Usually when I am standing in line at a convenience store and we have a line-up of morons waiting to buy their cigarettes and lottery tickets. And boy, do they take their sweet time bothering the clerk with their selection of cigs, and then deciding which lottery ticket to purchase, so carefully, as if they are at the jeweller.
I can never assume which people are the ones who are buying it on the rare occasion, and which are the habitual ticket scratchers, but in my head, just once I picture myself saying... well I won't even say it here. But when you lose all the time, with those tickets, literally, well...
I understand how well TPTB have manipulated the lower classes into doing this, and all the whys and hows, so you can't judge. But I think it's so sad that if only these people could have put $1,000 in the bank literally, with their idiotic daily habit, instead of blwoing it all way, they might have a fighting chance of actually escaping poverty. How well they would do from there, however, remains in question.
My dad buys them almost every day. I just shake my head. It is a kind of daily treat, but when you consider that the main object really is gambling for cash, and knowing the odds of ever coming out ahead, it should make one just stop... stop the daily treats that get filtered to the government!
I rarely every buy one because I know if I ever want sumthing, I will have to work for it. The rare ticket (like 2 or 3 per year, and even that is too much) just keeps you in the game without lining the pockets of the lottery corporations.
I could go on and on about this, because I know how hard we all work for our money, and to think that traps are set for us to gamble even more of our power away, really is a bone of contention with me but it's their money. I am guessing few of you indulge in this habit often. I would guess Deb S. ingyandbert and GailJ for example all seem too sensible to be purchasing lottery tickets all the time.
One woman got busted. She was a burger king manager in Fla. and she "borrowed" money from the safe, to buy over $1,000 from the safe (I think it was about $1,350). She scratched all night. By dawn she was in despair. She realized she had a problem.. and I sympathize with her because if the government, which is funded by our money and power, used that money to help us, many people wouldn't be in this situation. The government is referred to as a seperate entity, so many of us forget it exists for us and by us, not over us and if it wants to acknowledge us.
Posted by: CathyC Date posted: Sun Jul 20 13:08:45 2008
Message: My opinion is that lottery tickets are entertainment and therefore worth whatever entertainment value they hold for the purchaser. I don't think I could fault anyone for purchasing lottery tickets just because the odds of winning are against you. It's not throwing money away if the purchaser enjoys buying them.
I personally don't buy lottery tickets but I don't see anything wrong with doing so - I have many friends and family members who buy them regularly and get a lot of enjoyment out of it.
Posted by: Zach Date posted: Sat Jul 19 21:08:06 2008
Message:
i was in the store today and decided to buy a ticket , due to all the interest generated surrounding this topic. And for that I had to go into the longer line, btw
I bought a more expensive ticket, and needless to say I lost. Even if I won $25, big deal? A lady in line the other day won $25 and was so excited that she did a high five with her friend. But it's not going to change her life, or compensate her for the carpal tunnel syndrome she is accruing from all that scratching. It would have to be sumthing in the thousands to get excited about.. anything less than that is small potatoes, in that circumstance. Of course, if I found $25 on the street, that's another story since it came to me without that foolish habit. Incidentally, I have found more money than I ever won in the lottery. Once I found a 20 in the snow.. another time 40 bucks at the ATM, once more than 60 dollars in a bag on the street but their was ID then so I eagerly had it given back to the grateful owner, plus alot of one and two dollar coins.
** I also get exicted about picking up pennies on the street nearly every day. I am guessing the same fools who throw their money away on lotto tickets, throw even more tiny percentages of their power away by ditching their pennies.. and I am only too happy to take the money they don't want!
Posted by: Zach Date posted: Sat Jul 19 2:25:42 2008
Message:
alot of great discussion here I didn't expect.
Please understand I am not judging anyone in particular regardless of the level of their habit. I am pointing out the greater implications.. the ways TPTB push our buttons.
Lottery tickets were not sold a few decades ago.. I am not sure of the specifics.. but once they were gleaned to be a good source of revenue, it became to be introduced. And now, lotteries always advertise here on the tv.. when i catch a commercial, bc as I said i dont watch tv unless its on the background while surfing the net. I just see a real push for people to spend spend spend and they are are are. My problem is, once again, with the system. I am not going to call gambling immoral, because there is enough stigma attached to it. I just think it's a shame, and it's not the best habit to have much like we all have our vices, in an ideal world lotteries need not exist.
