Ah yes, the classic "if you take a gamble, you might win, but you might also lose" argument. But while the retort is correct in that there are potential risks associated with going to the bar alone, it's missing the point of Nikhil's essay—it's not about whether or not gambling has a negative expected value, it's about the fact that every decision carries with it a risk-reward balance. Sure, there may be financial losses or an increased likelihood of developing alcoholism, but as Nikhil points out, there are also potential upsides that cannot be ignored. It's not necessarily about exercising moderation—it's about having the courage to take chances and accept the potential consequences that may come with it. The retort is too reductionist in its approach to evaluating the decision to go to the bar alone.
The key takeaway from Nikhil's essay is that life is all that gambling—and not always in a bad way. In fact, we should embrace it; the risks associated with going to the bar alone might be high, but in return, we stand to gain experiences that could change our lives for the better. No one ever said life was easy, after all. So why not take a chance at hitting life's greatest hits? Living safely isn't always living well—sometimes you have to take risks to reap greater rewards.