kimberly. I would add that some who believe in luck, also find it easy to blame their "bad luck" for failures on their behalf that are a result of their lack of effort and poor decision making. Wonderfully written points. I almost stood up and said AMEN! :)
DeleteI personally do not believe in good luck or bad luck. I think it is strange that buildings sometimes don't have a 13th floor because people are concerned by it being unlucky. If you go to a casino and win money on a slot machine it just happens by chance, you can just as easily lose money. I like athletes like James Harden and Dan Marino who said the heck with luck and wore number 13 on their jersey. I don't like when people say they have bad luck. I think what people perceive as luck could also be boiled down to making poor choices. People who think they have good luck or carry a lucky key chain or wear a lucky pair of socks are just as superstitious. I think luck boils down to making good choices and living with the result. Things happen by chance that are often out of our control. The number 13 is not an evil entity sworn to ruin people’s lives.
ReplyDeleteSean, I agree that things happen by chance. Also, if people make poor decisions then they try to find something to blame it on such as saying they had bad luck.
DeleteHi Sean. I really liked your examples of professional athletes who decided to end the belief of a "bad-luck" number.
DeleteHi Sean,
DeleteMy brother-in-law's soccer jersey has the number 13 on it so I applaud him for not being superstitious.
It is true, some things are out of our control but some people prefer saying that they have "bad luck."
Gambling is a dangerous sport. The moment you win is really the moment you can lose. People should cash out early before taking more risks. It's why I really fear becoming a gambler if I go to Vegas.
DeleteNich and Alma, I think athletes that choose to wear 13 are showing confidence in themselves. I also like this because in the world of sports someone is always trying to be better than you are. When an athlete wears 13 they show their teammates and fans that something like superstition and bad luck doesn't effect them. Having confidence in yourself is very important.
DeleteNeida and Michael, things like gambling are low risk and high reward. You are right about cashing out early Michael I have won $70 dollars on a slot spin in Vegas before and decided to keep playing and lost $40 before I cashed out. I didn't blame bad luck or anything on it. Games of that nature are purely chance. Everyone involved with them needs to know the possible outcome of spending money so you don't get carried away and end up in debt or something. I will always think luck is more based on good and bad decisions than if you are lucky or unlucky.
DeleteI don't believe in the number 13 is unlucky. I think it's a myth that has been passed down from generation to generation. For instance, they say Friday the 13 is bad luck but in reality not everyone is going to have "bad luck" that day. I also don't believe in good luck. I don't believe in good luck because I don't think a person didn't happen to get something they didn't deserve. The person might have worked hard and that hard work paid off. In other instances, I think the people might have just been at the right place and right time in which something good was being offered.
ReplyDelete"I'm a great believer in luck and find the harder I work the more I have of it." Ben Franklin
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting! The harder I work, the more Ben Franklins I have.
DeleteI do not believe the number 13 is unlucky. However, in my culture, we believe that the number 4 is unlucky because the pronunciation of 4 is similar to "death". I do believe in luck, but I do not believe luck makes up the bulk of an individual's chances of being successful. Luck to me is like finding 5 dollars on the ground or winning a raffle. I think that a person's belief in luck is mostly a placebo effect. It's all a mental process. We as humans try to make sense and find an explanation to everything.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it can be a type of placebo effect when people believe in bad luck. I also think that when people believe a number or an item has some type of bad luck, they are already expecting something bad to happen, and in return when one has that mentality of negativity, anything can really go bad, or one can view it as a bad luck. It can also be the same with good luck. For example, when people have a good luck charm they believe to do better than when they don't have it. That can also be said to be a person's belief in themselves or a situation. I think that whatever one beliefs it will hold true to our expectations.
DeleteHi Yang,
DeleteI like that you brought the placebo effect into this. It could be all in their minds. The mind is a powerful thing and it can trick us into believing something is bad just because it is considered "bad luck" and not because of facts.
