h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Luck - A21382850
Author: Uncle Travelling Matt (the Hoopy) Esq. - U168592

Flea Market Rescue.

Original Entry here: A54190

Not bad

"people who believe they are affected by luck (particularly 'bad luck'), often find that due to their beliefs (such as praying to a certain god, wishing on the Good Luck Fairy, or dropping coins in a well / fountain) they act in a way that just invites luck to strike them down."

Is there a good example of this that could be used? I can think of the obvious example of someone who's up for a promotion, but is so convinced of his own bad luck that he decides it's not even worth trying, consequently loses the promotion, and blames it on bad luck. A self-fulfilling prophecy, as they say. A (more succinct) example could be useful in making this point, I think.

I've heard 'lucky duck' more than 'lucky fer' but I suppose you do circulate in tougher groups than I, Matt Also, unless I'm very much mistaken, I don't think that 'lucky fer' is alliterative but just kinda-sorta rhymes. Y'know, in the middle there. The part.

Good find!

Check your "effects" and "affects" - you often use the former when you mean the latter!

>>the grouping together of all the previous happy or sad occurrences in the life of any given person<< - wouldn't that be "fortune" rather than "luck"? I'm not sure, the two are not distinct in German.

Thanks both, I think I've sorted out my affects and effects, but I'm rubbish at them, so point them out if they're glaring.

I'll look for an example of the self fulfilling prophecy, good plan.

I've updated the duck / f**k bit - I guess I'm just a brash Aussie ain't I?

As for the fortune bit, not quite sure I follow, I've referenced the use of the word fortune for luck in the first sentence, perhaps expand upon?

effect/affect all correct now!

"Fortune" is more in the sense of "destiny" - the sum total of luck. I think.

mmm, mayhaps I mean being fortunate...

I'm having trouble finding a succinct little example to tie in, if any one else can - great, if not I don't feel the Entry misses out with there not being one.

As luck would have it I stumbled onto this. You've done a fine job with it I'd say

As far as I know, fortunate and lucky are interchangeable. Except that I've never heard 'fortunate f***er' uttered in all my life. Anyway, to seek one's fortune or to try one's luck are about the same I think. In this context anyway - in another context you would not call a mercenary a soldier of luck.

In the "You're in Luck" section, you are noticeably avoiding the fact that arithmetic is involved. What I mean is that you are essentially saying that there are a lot of plus points given for winning the lottery, but even more negative points given for being flattened in a freak accident. Especially, where you say "then one event may have an effect on the other" - you really mean, or ought to mean, that one event offsets the other. I'm not saying to put equations in - just use language that is consistent with the fact that we are toting up a balance when deciding if a person is lucky or not.

As for a succinct example - Isn't there some character in a book, play or movie that is an archetype? It seems so, but I can't think of it at the moment. Perhaps you can and good luck to you.

Interesting rescue, Matt.

If you're keen on the expletives, then I reckon 'lucky b*****d' is more common. (Remember the dungeon sketch in Life of Brian?)

You mention Australia being the 'Lucky Country', but this was ironic. The title was given to Australia by the journalist and historian Donald Horne in his book of that title published in 1964. 'Australia is a lucky country run mainly by second-rate people who share its luck', he concluded.

If you want to sum up luck to the British, it's being run over by ambulance. "Gosh, that was lucky", you say as you lie in the road.

Icy

Maybe Gladstone Gander from the Donald Duck canon is a good example?

I see what you are getting at but the repetition of 'unlucky' and 'lucky' leads me to tie myself up in knots. Is there an alternative way to say these words? do you always need to use them? can luck be scientifically proven?

Interesting question, Opti

I'm sure you could scientifically prove it occurred within the confines of random variation, to an arbitrary level of confidence. Having said that, James Randi may give you $1,000,000 for proving otherwise. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Randi

Matt, you can't have a footnote to a footnote. Put the text of footnote 3 in round brackets within the body of footnote 2, and please change f****r to b*****d

I'll work through these as a I go.

pailaway -

>In the "You're in Luck" section, you are noticeably avoiding the fact that arithmetic is involved. What I mean is that you are essentially saying that there are a lot of plus points given for winning the lottery, but even more negative points given for being flattened in a freak accident. Especially, where you say "then one event may have an effect on the other" - you really mean, or ought to mean, that one event offsets the other. I'm not saying to put equations in - just use language that is consistent with the fact that we are toting up a balance when deciding if a person is lucky or not.<

You noticed I shy away from maths? You found out! But I think that's been sorted

Icy -

>If you're keen on the expletives, then I reckon 'lucky b*****d' is more common. (Remember the dungeon sketch in Life of Brian?)<

I recall it, but I'm leaving it as is for the reason I've heard it more often - yes, the 'you, lucky, lucky, bastard' is amusing and potential for another link, but I could go overboard.

>You mention Australia being the 'Lucky Country', but this was ironic. The title was given to Australia by the journalist and historian Donald Horne in his book of that title published in 1964. 'Australia is a lucky country run mainly by second-rate people who share its luck', he concluded.<

Fixed the footnote to read better now I feel.

>If you want to sum up luck to the British, it's being run over by ambulance. "Gosh, that was lucky", you say as you lie in the road.<

Done

Mal -

>Maybe Gladstone Gander from the Donald Duck canon is a good example?<

Not familiar with that one, and not sure the general readership will be, I'll try and find something a little more classical

Opti -

>I see what you are getting at but the repetition of 'unlucky' and 'lucky' leads me to tie myself up in knots. Is there an alternative way to say these words?<

The Entry is about luck, hence the repition. If I write an Entry about avocadoes, I'm going to use that word an awful lot too.

>can luck be scientifically proven?<

Dunno? Can it?

h5ringer -

>Matt, you can't have a footnote to a footnote. Put the text of footnote 3 in round brackets within the body of footnote 2, and please change f****r to b*****d<

I've sorted out the footnote, but the expletive is remaining as it is the sound just as much as the term that is important. I don't see the problem, it's not detracting from the Entry and the Guidelines clearly state that if expletives are appropriate then they may remain. I deem it appropriate for the reasons I mentioned.

That's it so far I think, just still looking for an example of a character to use, but again, if there are none forthcoming then I don't think the Entry desperately needs one.

I like it.

I think it would be good if ou had a little list of things which are considered to be lucky and another of things considered unlucky (though obviously these are extremely culturally-dependent, I remember a host of adverts by a high street bank detailing this).

For example, a horseshoe attached open-end up above the door of a house is considered lucky as the luck falls into it and collects, but if it's open end down, the luck falls out. It's unlucky to walk under ladders, that sort of thing. Of course, these are superstitions too, so it depends how far you want to go into that.

hmm, I'm not too keen on lists, but I might add something to the 4 'types' of luck, giving examples perhaps. Let me see what I can find

Yep, good find.

I heard a remark about luck in the pub that I thought so good I wrote it down. Just to share it:

"Coming out on top is all about timing. Luck is just social rhythm"

My favourite 'lucky' quote

I'm amazed how lucky I am when I research and prepare thoroughly.

What about things like touching wood or crossing your fingers for luck?

Also, how about the weirdness that arises when someone has had a horrific accident, but survived, and they are called lucky. To me, it'd have been more lucky had they avoided the accident entirely!

My favourite 'lucky' quote/put-down is by the golfer Arnold Palmer (I think it was Palmer but it could have been Gary Player, or ...).

Referring to a shot that Palmer (if it was Palmer) had chipped out the bunker to within a gnat's of the hole, the commentator/interviewer said, "You've always been a *lucky* player", to which Palmer replied with a dead-straight face "Yeah, the more I practise, the luckier I seem to get"