2006-10-21 01:47:51 · 9 answers · asked by Nick E 2 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
it works like a prejudice: if you believe it you will find proof. You won't "count" the times bad things happening in twos or single, or say "well that's an exception" and forget about it. Prejudice (women can't drive, men are pigs) and these old wives tales always will be proven right by believers: every time they meet a bad female driver or a male moron they say "SEE??? Told you so!!!", reinforcing their prejudice.
If you are a believer, and two bad things happen in one day, you will sit and wait for something to happen, get nervous and trip over the threshold. And there you are, third accident! Just shrug and go on, don;t worry about it.
Greetings from Holland
2006-10-21 02:16:45 · answer #1 · answered by icqanne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not too sure about proof but it always seems to be true, especially with deaths. In a book called the Alchemist a wise man says that if something bad happens it most certainly will not happen again. If it does happen again, it will most certainly happen a third time. Something like that anyway. You know those bad days when after two bad things happen, you are either hanging out for the third thing to go wrong so that you can get on with it or when it happens it is no surprise at all. Probably based on an old wives tale somewhere along the line.
2006-10-21 01:52:27 · answer #2 · answered by sticky 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it isnt just bad luck, and though i don't know of any statistics that corroborate it, i do have 33 years life experience and unfortunately things do have a tendancy to happen in three's. After all its the magic number
2006-10-21 02:10:35 · answer #3 · answered by Janey1973 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
statistics are rubbish, people once found out that 80% of all israel fighter pilots have daugters, and thought it meant something. What about the fighters around the year before etc - statistics are wrong, but million to one chances work out nine times out of ten!
2006-10-21 01:54:50 · answer #4 · answered by Mr Gravy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Now then you lot - I've just read all the answers and I think it has to do with the war, when soldiers were in the trenches. When they lit a match to have a cigerette - 1st Match - They saw it. 2nd Match - they took aim 3rd Match - well that could be unlucky.
BECAUSE THE ENEMY MIGHT SEE IT AND SHOOT YOU .
2006-10-21 02:38:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It always happens in my life,and the lives of family and friends. I don't think anyone has actually researched it !
2006-10-21 01:51:02 · answer #6 · answered by Taylor29 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
None. It is a prime example of people believing what they are told then reading patterns into non-related events.
2006-10-21 01:50:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
None. Pure superstition.
2006-10-21 02:00:52 · answer #8 · answered by Clown Knows 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no thats ridiculous and superstitious there isnt any statistical evidence whatsoever
2006-10-21 01:51:07 · answer #9 · answered by superface 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