Back to 3.1: Unlucky

Pathway 3, Subject 1

Unlucky

Solution: LIFE INSURANCE

Solves: 35 Guesses: 64

These unusal deaths, along with the flavour-text and title, should prompt us to look into the chances of these deaths. Googling some of these terms should yield a reference to micromorts, a (somewhat contrived and unlikely evidence-based) unit of measurement for chance-of-death-per-million. Simply now reference the micromorts for each of the gravestones, assuming that micromorts are additive in the case of multiple activities. Then, use the A1-Z26 code to yield the solution of LIFE INSURANCE.

Activity Micromorts Letter
Went for a swim 12 L
Went hang gliding after spending 1 hour in a coal mine 8+1 = 9 I
Got out of bed at 45 year old 6 F
Went scuba diving (trained) 5 E
Got out of bed at 45 year old then went rock climbing 6+3 = 9 I
Took MDMA after eating 1000 bananas 13+1000x0.1 = 14 N
Encountered 190 kangaroos 190x0.1 = 19 S
Flew 1000 miles then played American football 1+20 = 21 U
Got out of bed as an infant <1yo, then went rock climbing 15+3 = 18 R
Ate 100 char-broiled steaks 1 A
Underwent general anaesthetic for an emergency operation after living 8 months with a smoker 14 N
Went horseback riding 6 times 6x0.5 = 3 C
Ate 200 teaspoons of peanut butter (200/40)x1 = 5 E


Author's notes

Author: Allen

In keeping with my fascination with mortality (viz. Puzzles 1.4 Goals of Care D&D and 1.6 Goals of Care Discussions), I have yet again chosen to write a morbid puzzle. Sorry 💀💀.

This puzzle also serves a great example for why Puzzle Hunts are so fun: there's just so much random interesting stuff out there that one uncovers in the process of solving and writing. I went on a bit of a micromorts rabbit hole, looking into the methodology behind it and whether it is actually any use as a tool in decision theory. I highly encourage you to do the same. And maybe even consider hanging this up on your bedroom wall.


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Guess log

Frequency Guess
35 LIFEINSURANCE
2 INSURANCE
2 MICROMORT
2 STEAK
1 AEII
1 BENZOPYRENE
1 CANCER
1 CHOKE
1 COLON
1 COLONCANCER
1 DCAA
1 EAT
1 EATINGCHARBROILEDSTEAKS
1 EATINGSTEAK
1 FRIDAY
1 KANGAROO
1 KANGAROOS
1 LIFE
1 LIFEANDDEATH
1 LIFEINSURNACE
1 LIFEINSWRANCE
1 LIFEISSTRANGE
1 LINSTRANCE
1 LUNCHINARIVER
1 PREDNISOLONE
1 RONHOWARD
1 TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA

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