Hi Yang, '
DeleteI agree with you and believe it is mostly all in our minds. Also, I found it very interesting about your culture and the number 4. I never realized that was a thing.
I do believe in luck to a certain point. For example, there have been many situations that I believed people or even myself were lucky: when winning money at a Casino or winning a car from a raffle. I believe that luck is to have something good happen to someone by chance; this can also apply to having bad luck. For some reason I have unconsciously believed that the number 13 is unlucky. I mean unconsciously because I do not necessarily believe it to be bad luck, but when situations have come up with the number 13, whether it has been a date, a number behind my soccer jersey or even a building I have tried to avoid it somehow, maybe because people have made the number 13 to be unattractive for its "bad luck", even if I does not believe in it. I think where we see the most bad associations with the number 13 and an event is on the media. Recently a new show came out in Netflix called "13 Reason Why" and that title is associated with the reason why someone committed suicide. You see? subconsciously there is an association of the number 13 and a bad event. Therefore I believe that those types of subliminal messages could be the reason why one might think the number 13 is just a bad number; whether one really believes in luck or not, in my opinion. I mean how did the number 13 even become associated with bad luck to begin with? I wonder.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about luck in that way, but I agree. If the title of the show would've had any other number I don't think people would have thought about it in the same way.
DeleteI agree with you Islia. there are many types of messages to be read with the number.
DeleteIslia, great way to makes us see both sides of luck. I do agree with you. I think you see the number 13 as bad because the people that surround you say that it's bad so you believe that its bad. Also, the media isn't helping.
DeleteI'm not really superstitious, because I don't really do things for good luck. In turn I don't relate to people who believe in bad or good luck. I've always been more of a logical thinker but at the same time understand that not all things have clear concise answers like I'd like them to. I think not having a 13th floor would be smart way to appease guests who are superstitious. I don't think the number 13 is unlucky its just a number as far as I'm concerned. Luck to me is just something people use to cope with and to label extreme circumstances. So no, I do not believe in luck myself.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, that is a good observation and I have never really thought of it in that way. It would make sense people use luck to explain or understand "extreme" circumstances.
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ReplyDeleteI honestly am not a very superstitious person. I do not believe in luck. I am more of an abstract thinker who believes everything happens for a reason. There are explanations to all our doubts and we as individuals are capable of figuring them all out. For that reason, I do not believe in luck. I believe there are negative and positive forces. People who are negative produce many illogical explanations to things they do not understand. For such, a specific number being unlucky can be an example. I believe luck as a superstition was created when individuals could not explain why certain things happen, so they needed a reason.
Melissa, I agree that luck can be a superstition people use. Some people think that they are having bad luck and blame luck instead of blaming whoever caused those bad things to happen.
DeleteI honestly split luck and superstition altogether. Luck can certainly happen, but it can definitely be used as you stated it. Luck can definitely be a convenient excuse.
Deletehi Melissa,
DeleteI agree with you, I believe things do happen for a reason. I think bad and good things happen because of each persons destiny.
Hi Melissa, I agree with you. I don't believe in luck either and think it was an easy way to explain why something was happening.
DeleteI am not sure if I can say if I believe in luck or not. I do constantly say that I was unlucky or that I was lucky, but I say it without really thinking of the connotation it has. I think it could just be a habit or could be that I believe it. I am actually unsure about that. I always grew up hearing that people had bad luck, but I never thought if I really believe it or just if I say it. What I can say about the 13rd floor is that 13 is not an unlucky number. Lot’s of people have superstitions that the number in general is bad. It’s kind of sad that places have to leave off the number 13 to say it’s the 14th floor when in reality it’s the 13th. Those people normally believe in bad luck and all superstitions. I personally don’t think that the number 13th is bad luck. It’s just a regular number like any other number. There is not something odd that the number 13 has. I think it all goes back to Friday the 13th. Everyone thinks it’s a very bad day and some people get scared that they don’t even want to leave their house. All they talk about is Freddie and Jason. No, Friday the 13 is the same as Thursday the 12 or any other day. Since 13 is thought to be an unlucky number and it landed on Friday, it’s a bad day. I’m not sure of how Friday the 13 came to be, but it all goes back to the superstition people have.
