There was a famous and tragic case of an Australian teenager who ate a slug on a dare, suffered a horrible illness, and eventually died from rat lungworm.
But congrats on showing the world what a superiorly smart guy you are.
I should add that I was already quite sure that I wasn’t allergic to poison ivy, at least via skin contact. I didn’t notice any ill effects.
This is precisely the nature of risk.
We don't live in a deterministic world where everyone who eats slugs dies. If we did, that kid wouldn't have eaten a slug.
No, we live in a world with uncertainty. If you eat a slug, almost for sure nothing bad will happen.
Guy must have been intoxicated or had other problems to do such an abnormal thing. There’s a lesson here, but it’s fair to point out that lesson isn’t “don’t eat slugs” as most people already understand this.
> At this age one must surely know that eating bad foods would cause stomach problems, vomiting, etc.
Probably worth it for the cool points in his risk assessment. Had death been part of the calculation he'd probably not have done it.
Obviously I can't personally ressurect dead kids, but approving of death for ignorant behavioural errors, is a bit beyond the pale.
Also, I didn't approve of anything. I wish it hadn't happened.
Nobody’s approving anyone’s death either, your insinuations are unjustified.
What's wrong with spending all your time inside? I don't know any kid who spent all his time outside and turned out well.
> The reality is that it’s dumb luck.
If there's any luck here, was that I had parents who told me things like "don't do things just to impress people". Me not eating a slug was not luck.
I find it so out of touch that you can't concieve that not all kids are the same. Not all kids do things on "dares".
I grew up in a village, spent my childhood in gardens, on fields or playing in the dirt and *nobody* I ever knew would eat a slug or any other kind of creature for that matter. The thought never even crossed anyone’s mind, why the hell would you even do that?