“I'll try anything once,” or “I'm willing to try anything once,” is one of those sayings. If a substantial part of the reason you are considering trying something is because you've never tried it before, then you do not have a good reason.
If you have not considered all the other reasons for or against trying something, you are playing Russian Roulette Reasoning. “I'll just pull the trigger once, and see what happens.” “I guess or hope nothing goes wrong.” “I'll try anything once, is a bad blanket pre-decision that covers anything you have not yet tried. Go ahead and drive blindfolded. You're being brave, creating memories and a story to talk and laugh about. “I'll try it because I've never tried it,” sounds really crazy when you not in the moment and have time to think about it; however, it sounds kinda exciting when you make a split-decision to go with the flow – and there are no obvious upfront costs. “I'll try anything once is just a crazy excuse to be careless and dangerous in the name of spontaneity or having some kind of over-hyped fun...Vegas, Mardi Gras, Carnival, vacation, birthdays, New Year's, graduation...
Sometimes a person will give some consideration to the consequences and responsibilities, yet push all that aside and go along for the joy ride because they have pre-decided that's how they want to be identified – as someone who is willing to try anything once and is just “outgoing” and fun to be around – a “happy-go-lucky” person.
Pivot Point
The pivotal part of logic in the statement is the “just once” part and not the “anything” part.The “just once” part causes the most trouble because it seeks to trick you into thinking that “just once” means “less risky” and “more acceptable.” “It's just once,” you and others tell yourself.
“If you don't like it, you don't have to do it again, what's the harm, who's to know, I won't tell, Come on, have some fun. See, I tried it...”
On and on, weak and scary reasons are given. These people are not your friends and you are not being a friend to yourself if you give in. It is now easier to realize:
There are some things that should never be tried once, or ever.Trust me, if anything does go wrong, everyone who participated will run from responsibility and say, “it was his/her choice.” “I/We didn't make him/her do it.”
If, trying something once is a good strong enough reason to do or not do something once, then that same reasoning should also be good and strong enough to support trying something twice or not trying it twice.
If it is not, do not try it once.
Foolish Follow-Up After Logic Has Gone Wrong
After a person has tried something once that they should not have and escaped relatively unharmed, extra insanity is usually added by someone who asks, “what do you think? Did you like it?, etc.The person asks you to think after the fact but before the fact they ask you to not think, just do it.
Go on and do it, do it, do it till you're satisfied, Whatever it is...How much energy are you really going to put into analyzing what you just did, when you didn't bother to listen to your inner “warning bells” in the first place and only wanted to satisfy your curiosity or someone else's?
All of us look back and say, “I shouldn't have done that.” We knew it before the fact of doing the act.
Still we wonder and wish. “If I could just change that one decision that one time, how different things would be, just because of something I did once or one time too many or with the wrong person...”
If it is good to do something once right now, then the opportunity will come again. No need to rush and do it, the first time the opportunity presents itself.
Get away from people, pressure and the situation and go sit on the toilet where you can process your thoughts more clearly and thoroughly. There's something about that place that brings a person and their thoughts face to face. When an “I'll try anything once” moment comes up, politely say, “Excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom.”
Before trying something once, think once, twice and three times.
Corrupt Cousins
The corrupt cousin and friend to “I'll try anything once” is “just do it a little bit.” “Just try it once, a little bit.”When you hear that logic, walk away quickly.
A lot of people who get hooked on drugs start out that way trying it just once, a little bit. Every sexually-active male and female, sooner or later comes to know this slick trick logic that often quick tricks you right back. Trying someone once purely in the name of exploration and fun is an invitation to an accident waiting to happen.
Accidents don't just happen ever. They wait for our decisions. Then they come because we have welcomed them and paved the road with our decisions.
