Risk Assesment

We have the tendency to hear scary statistics in the media and make pessimistic judgments based on the reporter's tone of voice. We need to be educated enough to make our decisions based on concrete evidence, not just by word of mouth. We also need to be aware of the fact that nature is static and certain things can happen to anyone at any time. Anyone's life can be taken at any moment by any means regardless of how they themselves are trying to avoid risk. We cannot control the decisions of others and the decisions they make about how they will deal with risk in their lives will eventually affect us as well. It does not matter how safe a driver is, how well-maintained he keeps his vehicle, etc. there will always be someone who chooses to run a stop sign, a red light, drive drunk, or break the speed limit. .
             RESULTS: To illustrate the point that risks occur randomly and by chance in some instances, our professor handed out 20 white note cards to groups of 4-6 people. Taking turns, each member of the group randomly selected one of the twenty cards that was either marked with one or two X's or was left blank. Each X represented a risk point that was given to the team member who drew the card. This was done successively for 20 rounds. The maximum points one could accumulate before "dying" was 10. But due to their lifestyle, one could start the game with 2-6 points without ever drawing a card. This could be due to their age, sex, and driving habits. In my group, the majority of the team members were "dead" before the 20 rounds were completed. I was killed in the 18th round. .
             To illustrate the point that many times risks are perceived by individuals, our professor placed a loaded mousetrap and a unclean beaker full of water that had come from an unknown source in front of us and asked us what we would rather do, put our finger in the trap or drink the mystery water. Most people in the classroom chose to put their finger in the trap.