Posted by: Gotta go anon for this one Date posted: Fri Jul 18 22:29:11 2008
Message:
Personally I can't agree with you because a few years ago my friend and I won 250K. We only spend $9 a week between the two of us, so the payoff was decent. I am not much for gambling but go to the casino about twice a year and I usually come out ahead.
But I realize I am an exception to the rule. However, these people are buying a chance at a dream. For that short period of time they can dream large, so it doesn't hurt really. That is unless you have a problem with gambling. But the same goes for any other addiction. Anything in moderation is fine.
Posted by: Paige Date posted: Fri Jul 18 21:51:41 2008
Message: The only time it bothers me is when I see the losing tickets on the side of the road/sidewalk. I don't like littering in any form. I don't generally play myself, but if that's how other people want to spend their money, then who am I to tell them differently. They might see someone dropping hundreds of dollars on phones/video games/electronics as a waste of money. Others might see spending it on alcohol/cigarettes as a waste. It's your money, you worked for it, so you can spend it in your own way. The one thing I can say for the lottery here in GA, a LOT of the money spent has gone to education. So I guess that's kinda how I look at it... if you're gonna give the government money, wouldn't you rather take a chance with the lottery and have fun than just pay them directly with higher taxes? :)
Posted by: farmer brown Date posted: Fri Jul 18 19:00:11 2008
Message:
I don't play the lottery. I think it's a waste of money that could be used for better things.
However, as a one-time experiment about 10 years ago in Texas, I spent $200 in one game. It was a simple game: Pick four numbers between 0 and 99. Get all four right and win $1 million. I was hoping providence would smile on me by not being too greedy and playing in a relatively low-stakes game, as far as lotteries go.
I picked every single number at least twice. That way I knew at least a few tickets would have the winning numbers, no matter which four were drawn. I won $80 (by getting two numbers right). A couple of tickets were one number away from hitting three correct numbers, which would have given me $100.
So that little experiment set me back $120 hard-earned dollars. That was enough lottery wastefulness in one lifetime. I'm sure the state of Texas spent my voluntary extra-tax money well.
Posted by: redman91 Date posted: Fri Jul 18 17:33:10 2008
Message: What region of Canada is this...Where are these "dumping grounds" that you talk about...I buy tickets and our household income is well over $150,000.00. We are not banking on my winning or losing for our future...Redman91(Canadian)
Well, you are correct that I don't buy lottery tickets. And as much as I also get irritated at those who buy lottery tickets makign me stand in line longer than I'd like, I certainly would not automatically classify any of those people as "morons." If they want to buy lottery tickets, that's their choice. They're certainly not affecting me at all.
And since when do smokers hold up the line when buying cigarettes? Most of us know exactly what brand we want and just ask the clerk to get them for us. If anythign, we are the fastest type of customer in that particular environment, LOL! We just want our butts, so we can get out!
Posted by: The Rev. Trask Date posted: Fri Jul 18 11:32:13 2008
Message: Gambling is a tool of the devil. Miss Abigail Collins and I shall look into this.
You do point out that it is their money to do with what they want so why does it bother you so much? Is it only because you have to wait in the line at the store?
What I fail to understand is why you have to categorize people you do not know, who are simply doing something you disagree with, as 'morons.'
Posted by: Duffy Date posted: Fri Jul 18 9:05:04 2008
Message: You say when you want something you will have to work for it. Does that mean you now have a job and are not living off the very man, your father, whom you are criticizing for buying lottery tickets????? Last I heard you were going back to school for yet another degree, making quilts with your mother and watching Y&R.
You're right, I don't buy lottery tickets. But if that's what someone wants to do with their money, that's fine as long as that expenditure is not taking the place of essentials. There will always be people who are stupid enough to go without basic necessities so they can gamble their money on a losing proposition. If they didn't play the lottery, they'd blow it on cards or sports bets or something. For others, it's recreation. They enjoy trying out the different games and following the results hoping for a big score. Many people buy the $1 tickets and earn back enough through occasional small winnings to break even and that's fine with them. But every once in a while, someone does hit the jackpot. I recall when I lived in Georgia, a 19 year old country girl 20 miles from me won $180 million. She said she would buy a pick up truck for her boyfriend and a horse farm for herself and her parents. I say all the power to her. As long as there are winners, people will keep buying the tickets. For many, it represents hope for the future whether they win or not.
