Pushing Your Luck

This is a journal response that I did earlier this year in ELA. It was about how and why people push their luck. Why does it seem that human nature encourages us to always push for just a little bit more?

Pushing Your Luck
By Tess Nesca 9-7


Some people more then others like to “push the envelope.” They like to bend the rules and get just a little more. But why, for the thrill, because they believe its right, or maybe, because they just can’t handle authority! I know a lot of people who think, “That’s stupid!” and just don’t bother, as well as people who know it’s not stupid but get a kick out of doing it anyways. There is yet another category of “Luck Pushers” though. The ones that just don’t care. They think, what have I got to loose? Or, what can you do about it? And what’s more is, if asked why they push their luck most of them would say they don’t. It’s like some people come to a dead halt at the line of limits and others just step over as if it wasn’t there.
Example: No cell phones in school. One kid always sits at the back texting. The weary teacher finally gives up and ignores him. Then the other kids start to notice. Now they want to know why they can’t text.
What’s the problem here? Yes, together the kids are pushing the line until it finally disappears but are they, as the Luck Pushers the real problem? Perhaps, our problem rests in the hands of those around the Luck Pushers who either joined them or failed to stand up to them and just watched the line get pushed.
Some other people push their luck because they believe their being treated unfairly. If you don’t want people challenging the rules then don’t make stupid rules. It’s as easy as that. If you say no without a good explanation people, kids especially, will want to do it just to disobey you. Lay your foot down and that will just make them more determined to not listen. If we learn how to make a “friendlier line of limits” then perhaps people won’t feel as inclined to push their luck. We cannot stop people from pushing their luck but instead, just maybe, we can encourage them to see reality and not push so far, therefore, hopefully limiting their recruits.