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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
 Posted - 08/25/2001 : 21:36:17
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http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/08/25/powerball/index.htm" target="_blank">CNN Powerball Article
Since military retirement, I've been working at a little Mom & Pop store where I live. Let me just say tonight was the single worst night I've had there.
Yes folks, I'm talking about the lottery. Okay, we know the odds are low, but spend a buck and take a chance, right? Most people seem to have that attitude, but there are some out there who are serious about this stuff. I thought one lady was going to start crying. Because of the mass amounts of people trying to use the system at the same time, there was a pretty bad slowdown. She was afraid she wasn't going to get a ticket.
As many of us have pointed out time and again, people are nuts.
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The Bad Astronomer
Skeptic Friend
137 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2001 : 22:27:13 [Permalink]
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Yesterday, as things were heating up, I saw an interview with a guy who has written a book about lottery madness. He said "The lottery is a tax on stupid people."
He won't win any points saying that, and in my opinion he is the stupid one for saying it. The lottery may be like a tax on people who don't understand math, but calling them stupid won't change their minds, and only makes the author sound pompous. Also, many of these people are not serious about it, as you point out, so to them it's all just fun.
Having said that, I'll say I don't like lotteries. For one, the government shouldn't be in the gambling business this way. For another, they play up the winning aspects and mumble the odds rapidly at the end of the commericals, or, worse, print it in small letters.
But what really gets me is that I cannot have a poker game in the privacy of my own home, where my odds of winning are orders of magnitude higher, because gambling in those circumstances is illegal. I almost got busted by cops once in school for playing quarter ante poker. Why can the government do this, but I cannot? It doesn't make sens,e which I suppose in many ways defines many acts by the government.
*****
The Bad Astronomer
http://www.badastronomy.com
"With tremendous respect to [the] BA, the problem isn't getting scientists to talk, the problem can be getting them to shut up." |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2001 : 23:19:32 [Permalink]
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I must admit that my favorite way of referring to the lottery since the beginning is that it's the "Stupidity Tax"
Pompous or not I am going to keep calling it that unless someone can come up with something that describes it better than that.
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2001 : 07:54:29 [Permalink]
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quote:
But what really gets me is that I cannot have a poker game in the privacy of my own home, where my odds of winning are orders of magnitude higher, because gambling in those circumstances is illegal. I almost got busted by cops once in school for playing quarter ante poker. Why can the government do this, but I cannot? It doesn't make sens,e which I suppose in many ways defines many acts by the government.
The only way they should be able to bust you is if you take part of the pot and go buy donuts or beer or something else or using chips and cashing them for money. That actually breaks the law, otherwise a friendly game of poker is just that. Unless somehow local ordinances where you were are stronger than the federal laws.
He's YOUR god, they're YOUR rules, YOU burn in hell! |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2001 : 10:13:37 [Permalink]
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quote:
I must admit that my favorite way of referring to the lottery since the beginning is that it's the "Stupidity Tax"
Pompous or not I am going to keep calling it that unless someone can come up with something that describes it better than that.!
How about "Poor Tax?"
What really bums me out is here in California the lottery was voted in to help fund public education. The law was is poorly written. There isn't a large enough percentage of the profits for education. It is run by a non government agency that gets most of the money. I voted against it.
The moment the lottery was voted in the Governor immediately reduced state funding for education. The idea was to bring more money to the schools so by reducing state funding and relying on the lottery for money, it became a wash, or worse.
I think this is a scandal. What we now have are poor people spending the most on lottery tickets they can't really afford living in areas where the schools are in poor condition and badly run.
The Evil Skeptic
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous. |
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comradebillyboy
Skeptic Friend
USA
188 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2001 : 10:39:26 [Permalink]
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quote:
The lottery may be like a tax on people who don't understand math,
my students ask me why they have to learn math, or logic (my honors geometry class). gives me a great opportunity to rant about lotteries, pyramid schemes(very popular here in new mexico), physchics and astrology.
my favorite response- if you don't want to learn algebra (or what ever i am teaching at the time) then you can learn to say " would you like fries with that, sir".
but yes the lottery is another tax on poor people, whose economic situation moves them to put hope before logic.
comrade billyboy
Edited by - comradebillyboy on 08/26/2001 10:41:27 |
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Zandermann
Skeptic Friend
USA
431 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2001 : 11:44:23 [Permalink]
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Always amazes me that the same people who will plunk down $$$ they can't afford on the opportunity to participate in a millions-to-one chance, are also the people who are shocked/stunned by the likelihood that any group of 25 or so people will include 2 with the same birthday.
Both are examples of probability...simple multiplication.
(Some) people just believe what they want to believe.
"If in the last few years you haven't discarded a major opinion or acquired a new one, check your pulse. You may be dead." |
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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2001 : 14:07:07 [Permalink]
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I read our local paper this morning, and you'll all be happy to know things have gotten sillier. The first little blurb was about a woman who was certain she would win because she thought up her numbers while reading the bible. No comment.
The second was about a guy who really wanted to win because he says he's poor. He says he can hardly feed his family of six. He spent $100 on lottery tickets. I don't know about the rest of you, but I can make $100 go pretty far. I almost felt sick when I read that. I hope some social worker saw the article and checks the guy out. If he let those kids go hungry so he could drop money on the lottery, maybe he'll get exactly what he deserves.Lisa
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Mespo_man
Skeptic Friend
USA
312 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2001 : 06:14:16 [Permalink]
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quote:
The moment the lottery was voted in the Governor immediately reduced state funding for education. The idea was to bring more money to the schools so by reducing state funding and relying on the lottery for money, it became a wash, or worse. [Kil]
Same thing here in Ohio. As soon as lottery funds were designated to help Ohio schools, the state budget for education dropped like dot.bomb in the Spring of 2000. But Ohio is not part of Power Ball so the money people spend on lottery tickets is merely ridiculous, not obscene.
