I totally agree with you. Gambling is an addiction. It is a sin. Now that we got that settled, so?
Will it stop people from gambling? The way people are going on, it is as if we just invented gambling at RWS. People has always been gambling on the casino ships, Genting and Macau. The IRs are recognition by the govt that the revenue can be reaped here in Singapore as well. We have 4D and Toto so let's stop being coy about gambling in Singapore.
By all means, boycott the casinos. As you say, it is everyone's right. You have a right to boycott. Good for you. You should discourage your friends from going as well. But I doubt this will make you a popular person.
You are right that casinos can bring in crime, social ills etc etc. I have no dispute with all this.
Anyway, what I object is the constant mischievous mis-information on how badly the casino is doing, how it is going to fail. I am offering you guys an alternative view. As I mention many times, the Indians are coming, the PRCs are coming, the Indonesians are coming. I just heard on the radio - the Aussies are here as well. The casino has opened with a bang, the car park is full at 1pm today and my personal opinion is that it will work.
As you say, free forum, no right or wrong views but purposely giving wrong info should be addressed. It is actually quite tiring to be the casino defender. I do not have Genting shares and they are not giving me commission to type all these crap here.
BTW, you are absolutely right that I am no fren of the PRC. I am his 猪朋狗友. Having said that, he is filthy rich. The way he is gambling is obscene to me and I think it is immoral as well. But he is treating 20k as $200. There is some pain for him but it is not the way we view it. Maybe you can share with me on how to dissuade him from gambling. If you have a formula, we will share it with the social welfare groups worldwide, you will be 功德无量。
Peace to you though. This is good discussion for this forum. Those constant crap spam by ahleebabasingapore are embarrassing if this forum is going to be a forum for proper discussions.
Points to agree with you;
1. GAMBLING is a SIN, expecting more returns with less, expresses GREED, and Greed is a natural human nature, thus, to eradicate GAMBLING totally? NO. (Takes time and effort to eradicate Greedy Nature, and determination)
2. 4D, TOTO, FOOTBALL BETS, these are already NATIONAL GAMBLING legalized, will these be stopped? NO.
3. CASINOS good for the economy? Maybe. Financially, perhaps. Socially? No.
Somethings that I have to point out to you.
Having Principles in life defines you, yourself as a person, and that eventually becomes a habit, and it'll define your character, and your character defines your destiny... Do not be confused with becoming a popular person... Life is not a popularity contest, but it's up to a person's principles that defines he/she as a success.
After being said that,
I have declared to all my family members, and friends that I am boycotting the Casinos in Singapore, and I am asking all my family and (those who I regard as) Friends to boycott the Casino as well.
And I fear not the consequences, and if my family and friends decide to go to the Casino, I will persuade them not to. Should my family or friends be unhappy with my decision, and actions, I will persuade them further and point out the ills of the Casinos.
Let me give you a mathematical probability lesson now. Have you heard of the old Chinese proverb, " Gamble 10 times, 9 times losses" ? This proverb is true. And since you know that you will have 9 chances of losses out of a 1 time win, why do you want to go and lose money?
Next, on the part of social ills, and crimes... You are overlooking this important detail.
Singapore is not like USA, or CHINA, it's a tiny island with about 5 million people.
Because the CRIME or Social Ills have not been happening yet, doesn't mean that it will NOT happen. When the CRIME or SOCIAL ills start to affect the people that you hold dearest? How would you feel? Too late to complain? Too late to close down the Casinos? How about people that you love, your family, your friends being affected by the CRIMES and Social ills??? Is this a small deal? This is the reason why I keep on emphasizing to close down the Casinos... the repercussions are just one time too many!!!
Imagine the FTs that have lost everything... they resort to crime... to pay debts, etc... and when they lost everything... they have got NOTHING to lose! but SINGAPOREANS have got everything to lose, when they lose their life due to CRIME!!!
I got a feeling that you have not traveled enough around the world to understand these details... go to all the casinos in the world, and see it for yourself. If possible, bring all your credit cards, and maximum cash with you... and see for yourself.
If you truly want to be a true friend to your PRC business associate, then first of all, you must be true to yourself first.
And when you are true to yourself, only then you can become a friend of others.
On how to persuade a compulsive gambler to quit gambling...
Just share with him the usual mathematical probability of Gambling " Gamble 10 times, losses 9 times " he will understand... and bring him to other productive fun, like maybe massage, sauna, GYM, Shopping, Snooker, Bowling, Arcade Center, Movies, Hotels, Dining Out, Rental of a Dream CAR to drive for a day (make it a Ferrari, or Lamborghini), the list is limitless...
And if he still want to play... simple, go buy a NINTENDO DS with CASINO games installed and let him play... tell your friend that if he could win fake money in the NINTENDO DS for 100 games of Black Jack or Roulettes, then go play in the Casino... if he lose the fake capital in the game before 100 games, then he should not go.
Tell him about the Gambler's Fallacy. All Gamblers always think that the next round would be their winning round, but no one tells them that their odds against the House is always MUCH LOWER, and the HOUSE ALWAYS WINS.
Tell him stories about people having FAMILY BREAKAGE, Entire Company's fortunes being lost over night... Lost of Lives.... etc...
When you have true concern to your PRC Associate, only then you are deserving of a Friend.
People ONLY listen to people when you are genuinely interested in their welfare. I can assure you that when you can persuade a Gambler into not gambling, you will earn yourself a lifetime friend...