Attributing Blame/Common good and bad luck outcomes

Here’s a list of common outcomes that are often just the result of luck—good or bad:^[1]

1. Winning the lottery – Purely statistical probability with no personal influence.
2. Being born into wealth – No one chooses their birth circumstances.
3. Happening to be in the right place at the right time – Meeting influential people or getting unexpected opportunities.
4. Inheriting money or property – A financial windfall determined by family circumstances.
5. Surviving a dangerous accident unscathed – A mix of randomness and fortunate conditions.
6. Finding a valuable item (e.g., rare coin, painting, or buried treasure) – A lucky discovery rather than skill.
7. Getting a job offer from an informal connection – Networking often plays a bigger role than merit alone.
8. Receiving a random act of kindness – Fortunate encounters with generous people.
9. Weather cooperating with plans – No control over whether it rains on your wedding day.
10. Being selected for a game show or raffle prize – A numbers game, not an earned achievement.
11. Getting a flight upgrade – Often based on random seat availability rather than status.
12. Running into an old friend at a crucial time – Rekindling connections by chance.
13. Finding money on the street – Pure chance, no effort involved.
14. Getting favorable stock market timing – Luck plays a large role in market fluctuations.
15. Having an unknown relative leave you an inheritance – An unexpected financial windfall.
16. Avoiding traffic and making a tight appointment – Sometimes pure luck rather than planning.
17. Discovering a once-in-a-lifetime travel deal – Many great deals are about timing and chance.
18. Getting a rare collectible at a low price – Finding a treasure where others overlooked it.
19. Being born with a natural talent – Skills can be honed, but some abilities come naturally.
20. Recovering a lost item due to a kind stranger – Dependence on others' goodwill

1. Getting struck by lightning – An extremely rare and unpredictable event.
2. Being laid off due to company downsizing – Often has little to do with individual performance.
3. Losing a wallet or important item – Sometimes, bad timing or circumstances lead to misplacement.
4. Getting into a car accident caused by another driver – No control over reckless behavior of others.
5. Developing a rare genetic disease – Genetic predispositions are beyond personal choice.
6. House or property damage due to natural disasters – A matter of location and unpredictable events.
7. Getting passed over for a job due to an internal hire – Hiring decisions sometimes have nothing to do with qualifications.
8. Being scammed despite due diligence – Scammers exploit even the most cautious individuals.
9. Falling into a financial crisis due to an economic downturn – Global recessions impact even well-prepared individuals.
10. Receiving a false accusation – Mistaken identity or misunderstanding can lead to unjust consequences.
11. Missing an important event due to an unforeseen delay – Traffic, weather, or transport issues beyond control.
12. Suddenly facing a large, unexpected expense – A surprise medical bill or home repair.
13. Losing valuable digital data due to a tech malfunction – Unpredictable software or hardware failures.
14. Being randomly audited by the IRS – No wrongdoing, just statistical probability.
15. Getting caught in severe weather while traveling – No control over natural events.
16. Having luggage lost by an airline – Often a result of logistical mishaps rather than personal error.
17. Falling victim to identity theft – Sometimes unavoidable despite precautions.
18. Getting food poisoning from a restaurant – Even reputable places can have mishaps.
19. Breaking a bone due to an accidental fall – Some incidents are just random misfortune.
20. Being born into an unstable or unsafe environment – One’s birth circumstances are purely luck-driven.

1. ↑ ChatGPT generated this list responding to the prompt: “Provide a list of common outcomes that are often just the result of luck, good or bad”.