Story #2: Is it Human Nature to Gamble?

This unit stands out because it made me analyze my own behavior, not just the items I found. When I first saw a neat Manhattan locker stacked with boxes labeled “Paulson,” “Millennium,” and “Citadel,” I felt a rush of curiosity. Those were the names of major hedge funds — symbols of power, money, and mystery. I imagined the boxes holding something valuable, something secret. So, I bid high — higher than I should have — driven by that blend of curiosity and hope that defines so much of human behavior.

Days later, I realized what had actually happened: I hadn’t been bidding on boxes. I’d been bidding on a story — on the fantasy of what might be inside. Hope, I’ve learned, is a form of gambling. It disguises itself as optimism, but at its core, it’s a bet against uncertainty.

When I opened the boxes, they were empty — except for Uline mailers and packaging materials. Nothing of value. But the lesson was there, quietly waiting: that same impulse that drives people to buy lottery tickets, chase investments, or overpay for a dream had driven me too.

In the end, I didn’t lose much money, only time — but I gained something else: awareness. It reminded me that mystery sells because we want to believe in it, and that belief is what keeps the world — and people like me — bidding, buying, and hoping for the next great find.