Let's get real, folks. 

I understand that superstitions are ingrained in tradition and history. I get that. But you know what happened? Science. That's why we're not letting barbers bleed us dry anymore.

There is nothing evil about a black cat. Well, at least it's not any more evil than any other cat. Leave Mittens alone. Stepping on a crack has never, in fact, broken anyone's back.

Luck just isn't a thing. Chance is a thing, but luck isn't. Probability is mathematics. There isn't anything you can do to make things magically happen the way you want them to. Carrying around your four leaf clover is just for your own mind.

According to a new study out of the University of Chicago, when you knock on wood, it actually DOES prevent bad things from happening - but only because of YOU.

The researchers found when you knock on wood, throw salt over your shoulder, or whatever, it GENUINELY makes you believe something bad is less likely to happen.

So while it doesn't necessarily stop bad luck, it makes you FEEL like you've stopped the bad luck . . . and keeps you from worrying as much. There's another possible effect too.  By acknowledging possible bad luck, and taking a step to prevent it . . . even a superstitious step . . . you make yourself temporarily more ALERT and on the lookout for risks, which can help prevent them.

So really, if you do something stupid today, it's because you did something stupid. It's not because it's Friday the 13th.  If your superstition is fun for you, okay, great. But don't blame bad decisions or carelessness on your superstition.

Probability yours,
Behka

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