ReplyDeleteHi Bianca,
DeleteI am always saying that I am luck or unlucky also, but not because I believe in luck. It is just something I say to express my happiness or disappointment.
Hi Alma,
DeleteI also express myself that way when I think I feel lucky or unlucky.
I would have to say that I don’t believe in luck, but maybe more so in chance. Some people, by chance, are in the wrong place at the wrong and “unlucky” things happen and vise versa, people can be in the right place at the right the time and have “lucky” things happen. I’m not one to believe in superstitions like don’t walk under a ladder, or when a black cat walks in front of you something bad is going to happen. I actually find Friday the 13th to be fun as a lot of places give discounts! lol However, I do believe in karma, which I guess in a way is kind of like luck. I strongly believe that if you put positivity out into the universe that is what you will receive in return and the same with negativity. What goes around comes around and I don’t want to be on karma’s bad side.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe the number 13 is unlucky. I don't really believe in "luck" at all. I think "luck" is just a mind set. People who are optimistic and focus on the good things that happen in their life may consider themselves "lucky". I think when people forget to acknowledge the small positive events that happen in life, they feel as though they can't catch a break and are "unlucky". It is important to acknowledge our failures, but there is no need to dwell on them.
ReplyDeleteJoann, I feel its very important we acknowledge our failures because they help us grow.
DeleteI feel the same way. Great thoughts!
DeleteI personally haven't encountered anything unlucky dealing with the number 13, such as a bad Friday the 13th. With that being said, just in case it really is unlucky I'd appreciate all tall buildings to forget the 13th floor. I believe in luck for sure because of how bad of luck I have! I have this really weird thing that happens, which is, when I say or think something bad hasn't happened to me in a while, it will literally happen within a week! For example, I once said "I haven't cracked my screen in forever" then it happened the next day! I do forget to do superstitious routines, like not splitting a pole, so maybe that's why my luck hasn't been looking up...
ReplyDeleteHi Jose, you have some good points. Maybe all does depends how the person is feeling at that moment either good or bad.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in a household that taught me to believe in good and bad luck. Most good luck was because of God. I remember being younger and my parents would have this belief where if you spilled salt, you would have bad luck. My mom would tell me to gather as much as I could and throw it in the sink to dissolve it. I used to be terrified when I spilled salt.
ReplyDeleteI also remember being in the 4th grade and believing all the Friday the 13th, crossing a black cat, walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror, picking up a penny off the ground, knocking on wood, and opening umbrellas indoors myths. One year, it was my sister’s birthday and we were stuck celebrating inside because there was a storm out. I recall her telling me that it was raining because her birthday landed on Friday the 13th that year and she was having bad luck.
As I got older, I stopped believing all these “bad luck” superstitions. I happen to think that people are in the right place at the right time or in the wrong place at the wrong time. So to answer the question, the number 13 is not unlucky and I do not believe in luck.
My mom would tell me the same thing, so funny!
DeleteI wouldn't say I believe in bad luck or good luck, I do believe in karma though. But I never really seemed to believe those superstitions like walking under a ladder or a black cat crossing in front of you. Its super interesting to hear those stories and what could happen due to bad luck but it never really scared me. I actually have a black cat and a lot of my friends were scared of her at first but now they love her!
ReplyDeleteZelina,
DeleteThe black cat superstitions are the funniest to me. The poor kitten just happens to be of the color black, why does it have to be bad luck?
