|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/17/2008 1:39:14 PM
|
|
|
Mr.Dawgfan
Posts: 5521
Joined: 4/20/2005
From: WKYC TV 3 in Cleveland...
Status: online
|
My sister in law has been gambling for some time now. They recently within the last year have had their home foreclosed. Then they moved to a rented house,got evicted from there. Lived in her mom's garage, her dad co-signed for an apartment where they are currently living. She doesn't work,cook,or do much in the way of housework. Reads those gossip magazines. My sister got a call from one of those payday loan places. So I was wondering if gambling was a choice,addiction,or disease?
_____________________________
My blog
In the present crisis government is not the solution to our problems;government is the problem. Ronald Reagan 1981
9.11.01 Will Never Forget ..
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/17/2008 2:21:17 PM
|
|
|
MrFribbles
Posts: 1884
Joined: 1/29/2007
From: Hawaii, but I've moved around since then
Status: offline
|
I haven't read anything to suggest that gambling addiction has an actual physical cause, so I would say it's not technically a disease. And ultimately, any "addiction" is a matter of our choice. So, I would say that it is a choice.
_____________________________
You're a door without a key,
A field without a fence.
You've made a holy fool of me,
And I've thanked you ever since.
- Aaron Weiss
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/18/2008 9:37:01 AM
|
|
|
redeemedsaint
Posts: 497
Joined: 12/5/2005
Status: offline
|
It is a choice and then it becomes an addiction. It is not a disease so don't buy into that.
_____________________________
Woody
Get off the track cause the freight train is coming - Coach Bobby Lee Duke from Facing the Giants
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/18/2008 1:23:46 PM
|
|
|
LCannon
Posts: 1226
Joined: 2/22/2007
From: Lebanon, OR
Status: offline
|
Probably it depends on were you come from, the indulger or the observer, like most things. As a TV commercial for my state lottery this woman 'I don't know...mesmerized is the best word' for her compulsion to gamble and she 'had to get outside help'.
_____________________________
"It may be that when the angels go about their task of praising God they play
only Bach. I am sure, however, that when they are together en famille they
play Mozart and then too our dear Lord listens with special pleasure."(Karl Barth)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/28/2008 4:33:32 AM
|
|
|
martman
Posts: 1
Joined: 10/28/2008
Status: offline
|
I think that it is a combination of both. Gambling is an addiction, but certain genes can influence people towards risk taking behaviors and high impulse. I write all about this in my gambling addiction website http://gamblinganon.blogspot.com. Have a nice day.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/28/2008 3:12:28 PM
|
|
|
CCCdnt
Posts: 347
Joined: 3/10/2006
Status: offline
|
Gambling is a choice that, like other things, can become an addiction.
_____________________________
http://www.abort73.com
See for Yourself
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/28/2008 7:28:39 PM
|
|
|
Johnny_
Posts: 395
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: California
Status: offline
|
I personally don't gamble and never intend to. However, I do on occasion play cards with my friends but never for money. Is gambling an addiction or a choice? I think gambling is a choice that can lead to an addiction. I would never recommend gambling to anyone, not even for fun. Why not? Well, my dad used to be a compulsive gambler but he didn't start off this way. My dad just gambled with his friends here and there, but things got way out of hand, if you know what I mean. So the answer is no, I would not recommend gambling even if it is a choice.
< Message edited by Johnny_ -- 10/29/2008 12:21:31 AM >
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/29/2008 7:37:18 AM
|
|
|
ekserekseez
Posts: 693
Joined: 7/3/2008
Status: offline
|
quote:
Gambling is a choice that, like other things, can become an addiction.
Good answer. What's wrong with gambling? Maybe some people go overboard with it, but like drinking alcohol, the vast majority of people who gamble stay within their means.
I didn't realize until I read these forums that some religious people are opposed to gambling. When I was a kid, the church had rallies and bingo, and the priests all played poker.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/29/2008 12:56:05 PM
|
|
|
bravjim
Posts: 395
Joined: 10/8/2008
Status: offline
|
Gambling is an addiction built on choice. It can have a snowball effect, if someone does not stay with in their means, just as with all addictions. I do play online poker on occasion, .10 tournaments, and I do it just for fun. I have not lost my house or my car or stolen for the game. As with anything that can get out of control, their are many christians who feel that it is sinful to gamble at all. But the way that I look at it, I can sit and play a ten cent tournament for an hour and a half, or I can go and see a movie for 10 - 15 bucks. Which is better use of my money? It is a form of entertainment, and I have yet to see anything in the bible banning entertainment. To come out and claim it as a sin, even though it is not covered in the bible as such, is nothing more than legalism in my book.
_____________________________
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfilll the lust of the flesh.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/29/2008 3:55:59 PM
|
|
|
Johnny_
Posts: 395
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: California
Status: offline
|
I think we should clarify the definition of gambling so people don't get confused. Playing bingo, poker, blackjack, hearts, etc., for the sake of entertainment is not gambling. With that said, playing any type of card and/or games for money is definitely gambling. There is big difference. For example, I sometimes play cards with my friends but it never involves money, this is not gambling. And just like alcohol, I don't think gambling itself is a sin, but I would never recommend it.
