It depends on what you mean by "reason." If reason = cause, then I agree. If reason = purpose, then I disagree.

Sometimes the reason is sheer, random happenstance, I guess.

I hate this phylosophy. I hate this philosophy. It implies there is some divine being or consciousness that is controlling what happens to us. This entity apparently thinks terrible things should happen to some people and wonderful thing happen to others. It is also a victim blaming philosophy, because it says that if something bad happens to you somehow bought it on yourself. The reality is that bad things happen to good people through no fault of their own. A much better thing to say is: “make the best of whatever shit comes your way”.

When someone says this to me my answer tends to be " and that's the reason I think you are a moron "

... and sometimes the reason is that people are stupid ...

I suppose that's true--if making a poor choice is one of the reasons.

The reason things happen is because things always happen. Sometimes due to choices, sometimes due to coincidence, sometimes just because. There is no invisible hand guiding us through a pre-destined path that has been divinely crafted just for us.

No, I do not believe anything happens for a reason. There are reasons that things happen, we call them cause. Reason implies intelligence whereas most things are simply the result of other things. Over simplified I know.

I believe in the notion of causality. That is one action may lead to some reaction; either physical or social. I have a harder time with the notion of purposeful action directed to cause a defined solution.

Change "for" to "because". And change and pluralise "reason" to "other events".

"Everything happens because of one or several other events." It's a nuanced version of the original claim. But it's more accurate of what I think.

Things usually happen as a consequence from a previous action. So, the cause is the reason. In many ways the old saying "when one door shuts, another one opens" means the same thing.

I don't necessarily believe this. I think that people make choices consciously/ or not and you have consequences / actions

It's like the butterfly wings creating the tiniest current that has some momentous significance. There is undoubtedly a practical scientific explanination for every occurrence, but there are so many variables and so much complexity that anything at all may occur in a seemingly random way. Not because it is some purposeful design by a great devine pupeteer, but just because that's the way it is.
Karma often takes care of things because people who break the rules generally sooner or later pay the consequences, but not always.

Everything DOES happen for a reason; and that reason is physics!

• I think I heard that from Sam Harris.

I don't believe this as it suggests a master plan, and since I don't know if there is a God, it's difficult for me to grasp. Maybe it's true, don't know, that's why i'm Agnostic. The concept frightens me a bit as I never know what I'll be punished for (Catholic history). What's the reason when a child is in an accident ......struck by a car...........and dies......I think life happens and bad things happen. I must admit I often envy people of faith. It would appear one either has it or does not. I went through the motions for years out of fear...."IMHO".....Maybe there is a supreme being.....

Free will is not real.

False...if you mean some big divine, cosmic meaning reason. But, of course, there are reasons from a scientific perspective.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

I like to answer this comment with the retort "yes, and that reason is physics."

... is a desperate attempt to make sense of/control what happens to us. Given that, our brains, which are wired to make sense of events, will "make sense" of anything.

Sounds a bit fatalistic! Rather like the muslim "It is written!".

"Everything happens for a reason, and the reason is usually physics". Sophia Nasr.

I have a friend who always says this when she sabotages her own life with bad decisions. I always tell her there is no such thing as fate and she needs to take responsibility for the things happening in her life rather then just floating through life letting things happen to her.

It depends on the context in which you are speaking. If my tire goes flat because I ignored that it was slowly deflating..then it went flat for a reason. If I met someone that had an impact on my life..it was happenstance more than anything..and in my opinion most of what happens to us is random.