Lotteryism should be taught in schools!

Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Polls and Other Random Stupidity

Message

Musicmystery -> Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 4:10:39 PM)
We all see it each day while waiting in line---Americans believe in the Lottery. As other threads have noted here, anything so many people believe should be taught to students in our public schools, along with other more established subjects. All Americans deserve a solid education in lotteryism. Sure, the chances are less than getting struck by lightning (literary). Sure, it's voluntary taxation (wait----I thought taxes were bad?). Sure, it preys on those with less money---but hey, that's God's will! That whole "love your neighbor crap"? Liberal bullshit. We need to ensure that no child is left behind in this great nation. Please educate your child about the importance of playing the lottery (because hey, you never know!), and please insist that we include this important social aspect in all science classes, along with the study of statistics.

purelea2003 -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 4:15:11 PM)
I've played the same set of number in two different lotteries twice a week for five years. Maybe I could teach the class?

Raechard -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 4:16:41 PM)
Tick all the number except six and then those six are the ones you should pick, also pick only six numbers on another ticket. If the two tickets agree then it is unlikely a third set of numbers i.e. the draw numbers will agree also. Therefore fill out a third form and check you don’t have too many odd or even numbers and the spacing of pen marks on the form doesn’t depict any geometrical shapes or commercial logos that you've been brainwashed by advertising into drawing subconsciously. This is how to win the lottery, it’s really quite simple.[8\|]

Musicmystery -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 4:18:40 PM)
Gosh! If I'd only known! ;-)

bipolarber -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 4:24:29 PM)
We're currently trying to add a lottery to the state of Arkansas. I, personally, am for it. Frankly, I think it would be wonderful if ALL taxes were as voluntary, with a chance to win big at some point. If you don't like the lottery(s) then I suggest that you don't play. I do, on occasion, simply because (at least in Colorado) the money benefitted the State Park system. So, really, I won either way. Buying one ticket a week (one per drawing) increases your odds of winning substantially. More tickets than that, however, don't increase your odds anywhere near as much. And I like the freedom to dream about what would happen IF. (More entertainment than most reality TV, to be sure.) MM, I realize that you are using the near impossible odds of winning as a metaphor for teaching ridiculous notions in public schools. As a metaphor, it's not a bad one. But like most controversial subjects (which are actually about individual freedoms) I think those choices should remain up to the individual.

LadyEllen -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 4:25:37 PM)
Its odd MM, but none of the executive/professional educated types I know play the lottery here, but everyone else I know does. I'm sure that an awareness (or lack of) of probability and statistics and mathematics and the like has nothing to do with this phenomenon. E

Musicmystery -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 4:29:48 PM)
You see, that's the point! It's the educated elite who are suppressing this, along with their cohorts in the liberal media. When have you seen the New York Times cover how to win the Lottery? Never! They're suppressing these stories. It's important we teach our children that hey, you never know. Along with the Rapture.

Raechard -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 4:31:06 PM)
Maybe they just want to help the good causes or build that Olympic dream[:D]

LadyEllen -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 4:32:28 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Raechard Maybe they just want to help the good causes or build that Olympic dream[:D] Yep - of course, I hadnt thought of that. My apologies E

Musicmystery -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 4:46:39 PM)
Surely this would earn bipartisan support? Bob Dole and George McGovern, in the last known useful bipartisan venture, expaned their successful vision for the school lunch program internationally. What could help people more than teaching them to play the lottery? Not just here, but around the world!

Musicmystery -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 5:22:23 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: bipolarber We're currently trying to add a lottery to the state of Arkansas. I, personally, am for it. Frankly, I think it would be wonderful if ALL taxes were as voluntary, with a chance to win big at some point. If you don't like the lottery(s) then I suggest that you don't play. I do, on occasion, simply because (at least in Colorado) the money benefitted the State Park system. So, really, I won either way. Buying one ticket a week (one per drawing) increases your odds of winning substantially. More tickets than that, however, don't increase your odds anywhere near as much. And I like the freedom to dream about what would happen IF. (More entertainment than most reality TV, to be sure.) MM, I realize that you are using the near impossible odds of winning as a metaphor for teaching ridiculous notions in public schools. As a metaphor, it's not a bad one. But like most controversial subjects (which are actually about individual freedoms) I think those choices should remain up to the individual. Jesus man, talk about assigning unstated positions. My financial position in the lottery is statistically far ahead of yours---because I DON'T buy tickets. Thus, I always break even. How're you doing?

Daddysredhead -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 5:34:18 PM)
A former co-worker of mine won $5M from the VA lottery several years ago. Her brother won $50K about 8 months ago. I have no idea what the odds are for that, but I'm sure there's an actuarial table that could tell me.

Musicmystery -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 8:43:12 PM)
Good luck with that.

