Fear Creates Uncertainty
I was just watching the new quiz show "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader". Initially, I thought it would be a silly show since the questions would be so easy that everyone would win the big bucks. As I watched it though, it definitely wasn't the case. Some questions are so simple but yet with our busy lives, we neglect to notice them. For example, did you know when John Howard was first elected to Government. I thought it was 1997, but the answer was 1996. The contestant got it wrong, yet all the kids got it right. To their simple uncomplicated lives, their brains allow them to focus on these things and remember them.
However, what I wanted to write about was not how clever these kids are, but how fear can create such uncertainty in us. When the contestant was answering the initial questions, with the stakes so low, even for questions she was fairly sure about, she would lock them in. However, as the money values got higher and higher, even though the questions were similarly difficult, she didn't lock them in. She was pretty sure of the answers, but was unwilling to lock them in. This was due to the big risk she would be taking financially. We all know how hard it is to make $50 000 after tax dollars, so would be unwilling to risk it. The fear in us of losing that money makes us so uncertain about our own decisions.
I can relate to this. Any time when the stakes are deemed to be high, we second guess ourselves. It's all very relative as well as to when the stakes are high. When I play poker with my friends for example, even though we may only play for $20 all up, in relative terms in that game, the stakes are high. Hence I get so nervous when I have to decide whether to go all in or not. Yet, when the situation changes and I play a few hands at the casino, $20 in that environment is so little and I'm not nervous betting it.
In both those situations though, if the stakes are deemed to be high by someone, it will make us uncertain about our actions. This applies to all facets of our lives. Hence it is why its so hard to take a risk. Taking a risk implies that the stakes are high and its something you are not sure about. The outcomes may be advantageous, but we have to way those positives with the consequences of it going wrong. The natural fear in us will make us second guess our decisions. People who are brave enough and have the conviction will make those decisions. We are all brave in one sense as we all have to make some decisions. It's just that some people are willing to make bigger decisions. In general, its people who take risks that get rewarded. It's rare for really good things to just land in your lap without you taking a chance and going for it. You may regret your risk, but you will probably regret it even more if you don't take that risk.
posted by thanh7580 @ 10:23 PM
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16 Comments:
Dumb Do,
The reason why the 5th Graders are smarter than you is because they don't stuff their face every minute of the day and go home whinging on the sofa.
Instead they expand their minds on MSN and Facebooks using their webcams to talk to complete strangers. Before you know it they'll be stalked and hunted like a snake hunts a rabbit. So yes they may be smarter now but wait till see the real world....
Stupid cowardly Do,
If you were the risk taker, your company Gore Tek would be up and running faster than before. But you are too reliant on things happening or hoping on good luck. Rather you MUST take a different approach on selling your products. There are huge demands on what you sell, but the only difference between you and the guy I saw selling the same stuff in Century City Walk the other weekend, is obvious. You should work that out yourself.
Pathetic Do,
Some people don't take risk not always because they fear of what they may lose, but rather whether they feel it is worth the rewards if they do take the risks.
For example, a person who gambles $1 to win $100000 would of course go ahead with it compared to say another gambler betting $100 for $200.
With you, it is not so much the risk or consequences of 'losing', but rather the fact that you have no ambitions to gain more than what you already have.
You already have a big house, nice cars, sexy women, more money than Warren Buffet. You got it all.
Your daily food consumption could solve half of Africa's poverty.
You don't have to overcome your fear caused by uncertainty, because one thing for is for sure, no matter what you do you end up getting fatter and richer by the minute.
Negative Nancy Do,
The problem with you is your too negative. Sure you have to be realistic in life and not become too naive. But with you is that whatever opportunity comes your way, you look at it and dissect it apart in so many ways that you end up only looking into negatives and ways of failing. Nothing in life is 100% success, but if you don't take life by the balls and have a shot at taking the next level up, all you end up is love handles and flubber thighs as you watch your silly HK movies everyday on the sofa.
