Is It Time To Clamp Down On Online Betting

[youngmafbog]

This poor lady obviously couldnt cope with her addiction and took the ultimate way out.

She is not alone, this scourge of society needs dealing with. Continual adverts on tv and radio, free money to get you in and hooked. This is not bingo, there is no social aspect however much the misleading adverts portray it.

I say time to ban it or at very least strictly regulate it with draconian restrictions.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8089487/University-worker-34-hanged-gambling-away-entire-salary-failed-bank.html

[TheDevil]

What act then, should I, as a member of society take after this woman killed herself and why?

[woofgang]

No Man Is An Island - Poem by John Donne


No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were:
Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.

[andy-hughes]

TheDevil - // What act then, should I, as a member of society take after this woman killed herself and why? //

That is really not for me to say, is it?

As you stated, we are all individuals - so you must make up your own mind about any action you may wish to take.

Based on your posts thus far, I would suggest that you will do nothing whatsoever, which of course is your choice.

[andy-hughes]

The fact that woofgang's poem has survived, and is quoted regularly, several hundred years after it was written, speaks rather more to the understanding that we are not isolated, and we do need to care about each other.

[Mamyalynne]

This is a tragic case of course and for most people,financial ruin and family breakdowns are more the norm.

I am not a fan of banning things that don't appeal but feel there should be greater restrictions on advertising and the regular exposure on commercial channels there is at present.

[TheDevil]

"That is really not for me to say, is it?"

Well you more or less have already said that I should have more empathy for this woman and that I should protect her or others like her, because she needs protecting because she can avoid excesses.

I'm thinking... Why?

What's the difference between her and a drug user?

Some will say there is no difference.

should regular members of society be distracted and dragged down by those who can't avoid excessing to the max, resulting in death?

Be that gambling or injecting heroin into their eye balls.

[TheDevil]

can't avoid eccsess *

[andy-hughes]

Mamya - // This is a tragic case of course and for most people,financial ruin and family breakdowns are more the norm.

I am not a fan of banning things that don't appeal but feel there should be greater restrictions on advertising and the regular exposure on commercial channels there is at present.//

I would agree.

Society has decided that advertising of tobacco and alcohol is not appropriate, because of the attendant damage that is being caused by increasing excesses in those areas.

It is not unreasonable therefore, to address the extensive and pervasive proliferation of gambling advertising, and the increase in adverse results, and ask whether it is time for that also to be curtailed, or banned.

[Mamyalynne]

It isn't being dragged down to consider the plight of others and whether we as a society can do more to help, even if only in considering ways to make life safer for all.

[TheDevil]

Life is safe though. It wouldn't be made safer if the banks dictated when, where and more importantly why we could spend our coin.

[Mamyalynne]

I have not mentioned the Banks, that's quite a different issue - it's the industry,the advertising and the glamorisation that concerns me.

[andy-hughes]

TheDevil - // "That is really not for me to say, is it?"

Well you more or less have already said that I should have more empathy for this woman and that I should protect her or others like her, because she needs protecting because she can avoid excesses.

I'm thinking... Why? //

If you need me, or anyone else, to answer that question for you, then you appear not to have understood the posts I have offered, and as i said, we should agree to differ.

// What's the difference between her and a drug user?

Some will say there is no difference. //

In the context of the points I am making, the difference is this -

Hard drugs are illegal, and not easily accessible to users.

Gambling is legal, and encouraged to what I believe to be an unacceptable degree, with the result that vulnerable people are coming to harm.

// should regular members of society be distracted and dragged down by those who can't avoid excessing to the max, resulting in death? //

If they want to enjoy the benefits of a civilised society then yes, because they are part of that society, and living in a civilised society means taking part in developing strategies that benefit everyone, directly and indrectly.

// Be that gambling or injecting heroin into their eye balls. //

Not really comparable, unless - and I appreciate your consistency - you are determined to reduce everything to its absolute simplest level.

[andy-hughes]

TheDevil - // Life is safe though. It wouldn't be made safer if the banks dictated when, where and more importantly why we could spend our coin. //

I don't believe that it would, which is why I have not suggested such a notion - that is a conclusion you have reached independent of anything posted on the thread thus far, if memory serves.

[TheDevil]

I'm boiling it down to addiction and how the addictive mentality of the lady in question resulted in her death.

That can be correlated to many a field.

I'm not in the gambling world. I don't gamble. I don't endorse gambling and apart from here and now I don't even discuss gambling. So why should I, as a member of society, protect her or others like her when as you've clearly pointed out, I don't understand?

Why should I get educated in a sector that I'm not involved with, to help protect those who are, potentially putting myself in danger to the addiction?

I shouldn't and I won't, that may be seen as selfish but at least I'm contributing to the part of society who doesn't gamble and then result in taking my own life.

[Mamyalynne]

Pull your shutters down and hoist your ladder up, you don't care - have a good life.

[brainiac]

As an example of the pervasiveness of gambling advertising, in this season half of Premier League football teams, and 17 of 24 in the Championship feature a betting brand as a shirt sponsor. No wonder people get into difficulties when faced with this onslaught.

[andy-hughes]

TheDevil - // I'm not in the gambling world. I don't gamble. I don't endorse gambling and apart from here and now I don't even discuss gambling. So why should I, as a member of society, protect her or others like her when as you've clearly pointed out, I don't understand? //

Again, if you need me to answer that question, you do not agree or, I suggest, understand, the points I have made and for the third, and last time, I think we must agree to differ.

Why should I get educated in a sector that I'm not involved with, to help protect those who are, potentially putting myself in danger to the addiction? //

You have answered your own question. If you live in this society, then you are exposed to the dangers that come from behaviour that you do not partake in, or condone, but because we do not live in isolation, that will bot protect you from the fallout of aspects of society that are not directly influencing you, or directly affecting you.

// I shouldn't and I won't, that may be seen as selfish but at least I'm contributing to the part of society who doesn't gamble and then result in taking my own life. //

Actually, you are.

If you ever watch an advert on television or in the cinema, or read a newspaper advert, or use a bank, then you are indirectly contributing to the systems that allow excess gambling to flourish and thrive.

You are fiercely keen to believe that you exist in the section of society that doesn't deal with nasty things like drugs and gambling and suicide.

But if you live in this society, and you do, then you are involved, and you do have a level of responsibility, and fortunately for you, you have the facility to pretend, and act, otherwise.

[Ken4155]

The blame culture at it again! Mum and dad looking for a scapegoat for their daughter's unfortunate and untimely death. Perhaps they could have done more themselves knowing she suffered from depression? I would love to know the percentage of 'problem gamblers' within the many thousands of those who enjoy a punt. I'd bet odds-on the figure would be small. By all means ban all the advertising but to ban on line gambling would be punishing the majority for the sake of a few who cannot curb their addiction.

[brainiac]

Would you say you are addicted, Ken? Could you go, say, a month without a bet?

[Togo]

True Ken......perhaps we should ban food advertising and all the cookery "shows" because it encourages fatties to eat even more. Which is itself nothing less than suicide.