Aylee -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 8:57:39 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Musicmystery We all see it each day while waiting in line---Americans believe in the Lottery. As other threads have noted here, anything so many people believe should be taught to students in our public schools, along with other more established subjects. All Americans deserve a solid education in lotteryism. Sure, the chances are less than getting struck by lightning (literary). Sure, it's voluntary taxation (wait----I thought taxes were bad?). Sure, it preys on those with less money---but hey, that's God's will! That whole "love your neighbor crap"? Liberal bullshit. We need to ensure that no child is left behind in this great nation. Please educate your child about the importance of playing the lottery (because hey, you never know!), and please insist that we include this important social aspect in all science classes, along with the study of statistics. The lottery is a tax on the people that cannot do math. Now, granted, we only play the "powerball" when the win gets above a certain amount. (Actually, I would not play at all, but about twice a year the powerball reaches that number and the other half ask me to buy him a ticket.) Now, the scratch-off games. . . some of those I find fun. Like the bingo and such. They are worth the two bucks to amuse me. Now, I have bought scratch-offs in several states. Mostly it is because I need to potty, and I do not want to use their potty facilities without buying something. So I buy a lottery ticket. I do not expect to win, and I have certainly not based my hopes or retiarment on it. It is just something fun occasionaly.

Termyn8or -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 9:01:00 PM)
Didn't the lottery start out in ancient times to determine which citizen would be sacrificed to the Gods or something ? I bet the tickets were free back then. T

Aylee -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 9:03:01 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Termyn8or Didn't the lottery start out in ancient times to determine which citizen would be sacrificed to the Gods or something ? I bet the tickets were free back then. T You are thinking of the story, you stupid ass.

Musicmystery -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 9:16:02 PM)
Or Jackson's story drew from ancient sources.

Aylee -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/4/2008 9:29:07 PM)
Umm. . NO! Look, there is a difference between a senate vote and a damn "I do not know WHO it will be," fisking lottery. He remembers the story. That is great. But lets look at history and exile. Several of those leaders came BACK!. It was a vote not a lottery. And dumb ass needs to realize this.

Musicmystery -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/5/2008 4:31:43 PM)
I've completely lost track of whatever you're talking about.

rook42 -> RE: Lotteryism should be taught in schools! (10/5/2008 8:03:40 PM)
The Poor Man's Guide to Winning: As far as statistics go... People read about them, but very rarely think about them fully. Odds are not that bad, not only for breaking even but for making money on average. Look at mega millions. Expected value of a 1 dollar ticket, where J= Jackpot: E(V)= J/175,711,536+250,000/3,904,701+150/15,313+10,000/689,065+150/13,781+7/306+3/141+2/75 At about a 146 million jackpot, you're staying even, on average. With a slight statistical error ;) You're doing MUCH better than the average day-trader retiree these past couple years. Of course... That's because you have the balls to invest in a REAL gamble, and you cant back out of your bet. And you didnt spend the time, stress, and health thinking you could change the outcome. Course, you're still losing to currency risk, but that's what happens when you invest in the deficit: politics are a form of gambling too, and I sure as hell didn't elect him. The ROI for a 200 million jackpot is like 30%- not that bad for a near instant investment. And there are other utilities given by that ticket, too. It sounds silly, but a ticket is a good way to back out of candy/nicotine cravings, and the money goes to education. Sure, the volatility of your 1 dollar "portfolio" is through the roof. But the utility of the health benefits is staggering- justify that ticket over a coke or a bag of chips, save your teeth and your heart, and you're making a MAJOR profit(Maybe the trick for a philanthropist to protect these mistreated gamblers is not to prevent their spending- if they dont have the money, we cant buy the cigs. Do you really think we were on our way to buying better health insurance when we made the impulse buy of a lottery ticket?). That, and save the losing ticket to deduct your gambling losses, and you've mitigated part of the tax by ousting it on other taxpayers. "A waste of money"? "A tax on the poor"? HA! That's just a ploy impoverished smarties say to convince the richies not to play. Serious Aside: Ok. Regardless of how poor or uneducated you are... buying the lottery ticket is still your own choice. There are no negative obstacles to liberty: if anything, you're giving people the CHOICE of putting money into the education system. Income demographics mean nothing. People have the right to spend their own money, the same as they have the right to pierce themselves. Take away that right for their own good, and it's no different than outlawing piercing to protect the uneducated from infection. Statistics are not a proxy for human choice. (Is there still a negative correlation between piercings and income, and a positive correlation between infections and piercings? My guess would be yes. I'd rather make the assumption of free will and risk awareness, or there's a LOT of activities that are unethical- smoking, piercing, drinking, biking, sexing, and eating among them.)

Page: [1] 2 next > >>

Collarchat.com © 2025

Terms of Service

0.03125