LOTTERY COROLLARY:
quote:
I must admit that my favorite way of referring to the lottery since the beginning is that it's the "Stupidity Tax" [@tomic]
If people who buy lotterey tickets are stupid, then people who travel all the way to Vegas or Atlantic City to gamble must be smart. 
RELIGIOUS PETITION:
quote:
Me and the Lord are on pretty good terms today. [David Edwards; Power Ball winner]
That's interesting. I don't recall Jesus buying chances from the money changers in the Temple. 
(:raig |
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bestonnet_00
Skeptic Friend
Australia
358 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2001 : 23:47:07 [Permalink]
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People who go all the way to vegas to gamble are stupid unless they rig the game. In which case they are smart only if they get away with it.
Radioactive GM Crops.
Slightly above background.
Safe to eat.
But no activist would dare rip it out.
As they think it gives them cancer. |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2001 : 00:33:43 [Permalink]
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Going to vegas is more than about gambling. It's an experience. A vacation spot. Gambling can also be a form of entertainment as long as one does it for that sole purpose(for entertainment) and expects to lose. Heh, though I must admit I went to a local casino for the first time the other night and had some beginners luck and walked away with a tidy sum 
But I went expecting to lose and was just doing it for fun. In a world where nose bleed seats to a Madonna concert cost $250 a little gambling is not a big deal unless you are one of the 5% that become addicted.
I still won't waste money on lottery tickets. There's absolutely no strategy there and hence no fun.
 @tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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Mespo_man
Skeptic Friend
USA
312 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2001 : 07:00:57 [Permalink]
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quote:
I still won't waste money on lottery tickets. There's absolutely no strategy there and hence no fun.
I think you nailed it @tomic. Buying lottery tickets isn't "fun". Here's one I wish Nevada would try; one-armed gas pumps. A huge source of tax revenue, IMHO. You set the pump to dispense gas in, say, 1 to 5 gallon increments. There would also be a window display for your standard "fruit rollers" which would stop at each preset increment. You insert cash or your credit card to start and continue. The automatic shutoff would end the game. Hit the combos, you WIN. Gas costs you nothing. Otherwise, you pay standard rates. Of course, there would have to be smoke detectors installed.  |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2001 : 00:02:14 [Permalink]
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quote:
Going to vegas is more than about gambling. It's an experience.
Thank you, thank you @. I was about to yell, until I saw your well stated remark. As one who's been to Vegas more times then I can count, I can say that @ is exactly right.
It's nice to win, but if one doesn't at least you're having fun while throwing your money away. And you get free drinks while doing it.
quote:
I went to a local casino for the first time the other night and had some beginners luck and walked away with a tidy sum
But I went expecting to lose and was just doing it for fun. @tomic
Cool! @ Congrads.
I didn't know you have legal gambling way up there? A good incentive to go see Mt St. Hellens again.
A little hint though, Don't expect to loose, you have to have a winning attitude but just don't be disappointed if you do. House odds are best with Blackjack(don't sit in the last seat). Don't play any mechanical games or Keno. Good luck.
nlm
Rap Crap is to music what Paint by Numbers is to art. |
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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2001 : 00:57:13 [Permalink]
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Gambling is rife here in SD. Frankly, it bores me. Ed loves it. We went to Deadwood one New Year's Eve, intent on dropping a few bucks and having a few brews. I won $60 right off the bat. I was ready to go home.
My Dad always told me "never bet more than you can afford to lose". Dunno bout the rest of you, but it ain't much.
Lisa
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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2001 : 08:15:34 [Permalink]
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quote:
Having said that, I'll say I don't like lotteries. For one, the government shouldn't be in the gambling business this way. For another, they play up the winning aspects and mumble the odds rapidly at the end of the commericals, or, worse, print it in small letters.
But what really gets me is that I cannot have a poker game in the privacy of my own home, where my odds of winning are orders of magnitude higher, because gambling in those circumstances is illegal. I almost got busted by cops once in school for playing quarter ante poker. Why can the government do this, but I cannot? It doesn't make sense, which I suppose in many ways defines many acts by the government.
Because the procedes from the gambling are most likely not taxed. The government wants it's cut. Quite frankly, the government hates competetion. Especially bad is Illinois which touts it's lottery as paying for education. In actuality, education is budgeted a fixed amount of money from the lottery procedes, any extra is diverted to the general fund.
Myself, I only play when the pot gets over $60 million. I figure that the astronomical odds of being the single winner (after all, that is the odds that change, your real odds of winning are static.) is worth $1 of my money. To date, I am out a whole $5.
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ktesibios
SFN Regular
USA
505 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2001 : 20:17:41 [Permalink]
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One of the funny effects of the lottery (the 3-random-digits kind) when it was introduced by state government back in PA was that it actually stimulated the illegal version.
It seems that while the probability of winning was identical whether you played the state game or patronized your friendly neighborhood numbers guy, the state paid out only 500 to 1 while the illegal game paid 600 to 1.
To top it off, the state game actually made things easier for the illegal numbers operators. Instead of having to derive a random 3-digit number from something like the betting totals at a designated racetrack, they just paid off on the same number that the state lottery drew.
Boris Karloff died for your sins. |
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