📘 Part 3: Risk

This episode's vocabulary

Vice versa (adv.) - in reverse order from the way something has been stated; the other way around.

To take chances (phrase) - to do things that are risky or dangerous.

Odds (noun) - the chances or likelihood of something happening or being the case.

Reckless (adj.) - heedless of danger or the consequences of one's actions; rash or impetuous.

Averse (adj.) - having a strong dislike of or opposition to something.

Conservative (adj.) - ;averse to change or innovation and holding traditional values.

To predispose (verb) - to make someone liable or inclined to a specified attitude, action, or condition.

Safety net (noun) - a safeguard against possible hardship or adversity.

Scaffolding (noun) - in education, scaffolding refers to a variety of instructional techniques used to move students progressively toward stronger understanding and, ultimately, greater independence in the learning process.

To go overboard (phrase) - to do something in a way that is excessive or extreme.

To misjudge (verb) - to form a wrong opinion or conclusion about.

Sensible (adj.) - practical and reasonable. If you're wearing sensible shoes, they're sturdy, comfortable, good for walking, and your feet don't hurt.

Thrilled (adj.) - extremely happy about something.

Adrenaline rush (noun) - adrenaline helps your body react more quickly. It makes the heart beat faster, increases blood flow to the brain and muscles, and stimulates the body to make sugar to use for fuel. When adrenaline is released suddenly, it's often referred to as an adrenaline rush.

To get off on smth/smn (phrasal verb) - to find something exciting, especially in a sexual way.

Voraciously (adv.) - in a way that is very eager to have a lot of something.

Integral (adj.) - necessary and important as a part of a whole.

-

Questions and Answers

Maria: Do you think it's important to take risks in your life?

Rory: Oh, yes. To risk is to live! (and vice versa, I suppose) If we don't take chances, then the odds are that we stay in our comfort zone forever and fail to grow as people. It's not to say that you should be reckless, but some risks are definitely worth it and they should be taken.

Maria: Why don't some people take risks?

Rory: Well, it's sort of connected to what I said before, really. They're afraid to leave their comfort zone, I suppose. Some people are naturally risk averse and conservative, so this doesn't predispose them to it as much as other people, for example. It's tempting to think of that as a shame, but perhaps you need people like that to maintain social stability, because if we were all taking risks every day in equal amounts, then probably we wouldn't have, sort of, normal society. Things would be slightly chaotic.

Maria: How can we encourage children to take risks?

Rory: Well, I suppose by showing how to make a calculated risk and providing a safety net in the early stages of that process. That kind of scaffolding means they don't lose their nerve when they're taking risks later in life. And it also means that they don't go overboard and take too many risks or misjudge the risk that they're taking.

Maria: Should parents teach children to avoid taking risks?

Rory: Well, it depends on the kind of risk, doesn't it? So, for example, they should encourage them to take sensible risks that develop their confidence. I think a good example of that is public speaking. Like, it's always risky talking in public. But if you do it successfully after trying and training many times, then it's good for you. Of course, there are categories of risk that are less desirable, like gambling with money. So I think parents should teach their children to avoid that kind of risk. I don't think that's behavior that anybody wants to see their kids engaging in.

Maria: Should people read about dangerous situations?

Rory: Assuming there's some sort of moral or useful information that helps them avoid or deal with such things, then yeah, absolutely. And of course, it's not just a matter of should they? Most people are thrilled by dangerous ideas and situations. So it's a case of, well, try and stop them from doing this.

Maria: Why do some people enjoy extreme sports?

Rory: Well, I'd imagine it's a combination of the adrenaline rush and the attention that they enjoy for taking part in them. Some people really get off on the rush, and of course, getting attention is a good way to make friends and develop your social circle. It's not the only way, but I can appreciate why people do it. I don't think there are any other big reasons. It's probably just attention and, well, liking what you're doing, basically, isn't it?

Maria: Are action films popular in your country?

Rory: Probably they're consumed voraciously everywhere. But probably in countries like the UK where they have... There's a very well-embedded health and safety culture. So people are looking for this kind of vicarious thrill on screen more than in other places. I'm not sure how you would prove that, but it's the way I see it.

Maria: Do you think it's a good idea if a leader likes to take risks?

Rory: Well, it's probably an integral part of being a leader, isn't it? Because you have to delegate responsibility to other people. You might not know them very well. So that's a risk. Even in accepting the position of leader you can make yourself responsible for other people, which is a huge undertaking psychologically. Given the pressure that they operate under, it's probably a good thing that they find themselves enjoying it. Although, it shouldn't make them take stupid risks, for example. They should balance their enjoyment of risk taking with being sensible.

Maria: Do you think men and women will make a different choices about risk taking?

Rory: Yes, people think that because men have more testosterone than women, it makes them bigger and stronger. But actually, it seems the bigger role it plays is in terms of how it influences our ease with taking risks. And that, in turn determines how men and women approach them. And when you think about it, statistically speaking, that makes sense. For example, there are more male inventors and stunt actors, but there are also more male deaths in the workplace, and a lot of that is due to taking risks in life. So, yes, definitely. I think men and women do make different decisions about risk taking.

Maria: What about the young and the old? Do young people take risks more often than old people?

Rory: Well, I think young people take more stupid risks and gamble due to a lack of experience, and probably they're more able to deal with the damage that that can cause... The physical damage, anyway, than older people. And old people, of course, have experience in abundance. So that helps them avoid these kinds of things. Older people usually have more to lose as well, so it makes them more conservative. So on balance, you could probably say that young people are... Or they have a greater sense of risk taking, I suppose, than older people. If you wanted a fair equation, you could maybe say that they take different kinds of risk. For example, like, old people make risks when they invest in various things, for example. But I think that might not give older people enough credit. Then again, I am old, so I would say that, wouldn't I?