In "Blank Slate," Dr. Steven Pinker talks about our inability to handle modern risk very well. We still have genes that are better hunter-gatherer days.

We have a hard time with low probablity/high consequence actions, like aggressive driving. Let's say normal drivers have a 0.0000017% chance of being in an auto accident on a particular trip. Aggressive drivers would have 0.0000051 %, three times higher. Yet the probability is still so low that it doesn't seem to matter. The aggressive drivers seldom take stock of the advantages--like time saved--and adrenalin rush--against the increased risk of life-altering events.

Our collective handling of COVID is another example. Voluntarily reducing social interactions, getting vaccinated, and wearing a mask in public help a lot. But too many people cannot come to this conclusion because the death rate is quite low. But if COVID had a 10% death rate, we would smarten up pretty good.

Similarily, being around alcohol increases the chances of bad things happening. But when one looks to the life adventures alcohol brings to the many times not much bad happens, it is easy to conclude that we should have "fun". I got caught up in this lifestyle--and luckily did not have life-changing events.

Stay away from frat parties. In MeToo times, even guys can face lifetime consequences. They are more likely to be called on their indiscretaions today than they were a generation ago .