I love black cats! Haha but anyways, I don't think I believe they're unlucky. Every time I see one, I think of that superstition though
DeleteIn an inherent sense, I believe that luck certainly can exist. Sometimes people can catch a break, and some people can't. To me, that is just life. Many things can happen in life and even though it can fail, you have to try again. I think you have to keep trying in order to really survive in the world nowadays. It's very often that people will jump on your back for any given reason, and it all rotates to making someone else's life miserable in order to life to them pleasurable. The number 13 to me always felt like it was never an unlucky number; superstition can exist as well. People walking under ladders or seeing black cats in an alleyway have never struck me as something I should fear. I really do reject most superstition, but when it comes to luck, I especially deny it.
ReplyDeleteMichael,
DeleteIn my opinion, I think luck does not always mean anything. Some people are conditioned to certain beliefs, because other people spread certain news in a convincing way. I think that making the right choices, is a way to prevent bad luck from happening in the future. I always try not to believe in good and bad luck. I noticed that making the correct choices, avoids 99% to 100% of the problems. I even gave several examples regarding luck, in the first paragraph, at the bottom of the blog page. In many cases, everyone has to take the correct actions, in order to achieve his/her goals. Superstition is based on people convincing other people to believe in certain ideas, like the following: Black cats, dead crows, and Halloween all symbolize bad luck. I make sure I stay away from superstition, as much as possible. Karma is more realistic than luck, because it involves the intensities of actions leading to similar intensities of consequences.
Roshaan S.
I didn’t know that some buildings didn’t have a 13th floor but then again, I don’t go into buildings that have that many floors. The number 13 to me doesn’t seem to be unlucky, I personally do not believe in luck but more of being in the right place at the right time. The way I grew up might have also framed the way I think my parents never showed any signs of being superstitious so I never bothered with such ideas. I think good things come to you by working hard not really by how much luck you have, if you just wait around and wait for luck to bring you good things nothing will ever happen. Society now puts a big emphasis on Friday the 13th but I think it’s more of a tradition than actually believing it will bring you bad luck. Around town they are also beginning to cash in on the “Friday the 13th” craze by putting up haunted houses on those weekends. Movies also cash in on this in order to scare us but there is no superstition behind it just a scary movie.
ReplyDeleteDenise, I agree with you. Good things do come to those who work hard.
DeleteSometimes I can’t say I do agree there is good and bad luck. Mainly because if I believe I’m having a bad luck day I oversee all the good things that will happen that day. For example, when my debit card was compromised I didn’t see how my day went, and that I was able to eat that day. I do believe in Karma, and then I had gone to the eagle mountain casino with friends on a whim and I ended up winning about a months’ worth paycheck. To say that luck is associated with a number seems a little odd. It is fun to say bad things will happen Friday the 13, but I have yet to see guaranteed bad luck. I would also never wish it on anyone.
ReplyDeleteI don't really believe in luck and I don't believe the number 13 is unlucky. I never fully understood the reasoning behind the unluckiness of 13; I just see it as a number. I feel that most people associate the number thirteen with bad luck because of "Friday the Thirteenth" and some horror films. People might see 13 as an outlier because 12 is an even and complete number. For example the superstition of seeing a black cat in the street at night will give you bad luck, many people are very superstitious. I believe that it depends on a persons past experiences and the kind of encounters they have had, it really just is perspective . If you've had a lot of good things happen to you then you might consider to be lucky, and if you have had a lot of bad experiences you might consider yourself very unlucky.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it had a lot to do with your past experiences. Some of the choices you make in life will without a doubt have an impact somewhere down the line. This could be just a part of life or also seen as bad luck.
DeleteI definitely agree with you when you say it is all based on perspective!
DeleteI do not believe there is such thing as bad luck or good luck. I believe the things that happen to us are all just a coincidence. I always hear about all these superstitions and how if you do not follow them you get bad luck for a certain number of years. It is fun to participate in these superstitions because they are silly and sometimes you can’t help but think about whether you really will get bad luck. I have broken many of these superstitions like walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror, and opening an umbrella indoors and after doing all those things I have had no bad luck. As for the number 13, I actually have not noticed that there are no 13th floors and I believe the number 13 has no association with being bad luck, it is simply just a number.