Wow Do,
You got a lot of enemies or something??? They are right, you don't take enough risk, all you do is blog about other people who do and don't.
This blog is ok to talk about but it's still such an 'already talked about' topic.
You should blog about why Thanh Do can't stop eating.
Yeah those kids are smart alright. But the only problem is that they are smart in things that would probably be useless in the real world. Things like when did Howard become PM and the capital city of Columbia ain't gotta cut it for them when they reach the age of responsibilities and reality. They should learn things like faking it to make it, who to trust, reconizing bullshit, you know Street smarts. This is what they need to learn in order to survive once school is over. Too bad school and books don't teach you that, they need to learn the hard way.
And why are you watching that show Do? Is there one show you don't watch, you must have a TV surgically attached to your ass!!!
Mao Zhi Do,
See what happens when you allow free speech in your blogs... you get bombarded with attacks like these. I feel sorry for you.
I will stand up for you.
EVERYONE LEAVE MY FAT DO ALONE!!!
This is a fascinating blog. I must read the other articles.
I gotta hand it to ya Do,
this article deserves a Pulizer (the generic brand)
Anonymous 1, I don't stuff my face all day, only half the day. As for being on MSN and facebook all day, that would probably make my mind more stale rather than improve it. I hope those kids turn out normal, though fame will probably destroy them. :-(
Smart Salesman, I know I know. I'm starting to get off my butt and work harder for the business now. Why don't you join me in the business and build it up to a million dollar business.
The moving Rai, of course every risk has to be weighed against the rewards. But people who never take risks in my opinion won't get far. They must have opportunities where the risks are worth the rewards.
I do have ambitions to do better. I'm working towards that.
Triple Zero, I am not that negative. I do like to dissect things but nowhere near the extent that you say. I just don't like to do things that I think will fail. That's my own assessment of whether it's worth it to take that risk. My thighs are quite toned for your info.
Anonymous 2, I don't have that many enemies. I should talk about why KP can't stop calling me fat.
Ambo, I'm sure those kids will learn all those skills you mentioned soon. I agree that street smarts is equally important as book smarts. I like watching TV ok, what's wrong with that?
Anonymous 3, free speech is fine. I only don't like it when people go totally off topic and are crude and rude for no reasons. I encourage different opinions and discussions on topic.
Sandy, please read and comment on any articles you want. Just don't be crude.
Locomation, any Pulitzer would make me happy. I wait for my generic brand prize.
Thanh Do,
Problem is your not GUN HO!!!
If you were you'd be thinner and more fun.
But you're a just P**F who won't eat mussels.
Thanh,
I agree with everything you say in this blog... I believe that people do not take risks because they fear the unknown and they fear to lose... be it money or their pride but most of all it is the fear of other people's opinion of you....(i think that is most people's natural fear)
cause we can take risk... but what if we fail... what would other people think? would they think that we are fools? idoits?
i think the people who usually take risks are the one to be admired. they are the people who know themselves and those people are very rare indeed, cause they aren't afraid about other people's opinion of them or what society or a culture expect from them as the norm.
but u know... not all risks pay off. some risks do go horribly wrong. i think it is the ability to face up to the world after you lose it all that make a person admirable.
Sharon,
This is a wise message to Fat Do. But the problem is he is chicken at risks and he makes fun of others who take risks and riducules if or when they fail.
Mr. Do is no Go!!!
Sharon, definitely not all risk pay off, hence it's a risk. But if you never fail or do things wrong, you will never learn anything.
Gambler, I do not ridicule anyone for taking risk. You make things up all the time. And I definitely don't call people fat all day and try to bring them down.
Now go and gamble so you can win some money to pay for your dog's food.
SPAM eh??
Fat Do won't like that!
Costa Rica, one day, spamming will be illegal and you'll do time in jail.
Anonymous, I hate spam, unless it's of the meat variety that comes in a can.
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