Gander,you say it affects people's moods? Well,I think it attracts people with mood problems to begin with.So,it is often a symptom of a problem (not the actual problem.)It obviously ups your mood in anticipation of the race,and then lowers it when you lose.I again say that if people would only bet with money they could afford to lose,then they wouldn't have such low moods when they lose. See,it is a self-discipline problem.Gambling exposes things that are already there.It doesn't create anything that isn't already there.Anyways,I know you wouldn't be on here,or bet at all, if your mood wasn't elevated by doing so. So,blaming gambling for causing low moods,doesn't tell the other side of the story.Gander,it is no different than blaming potatoe chips for people being fat.People can enjoy them(and elevate their mood,)but if they eat too many of them,they will get fat(which will lower their mood.)The problems that come from gambling are the result of people betting too damn much money.Just like the problem that comes from potatoe chips is that people eat too many.What makes people stop eating them? Self -discipline.What makes people stop betting? Self -discipline.What you are saying is to get rid of all the potatoe chips,and then you don't have to control yourself.I have bet horses for about 24 years.To me,my self-discipline with it has gotten very good,and I don't bet anything over what I agreed to bet with before the day started.To me,you're blaming gambling for your own lack of self discipline.When you say somebody has a gambling problem,you should be saying that person has a self discipline problem(because that is where the problem is...not that somebody gambles,but that they do it too much.)
|