Are you superstitious?

[Kobuk]

Today is Friday the 13th.  Do you believe in bad luck? Are you superstitious?
What do you and don't you believe in?

Black cat crossing your path.
Four leaf clover.
Walking under a ladder.
Break a mirror, get 7 years bad luck.
.........etc., etc.

[Varg the wanderer]

Or an Engineering Final... Ugh.

[Doc]

Nope! Today's actually a day of good fortune for me and some other people.

[charcoal]

Nope I'm  a walking  bad luck charm

[Loc]

No. It's all a load of crap as far as I'm concerned.

[Varg the wanderer]

The day's superstition supposedly started with the burning at the stake of the Knight's Templar.

Thank you, catholic church. A mighty fine job you did of representing Christ's peace.

But then again, we all have parts of our past we're embarrassed of. 




And if you don't, don't worry, you will. 

[Old Rabbit]

Rabbit's feet are supposed to be good luck. Tell that to the poor rabbit who lost
his feet.. 

Good luck is something that happens to others. Bad luck happens to you.

It's all in your head anyway. 

[Yip]

Superstitions are primarily a result of the fact that when recognizing patterns we nearly always err on the side of making false positives.
Which is to say, we tend to notice patterns even when there is no actual pattern there.

[some_random_wusky]

my religion kinda requires me to be superstitious to an extent

[Old Rabbit]

I imagine there are many many superstitious beliefs.

Religion is probably at the base of many superstitions.

Some are probably called "Taboo's"

Beliefs in magical beings have caused many more.

A few that I know are.

Break a mirror=7 years bad luck.
Don't walk under a ladder.
Don't step on sidewalk cracks.
Don't let a black cat cross your path.
Toss salt over your shoulder.
Knock on wood.
Horse shoes are considered good luck.
Four leaf clovers are considered good luck.

These are the most familiar to me anyway. There are probably
hundreds perhaps thousands more.

The human mind is very creative. Just add a bit of coincidence with a little fear
or good fortune, and a superstition is born.

[some_random_wusky]

Toss salt over your shoulder.
Knock on wood.

those two are actually legitemate

[Bronx]

I wouldn't call myself superstitious. To me, superstitions seem like the product of confirmation bias, when people over-exaggerate when things line up with their beliefs and downplay the times when they don't.

[Yip]

Toss salt over your shoulder.
Knock on wood.

those two are actually legitemate

How so?

[Natura Wolf]

It may be interesting to know that allot of Hotels and Motels do not have Number 13 rooms or 13th floors.

[Old Rabbit]

It may be interesting to know that allot of Hotels and Motels do not have Number 13 rooms or 13th floors.

Your right.. When I was building things for home or business construction
I rarely ever made something exactly 13 inches.. Just a hangup I had. 

[Varg the wanderer]

Ironically, Our aircraft 13 flew great in my squadron, but A/C 07 was always broken and they didn't have a 04 because every time we numbered one that it crashed.

[Old Rabbit]

Ironically, Our aircraft 13 flew great in my squadron, but A/C 07 was always broken and they didn't have a 04 because every time we numbered one that it crashed.

I understand some cultures consider the number 13 lucky.

[HazardJackal]

From my experience, bad luck is the result of one not paying enough attention, or one making assumptions.

So yeah, bad luck is a real thing as far as i'm concerned, but it's not something you don't have influence over.