Most risks come with at least some kind of payoff. Maybe there is money involved, an unforgettable experience waiting at the end or simply a story worth telling. Then there are the risks people take to arrive somewhere two minutes earlier, avoid wearing a helmet or save themselves one tiny inconvenience. An AskReddit thread asked people to name the ultimate examples of “high risk, low reward” behavior, and the answers quickly filled up with everyday decisions that can have wildly disproportionate consequences. Driving habits were especially popular, although work shortcuts, wild animals and even exam cheating made appearances. Here are 15 “high risk, low reward” things people still keep doing every day.
Road Rage
Getting furious at another driver might make someone feel better for approximately ten seconds. As one Reddit user put it, the best-case scenario is arriving at work “2 minutes earlier and angrier.”
Not Wearing a Seatbelt
Several people couldn’t understand what anyone actually gains from skipping something that takes seconds. One commenter described it simply as a choice with “no downside, all upside” when arguing for buckling up.
Tailgating
Driving inches from the car ahead can turn one sudden stop into a much bigger problem. Redditors repeatedly singled it out as a perfect example of accepting extra danger without meaningfully shortening a commute.
Using Your Phone While Driving
This was one of the thread’s simplest answers, probably because there isn’t much explaining required. A message or notification can wait, while the consequences of looking away from the road might not.
Riding a Motorcycle Without a Helmet
The supposed payoff might be comfort, convenience or simply looking cooler. Redditors were not impressed, with one pointing out that a backwards hat isn’t going to offer much protection when something goes wrong.
Riding an E-Scooter Without a Helmet
Electric scooters received their own share of criticism, particularly because they can reach significant speeds while leaving riders almost completely exposed. One commenter who identified themselves as a trauma-center ER nurse described seeing serious injuries from scooter crashes.
Risking an Injury to Work Slightly Faster
One Redditor highlighted workers who ignore safety procedures simply to finish a task a little faster. Their point was difficult to argue with: the employer gets the extra productivity, while the worker assumes virtually all of the physical risk.
Stretching Too Far From a Ladder
Moving the ladder takes a minute, which is apparently one minute too many for some people. One commenter knew a painter who reportedly bragged about how far he could reach from his ladder despite having fallen multiple times.
Trying to Beat a Train
Few time-saving strategies have a worse risk-to-reward ratio than trying to cross railway tracks before an approaching train. The entire reward is avoiding a short wait for it to pass.
Petting Wild Animals
A cute animal apparently has a remarkable ability to make people forget the word “wild.” One Redditor specifically mentioned seeing people approach wild horses even with young children nearby.
Cycling at Night Without Making Yourself Visible
Redditors called out cyclists combining several questionable choices at once: no helmet, no lights, dark clothing and earbuds. Any one of those might seem minor until visibility and awareness actually matter.
Pulling Into Traffic Instead of Waiting
Sometimes the enormous reward is saving somewhere between two and five seconds. One commenter pointed out how often drivers pull onto a road directly ahead of approaching traffic when they could simply wait for the cars to pass.
Petty Theft
Stealing something inexpensive can carry consequences wildly larger than the value of whatever was taken. Redditors mentioned criminal records and employment problems as particularly terrible trades for getting something small for free.
Cheating on an Exam
One university instructor nominated cheating, particularly when the actual alternative is simply accepting a bad grade. The potential academic consequences can make getting one answer right look like a remarkably poor bargain.
Riding a Bike With Both Earbuds In
Cycling through city traffic already requires paying attention to several directions at once. Completely covering both ears adds another unnecessary disadvantage for the extremely modest reward of hearing a song slightly better.
The post 15 ‘High Risk, Low Reward’ Things People Still Keep Doing Every Day appeared first on Den of Geek.
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