ReplyDeleteI think luck depends on the individual. Almost everyone has unique views based on luck. Some people believe in it, and some don’t. In my case, I do not believe in it. I noticed that whenever I pray to God about certain things, my prayers sometimes work and sometimes do not work. Luck is never certain; making the right decisions and performing the correct actions work. I think thirteen is a lucky number for certain people, and it isn’t for others. In my case, I don’t believe in it. This also stands for the fact, that if you don’t know the rules of a game, you cannot help your team win. If you don’t take certain responsibilities in college, you cannot expect to succeed in your classes or graduate on time. This also happens with doing certain chores like the following: watering your plants, doing your homework, studying for a test, and even feeding your pets. Even deciding whether or not to go on a dangerous venture, can sometimes lead to serious consequences. Prayers sometimes work, and sometimes don’t. I used to pray for certain sick people to get well, and these prayers didn’t work. These people still died. I think what Christian Garibay said about karma, seems to be true. Karma causes people to get saved, die, fail, succeed, and face several consequences. An action today could cause any present or future consequences. This means that people should be aware of their actions, thoughts, desires, and characters. I know that everyone is having certain individual problems, and he/she should work on his/her own actions (including me).
ReplyDeleteI personally do believe in good and bad luck. I think that the number thirteen is unlucky therefore only because its and odd number but that is my opinion. Therefore I don't believe that is the reason many buildings don't go up to the thirteenth floor. I believe in good luck when I do great things for others and make good decisions because I believe that what you give you get in return. Then in the bad luck I believe it goes the same way. For me, the bad luck part happens most to me when I lie. It all catches up to me and then I realize that it wasn't even worth telling the lie. In my opinion it all depends on the person because it's always the type of situation one is in.
ReplyDeleteHi Omar, so is there a distinction between bad luck and karma? I think bad luck is all in the mind. Mind over matter.
DeleteI agree with you. Things catch up to you if your doing something negative such as lying. Eventually you can't keep up with the lies you tell and make mistakes.
DeleteI find it interesting how you think 13 is unlucky because it is an odd number. I love hearing about different opinions from everyone and that is one I have never heard! (not a bad thing).
DeleteI don't really believe in the luck and unlucky. I know the number 13 is associated with black cats and an unlucky Friday. I think unlucky things happen to people that believe in that kind of stuff. In my opinion, people use it as an excuse to justify things that happen to make them feel better or more understanding. Most people believe in good luck but try to ignore the bad luck side. There are movies and songs that have gained a lot because of things like Friday the 13th. Tattoo shops have tattoo specials just for this day to help put people in the spirit i guess. People may not believe in the bad luck but some people enjoy this day because it's dark. A lot of people enjoy the other side which isn't always so bright and typical. So I guess I sometimes believe in luck when it's good and it's beneficial but when it's bad luck I look at it like something else. I think this is how a lot of people think as well.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to people using things that are associated with bad luck to justify things that happen to them; isn't it amazing how people's minds influence their behavior?
DeleteI have never thought about bad things happening to people because they believe in that kind of stuff. To me, that makes sense because I know people who literally worry themselves sick. Applying that to people who believe in bad luck is a very interesting approach.
DeleteI've never really been a superstitious person so I don't think that 13 is an unlucky number. Nothing bad has ever happened to me on days like Friday the 13tb either. In regards to believing in luck, I do believe in luck. Some things that happen to some people, even to me, are just so rare and unpredictable. When I make a shot in basketball that I don't think I will make, I consider myself to be lucky. I usually point out when someone else is lucky if I'm playing sports with them or when I'm playing a game of chance with them. Some people just get really lucky in life.
ReplyDeleteI also do something similar. Always point out somebody's luck but never have really thought of how they might have gotten that good or bad luck.
