Anytime you put your money in the pot, you're putting it at risk. My point, is to put it at risk when you think you're ahead or have the right odds on a draw or semi-bluffing, etc. In the senario originally posted, I don't see how one can believe they're ahead with any confidence.
I see players all the time be over aggressive and over play wrong hands. If they catch a run of cards they're pumped-up but almost always leave cleaned out. Does that remind you of anyone?
By the way, that's the first time I've ever been charaterized as having a timid and defeatist attitude. Were you beat-up as a kid?
Thanks for welcoming me to the form.