Zach, not everyone who plays the lottery is as you described.
I play our twice weekly lottery, and spend a total of $4/week.
For me it is just a little bit of harmless fun and who knows, maybe I will win.
I am not basing my retirement on it or anything, but I enjoy checking my #'s and seeing if maybe I won.
If its a really huge jackpot I dont go crazy and buy $20 worth of tickets. I play the same amount because I know if I am meant to win, it will only take that one ticket.
Posted by: GailJ Date posted: Fri Jul 18 8:34:46 2008
Message: It is terribly sad when those people that actually have an addiction end up spending food money for lottery tickets awaiting that day when they will be rich. I've seen those folks in line and actually scratching the tickets right there on the premises. When the lottery first came to Georgia I bought a few scratch offs. Of course at the beginning they threw a few extra winners in there so people would win a little and eventually get hooked on them. What I hate the most are those tickets where you don't win money but ANOTHER ticket. Their hope is that you will take that winning ticket back and while exchanging it for another you will buy a few more. I have never won more than $40 on a scratch off. I rarely buy them now. I can say tho that my brother actually won the Fantasy Five. He won $145,000...got $93,000 after taxes. Unfortunately he blew it in two years (but did give my parents $20,000) and now has nothing to show for it. The only time that I make it a point to buy a ticket (not scratch off) is if the jackpot is really big. I don't expect to win but if it comes that will be great. I don't have money to pi$$ away so I don't make a trip to the store JUST to buy tickets. I agree that there are some folks that are totally brain washed about this but as another poster stated above, if you buy a few here and there I really don't think it would be any worse than indulging in a $ 5.00 cup of coffee.
Zach your lumping people together here. There are people who are addicted like the woman who I have been told by the clerk, buys the whole roll of scratch offs. Another clerk, another store said she stands there 2 hours buying scratch offs. Some actually cost $20 each!
Then there are people like me and so many other retired persons here. I buy a couple nearly every day. I have never bought a $5.00 cup of coffee. Don't drink wine. We have sh-tty restaurants here so we don't spend much money there. I don't work so I don't need pricey handbags or clothing. Florida doesnt require more than jeans, T shirts or shorts.
In life I am as frugal a person as you could meet. I fully aware of the astronomical odds of winning a high prize. They are usually printed on the tickets. For me its a lark, the same as impulsively saying, ''let's get some Ice cream.'' The difference is if you win $10, it doesnt stay on your hips.
You know what gets me though? When I do win and tell people. They say ''Oh you're so lucky, I never win anything'' I then ask ''When did you buy one last?'' They say ''I never do.'' Well, the odds are predictably 100% they're not going to win anything isnt it.
No Zach I think I can speak for many others and say don't lump the sick people with us.
Posted by: EuroSuzie Date posted: Fri Jul 18 2:42:36 2008
Message: I totally agree! When I moved here to be with my husband (then boyfriend) he had a subscription to the lottery here paying 13.50 (then guilders) a month for a ticket. He never won anything, just the occasional 5 guilders, maybe 25 once or twice.
After we went to the Euro everything became expensive and we had to start cutting corners. I INSISTED that he cancel his subscription to the lottery, saying that it was equal to throwing 13.50 down the toilet, and he did. He still says now and then that he'd like to get another subscription, saying that MAYBE one day we will win. I don't understand this in him because he really is very smart. He is like those people who sit on their arses before a slotmachine in Las Vegas, getting the occasional 20-30 bucks, thinking that THIS pull will be the winner, losing more and more money each time.
We do buy a ticket on Queen's Day and New Year's but that's it. If I go away on vacation by myself (usually to the US to see Mom and that's not a vacation! LOL But am usually gone 2-3 weeks) I always come back to find that he's bought a ticket every week that I am gone (but honey I won 5 euros with one -- maybe the next one will win!!)!! Oh well, we all have our vices....