DeleteI've never thought of 13 being unlucky. But I guess that's where the movie Friday the 13th came from
Delete- This is a difficult question. I do believe in luck , but I do not believe in the number 13 being bad luck. I guess my emotions are mixed when it comes to different things. I know several people who are superstitious and several that are not. People's own experiences is what I think molds their beliefs. Say someone has received luck with the number 13 or simply have not had bad luck with the number 13; that someone will probably have a different perspective on what the number 13 means to them than someone who has had bad luck or has experienced something good. It all varies.
ReplyDeleteMajority of society would say that the number 13 is unlucky. In my lifetime I have never experienced any bad luck with it or from different objects like opening and umbrella inside or walking underneath a ladder. With that being said I do believe in luck just I don't believe that objects like those would be the cause of bad luck, I believe overall as a person either you have good luck or you don't. So basically you are born with it. Some individuals have better luck then others while others simply always have bad luck.
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ReplyDeleteI never knew that some buildings do not have a 13th floor; it is because I do not think I have been in such tall buildings. I do not believe that the number 13 is unlucky but I do believe many people believe it is because of Friday the 13’s. I believe it is more of a superstition because I do not believe people have bad luck on those days. I do not believe in good or bad luck because I think good things happen to people because they work hard for them or it is just destiny if they win the lottery. Also, the same goes for bad things it is just destiny.
I agree Denise. I feel like it is mostly superstition as well. And I wouldn't say luck has anything to do with it, but some people seem to be at the right place during the right time.
DeleteI didn't know that either Denise until this blog!
DeleteI don't really think the number 13 is unlucky. In fact, I don't believe in luck at all. I think everything happens for a reason. I know a lot of people are superstitious, especially with all the movies that are made about the number 13. People start to think its so unlucky that it becomes true. I'm sure a lot of hotel owners do it because they do think 13 is bad luck. Sure some people are born in better situations than others, but I still don't think thats luck. I think there is a reason why some are born with better or worse circumstances than others. I think people are meant to be where they are. I think things that happen in life are either random or happen for a reason.
ReplyDeleteI agree that everything happens for a reason
DeleteIt's interesting, I do not believe in bad luck, but I do think some people get lucky sometimes. I've always said that I think there is no such thing as coincedence so maybe I have just been contradicting myself my whole life hahah!
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ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I believe in luck but I really don't think the number 13 is unlucky. In fact, the number 13 has been my favorite number since kindergarten and I have no idea why. Maybe because somehow that number always found its way back to me. For example, in elementary and middle school the students in our class would either have their desk numbered or the number of their locker, and I would always get the number 13 . However, I've never seen it as good luck or bad luck, I was just excited and fascinated that it always led its way back to me and it grew on me. As for luck, I believe things just happen for a reason. I mean other people will talk about successful being lucky or that successful people don't like being told they're lucky because of hard work, but there are also people who haven't been able to find success not because of lack of work but just other issues that others are "lucky" or fortunate to not have to go through. Sure everyone has their own problems, some mental and some physical, but none of it really has to do with luck or bad luck. I guess it just all falls back to science or actuality but I'm not going to lie, it is tricky to actually know if luck is real in this universe or just a myth.
I definitely agree with you. Everything happens for a reason. As in some cases luck may have something to do with it but I'm a firm believer of something happening for a reason.
ReplyDeleteThe whole belief or myth of the "luck" situation is an interesting one because growing up I always taught that everything happens for a reason. Not saying I do not believe in luck would be hypocritical of me because I do believe in luck, I just a lot of cases have a lot to do with it being just it was suppose to happen in a sense. Like for example, a bad relationship usually will help you for any future relationships. Sometimes a bad relationship in life is needed for many of us because it allows you to progress and become an overall better person. But there are some instances where luck has a lot to do with it, like videos of people literally surviving near death experiences could be a case of luck or it just wasn't meant to be.
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