Guys that live at work, and don't need the money just to survive, have huge problems too if it has a negative affect on their kids. You see many rich people with kids that are fvcked up.
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Durito, I am not going to spend time arguing with you on this since you are smart enough to know the answer already or at least should know it.Originally posted by durito
Okay, if you phrase it this way then the answer is that they both contribute the same amount to society assuming that they both pay their taxes.
However, that would be only one interpretation and a limited one at that. It would be like saying, well that guy makes his living as a pimp therefore he is no different than an independet contractor who does data anlyasis for Fortune 500 companies. Sure, you can treat them as same if you really want to.
Yes it is true that professional gamblers help out the local economies in which they reside in.... but what else? What other contributions have they made to our society? What innovations are they responsible for? What knowledge have they helped build? What breakthroughs have they been credited with? Live wagering maybe, or halftime lines or prop bets?
In addition, the negative side effects of gambling are well-documented in the research literature such as lower self-esteem, depression, addiction, higher health care costs, suicide rates are considerably higher, etc....
Gamblers contribute very very little to our society. That's not to say they aren't good people or intelligent people but you are fooling yourself if you want to believe they really do anything important for our society. If you were to remove them completely from our society, nobody would even notice that's how useless they are. If they are that important to society, then books in Vegas would be catering to them. Instead they are limiting them or trying to get rid of them altogether.Comment -
Exactly. Which is what I disagree with Buddy's post. You can be a success in any career and still be a terrible father/mother/husband/wife etc. You can still contribute nothing to society, etc.Originally posted by raiders72002
You can also be a professional gambler and be none of those things.
If you are depending on some FT's for anything, you are a degenerate gambler, not a professional.and depending on a basketball player to make his FT's as to whether I have a great month, a good month or a bad month.
I would imagine most people that do this successfully keep their living expenses separate from their business (like any self employed individual should)Comment -
Just because someone's profession doesn't contribute to society doesn't mean the person doesn't. There area all types of professions that have a negative effect on society. The negative effects of gambling aren't particularly applicable to professionals, those problems will exist regardless of if anyone is doing this as a profession or not.Originally posted by BuddyBear
I'd prefer to spend my days building houses for habitat for humanity, but that won't pay my bills. Ideally one day I will be financially secure enough to not have to work and can pursue more humanitarian interests.Comment -
Exactly...that's what I've been saying. I didn't say gamblers per se don't contribute anything, i said the profession of sports gambling contributes nothing positively to society just as someone who works in the tobacco industry contributes nothing to society other than personal financial gain.Originally posted by duritoComment -
If you are a compulsive gambler then there is a problem. For most gambling is recreational and it's just another form of entertainment just like going to a movie.
Actors reap the rewards from movies and pro gamblers reap the rewards from losing gamblers and all are happy.
There are all types of compulsions that aren't healthy. Eating, shopping, porn, alcohol , drugs ,etc. can be unhealthy. They can also be very enjoyable if used right.Comment -
and there are many that are entertained. Are restaurants bad because some overeat, get fat and have a heart attack?profession of sports gambling contributes nothing positively to society just
Blaming others has become the American way. People should responsible for their own actions.Comment -
i give away a lot of money to those less fortunate like durito. And I take care of a lot of animals. I think these two things bring me a lot of luck. Never had a job my whole life.Comment -
Most professionals or businesses offer goods or services that customers are willing to pay money for. These transactions are normally voluntary on both sides which implies that both sides are better off for having participated in them, i.e., wealth is created.Originally posted by durito
Pro gamblers don't create wealth. They just divert some of the wealth flowing from the degenerates to the books in their own direction, which is why books don't usually care for them.
There's nothing wrong with it, it's just different from most (but not all) other professions.Comment -
i can not agree square,
it is pros who create prices, so the pro bookies can set the right price. they also usually hit the less popular side of event, so therefore they cause higher odds for favourites, that means more money stay for public, which means less is spoiled at betting companiesComment
