The most interesting human bets in the world

No wonder they say that among two arguing people, one is always a fool, and the second is a scoundrel. Because the first one does not know the truth and argues, and the second one knows the correct answer, but for mercantile purposes, he still continues to argue! Yeah, people have always had a tendency to balk and prove their case. In particular, also from the sweetness of victory, when the truth turned out to be on their side. In this collection, we will analyze the most interesting and unusual disputes that people have ever participated in ...

10 PHOTOS

1. I bet on the moon!

The English love to bet and at all times quite often participated in various disputes. So was an Englishman named David Threlfall. In 1960, he decided to bet a relatively small amount on a risky but very likely event. In those days, the list of bets that could be made with a bookmaker included such incredible things as the assumption that people would learn to turn water into wine and create anti-gravity ...

Well, David liked the bet most of all, under the terms of which people will land on the moon in the next 10 years. The bet was very attractive - 1 to 1000, and David boldly bet £10 on this opportunity. Exactly 9 years later, at the moment when Neil Armstrong firmly stood with his feet on the Earth's satellite, the sad bookmaker unfastened David his honest 10 thousand pounds. With this money, the man immediately bought himself a luxurious sports car, but ironically, without driving it for a year, he crashed to death ...

2. Run by my rules!

And this story perfectly characterizes subtle British humor! In one small English town lived two radically different men in interests and physique: a rich aristocratic runner from Foggy Albion and an obese but very resourceful butcher. The latter offered the former to make a bet, the essence of which was that the aristocrat-athlete would not be able to overtake the clumsy pork merchant at a hundred meters, but under two conditions: the butcher receives a 35-meter head start and chooses the route himself. Out of curiosity, the runner agreed.

Only at the start did everyone understand what the butcher's cunning plan was. For the competition, he chose the narrowest street in the town. Having run only a few meters, he was tightly stuck between the walls of the street. The runner, of course, quickly caught up with him, but it was not possible to overtake the opportunity, because it was simply impossible to squeeze between the fat man and the walls! As a result, the athlete laughed at the butcher's resourcefulness and easily paid a fairly modest amount for himself, but a very decent amount for a commoner.

3. Everyone will wear it!

And again England, 19th century. A distinguished fashionista and frequenter of the prestigious salons of the capital, Lord Spencer, makes the following bet: he undertakes to appear at the next ball in something out of hand, but he assures that people will like it anyway and soon everyone will wear it, considering the image a new fashion trend.

Well, Spencer did not play tricks with the suits but simply cut off the tails from the new tailcoat. So I came to the ball. If anyone else were in his place, such an image would look extremely vulgar and tasteless. But if Lord Spencer himself...

In general, this is how short-fitted men's and women's "spencer jackets", fashionable to this day, were born.

4. Around the world in 80 days

Does probably everyone remember the famous story described by Jules Verne in the novel Around the World in 80 Days? Immediately after the release of the novel, there were many who wanted to accomplish a similar feat in real life. One of them was the journalist Nellie Bly, an American. Before that, she approached the editor of the News of the World magazine, Joseph Pulitzer, and suggested a gamble. Nellie, carrying a small suitcase, was to travel around the world in 80 days or less, and Pulitzer was required to cover the progress of this trip in every issue of his magazine.

Literally, a day later, Cosmopolitan magazine received a bet offer: they send their journalist on a round-the-world trip at the same time as Nelly but in the opposite direction. And who will turn around faster?

On November 14, 1889, the girls started their journey, during which they went through many trials and adventures. Nelly was even lucky enough to meet Jules Verne himself, which she was incredibly proud of. Pulitzer, as agreed, actively covered travel reports in a magazine and even organized sweepstakes.

As a result, Nelly returned to the editorial office eight days ahead of schedule. Her rival was still bobbing on the waves of the Atlantic, so Cosmopolitan lost the bet.

One of the most "long-playing" bets was concluded between him and another American physician quite recently, and it will be resolved only in 2150.

Jay Olshansky (University of Illinois) estimates that among babies born in 2000, at least one will live to be 150 years old. And Steven Ostad (University of Idaho) argues that no one can live to be more than 130 years old.

A lot of money is at stake: both debaters deposited $150 each in a special account and pledged to deposit at least an equal amount every year until their death. And after the death of opponents, the fund will continue to patronize their descendants. The winning side will get more than a solid amount - $ 500 million. So the game is well worth the candle!