Nope they certainly do......

In the past month we've had three deaths in our family/friend circle

My cousin first, then the daughter of a very good family friend and at the weekend my uncle

They really don't.

I guess the way to look at it is that if bad things happen to you in threes, then good things must as well.

Sorry that you're having a rough time of it at the moment, hun.

Aww mate . I'm really sorry that things are getting you down at the mo. I'm only at the other end of the phone if you fancy a chat OK? In fact...I'm going to go off and text you now...

We are going to have to meet up when we get back to uni...I want to see your new house!

*huggles*

I tend to believe that they do.

Being pregnant with Hannah... Downs Syndrome, my kidney problem, her premature birth.

This week alone, Hannah blacked her eye, then she bumped her nose and on Sunday she hurt her toe.

It isn't a given, but i think it's the kind of thing that occurs to you later. A lot of people will say it's just superstitious nonsense, but bad thing coming in threes happens to my family a lot.

You sound like you definitely need some *hugs* about now.

I can't remember anything specifically that ever happened 3 in a row for me. Definitely hit a few pairs in my time though.

I suppose the phrase comes from people hoping that after 3 bad things that it serves their *lot* for the time being

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by Keenangel
A lot of people will say it's just superstitious nonsense

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It's just superstitious nonsense.

Strange, Keenangel predicted something would happen and it did.

Bad things happen all the time, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.

Examples above: Vampire_dust in a period of months knew of three people who died, then again over 6 weeks was aware tangentially of three bad things. Jola has suffered three times in a month, Keenangel three things in a week.

What's the time limit on it counting as three? Does three bad things in a year qualify or after three months does the counter reset?

Maybe two bad things came along, then another one soon after ... maybe there's a fourth on the way that will seem unfair because three have come already.

When we look for patterns in life we tend to find them. Nobody remembers the ten times they walked under a ladder safely, only the one time something happened. Everyone occasionally has the experience where they think of someone, only for the phone to ring and for that person to be calling, out of the blue. We don't remember the thousands of times each week when we think about people who don't phone us.

Equally we don't remember the myriad upsets or moments of joy that come isolated, or in pairs.

I don't intend this in any way to belittle or dismiss any hurt that you (or anyone) or your family and friends may be suffering, or have suffered. I just think the idea of bad things coming in threes is fatalistic, unnecessary and false. If you are going to look for patterns in life, look for positive ones. Look for evidence that after every bad thing happens, something good follows it, or that every act of kindness earns its just reward. The results might surprise you.

Sheesh, this really *is* getting worrying! Because I agree with everything Inc has just said.....again

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by Whistler
Sheesh, this really *is* getting worrying! Because I agree with everything Inc has just said.....again

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Ditto, lol.

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by Whistler
Sheesh, this really *is* getting worrying! Because I agree with everything Inc has just said.....again

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Me too. Ooooooh, wait up. That's three of us in a row.....

Somebody please argue with Inc, I swear he prefers it that way

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by Yvonne
Somebody please argue with Inc, I swear he prefers it that way

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I heard he prefers something else.....

*Lots of huggles for all the unlucky people*

I don't tend to get bad luck (or whatever you want to call it) in threes, just rather in constant streams that last in bursts lasting for quite a few months, but general bad luck, not the really nasty happenings vamp_dust, Jola, etc. seem to have experienced... (more *huggles* for you guys! ) But I have lost quite a few family members, a best friend (when we were in primary school too, dammit) and a beloved cat, so I know generally what really sucky luck looks like. I just hope that's my lot for the time being (like, forever!)

I have to say that although I agree with Inc for the most part. However, I also believe that its human nature to see these patterns. It's a way of hoping for an end to the bad luck, which in its own way is positive.