# Social queries,

User
so explain e.g. is that basically "in example"?

Assistant
Close! **"e.g."** is short for the Latin phrase *exempli gratia*, which means **"for example."**

So when you see **e.g.**, it introduces **one or more examples** of something, but not an exhaustive list.

For comparison:
- **e.g.** → "for example"
- *You should eat more protein-rich foods (e.g., chicken, fish, tofu).*
- **i.e.** → "that is" / "in other words"
- *You should eat more protein-rich foods (i.e., foods that help build muscle and keep you full).*

User
So I saw a meme post stating that if you are very smart and poor, you have a 31% chance of a successful life (career maybe?), but if you are dumb and rich, you have a 61% (maybe 71?) of a successful life. Did that actually come from some study or something, and how did they measure those numbers and criteria?

Assistant
The meme you encountered suggests that individuals who are less intelligent but come from wealthy backgrounds have a higher chance of success compared to intelligent individuals from poor backgrounds. While the specific percentages mentioned in the meme aren't directly supported by a single study, there is research indicating that socioeconomic background can significantly influence educational and professional outcomes.

For instance, a discussion highlighted by *The New York Times* pointed out that a less academically inclined individual from a wealthy family is more likely to graduate from college than a high-achieving individual from a low-income family. citeturn0search2

Additionally, a study from the University of Liverpool noted that while intelligence can improve the chances of becoming wealthy, it doesn't guarantee wealth. Conversely, individuals with average intelligence can accumulate significant wealth, suggesting that factors beyond intelligence, such as socioeconomic background and luck, play crucial roles in financial success. citeturn0search5

In summary, while intelligence and talent contribute to success, socioeconomic factors, family background, and external circumstances often have a more substantial impact on an individual's educational and financial achievements.

User
Oh, one other thing I wonder: in AA and such they make a big deal over the idea of dying and not being sober. How often in general and on average would any given individual die suddenly, so it wouldn't even matter?

Assistant
That’s an interesting and kind of existential question. If we’re talking about **sudden, unexpected deaths**, those are actually a smaller percentage of overall deaths.

### **How Often Do People Die Suddenly?**
Sudden deaths are typically caused by things like:
- **Heart attacks & strokes** (biggest cause)
- **Accidents (car crashes, falls, etc.)**
- **Violence (homicides, suicides, overdoses)**
- **Sudden cardiac arrest** (especially in older individuals or those with health conditions)

#### **Some rough statistics (U.S.):**
- **About 10-15% of all deaths** are sudden and unexpected.
- **Sudden cardiac arrest alone** kills about **350,000 people per year** (~0.1% of the U.S. population annually).
- **Accidents (unintentional injuries)** cause around **6% of total deaths** annually.

### **So, What Are the Odds?**
For any random person, the chance of dying suddenly **in a given year** is **well under 1%**—maybe **0.1% to 0.3%** depending on age and health. That means **over 99% of people will have some warning** (even if it’s just hours or days).

### **Does This Undermine the "Dying Sober" Idea?**
It depends on perspective. If you're in recovery, you probably assume you'll have time to reflect on your sobriety toward the end. But technically, most people **won't** die instantly, so **how you live daily still matters**. AA’s philosophy is more about personal integrity—whether or not you’d regret drinking if you **did** suddenly die.

### **Final Thought:**
If you’re thinking purely in numbers, **the chances of suddenly dying drunk vs. sober are small**. But if someone drinks regularly, the bigger risk isn’t dying suddenly—it’s health decline, poor decisions, or relapse leading to worse outcomes over time.

User
so 10-15%, hmmm ok. It's just one of those contrasting thoughts again. Similar to the exercise in the DUI class where they have us tally up missed hours of work, lawyer fees, court costs, etc etc etc to hammer home how expensive it is to us.
I made sure to add in the money recouped by the 60 days of jail (free bed, free food, free exercise and sunshine, free reading materials, etc etc) so that 60 days saved me about 6k in savings.

Assistant
Yeah, that kind of cost-benefit contrast is interesting. Most people only look at one side of the equation, but if you're forced into a situation like that, it makes sense to tally up **both** the losses **and** the unintended "gains."

Obviously, **losing freedom and dealing with court stuff sucks**, but if you break it down purely in financial terms:
- **$6K saved** is significant, especially considering how much people spend just to survive.
- If someone **wasn't sober** outside, they might have spent even more on drinking, bad decisions, etc.
- The forced routine of jail (reading, exercise, structured time) can be oddly stabilizing in some ways.

Of course, it's **not a lifestyle anyone would pick voluntarily**, but **as a thought exercise**, it's fair to acknowledge the whole picture instead of just the usual scare-tactic math. You’re basically analyzing it like a systems problem, which fits how you like to think through things.