< Message edited by Johnny_ -- 10/30/2008 4:06:11 AM >
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/29/2008 4:05:01 PM
|
|
|
ekserekseez
Posts: 693
Joined: 7/3/2008
Status: offline
|
quote:
quote:
ORIGINAL: ekserekseez
When I was a kid, the church had rallies and bingo, and the priests all played poker.
I think we should clarify the definition of gambling so people don't get confused. Playing bingo, poker, blackjack, hearts, etc., for the sake of entertainment is not gambling, that is absurd. With that said, playing any type of card and/or games for money is definitely gambling. There is big difference. For example, I sometimes play cards with my friends but it never involves money, this is not gambling. And just like alcohol, I don't think gambling itself is a sin, but I would never recommend it.
The priests (and sisters) I knew all played poker and pinochle for cash.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/29/2008 4:16:32 PM
|
|
|
Johnny_
Posts: 395
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: California
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: ekserekseez
The priests (and sisters) I knew all played poker and pinochle for cash.
Then the priests and sisters were all gambling which of in itself is not a sin. The bottom line is this, there is a BIG difference between playing poker for fun VS playing poker for money. What is the difference? The former is called entertainment and the latter is called gambling.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/30/2008 7:14:09 AM
|
|
|
ekserekseez
Posts: 693
Joined: 7/3/2008
Status: offline
|
quote:
Then the priests and sisters were all gambling which of in itself is not a sin. The bottom line is this, there is a BIG difference between playing poker for fun VS playing poker for money. What is the difference? The former is called entertainment and the latter is called gambling.
This is a topic that really interests me. My mom thinks that all gambling is evil, like spending a buck on a lottery ticket, and gives my dad a hard time about it when he does. Now, dad only spends a buck a week, and he has a seven-figure annual income, so it's not like he's gonna go broke. I gamble on the internet a lot, and sometimes win and sometimes lose. At times it's several thousand dollars at once. To me, this is not a lot of money, although I know it is to some people. What's the point when it stops being entertainment and becomes gambling?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/30/2008 4:19:18 PM
|
|
|
Johnny_
Posts: 395
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: California
Status: offline
|
ekserekseez,
Just from having this dialogue with you, I already knew you were a hustler  
Well, all jokes aside, let me go ahead and answer your question.
So at what point does it stop being entertainment and become gambling? Anytime there is money involved, when you place that first bet is when it becomes gambling. Although I would not recommend it, I don't see anything wrong with placing a bet because your feeling lucky. With that said, it sounds like your gambling situation is more like a habit rather than on a random occasion. I could be wrong and I have been before, but I think you have a addiction to gambling on the internet. That to me is a definition of a compulsive gambler. I guess you could prove me wrong by stop gambling on the internet, try it and see if you can stop completely. If you can, then it is not an addiction. But if you cannot stop gambling, then I think it is safe to say you have an addiction.
< Message edited by Johnny_ -- 10/30/2008 7:59:51 PM >
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/30/2008 5:34:58 PM
|
|
|
ekserekseez
Posts: 693
Joined: 7/3/2008
Status: offline
|
quote:
ekserekseez,
Just from having this dialogue with you, I already knew you were a hustler
Hi Johnny!
Thanks for the humor and the respect, which isn't always forthcoming in these forums (or anywhere else on the web for that matter).
My gambling might be an addiction by your definition. It is certainly a habit. If I'm online, I usually multi-task, and one of those tasks is often a game of chance for money. I also play poker with friends for cash, and I gamble in Vegas a couple of times a year for a few days, usually blackjack, roulette, and ****s. As I said, I don't lose money that I miss (I spend more on clothes than I gamble).
I guess I have just gambled most of my life, and it's a habit. I don't think I'd freak out if I stopped, I just have no reason to stop.
Thanks for your honest and thoughtful comments. I guess this would be the wrong venue to ask you for odds on the election?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/30/2008 8:18:00 PM
|
|
|
1love1God1way
Posts: 2478
Joined: 5/16/2005
Status: offline
|
I once put on a poker tournament to raise money for missions.
_____________________________
love.ben
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/30/2008 8:23:19 PM
|
|
|
Johnny_
Posts: 395
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: California
Status: offline
|
Ben,
I respect your decision. However, I believe there are much better alternatives to raising money for missions other than gambling. Of course, we can certainly agree to disagree. Nonetheless, I have been involved with numerous mission fundraising events with my church and it was never done via gambling. The closest we ever got was holding a live auction but I don't consider auctions to be gambling. Thanks.
< Message edited by Johnny_ -- 10/31/2008 6:15:57 AM >
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/30/2008 8:40:20 PM
|
|
|
bravjim
Posts: 395
Joined: 10/8/2008
Status: offline
|
Just to add some flavor to the discussion, the question was asked when gambling becomes a problem. The answer is the same with alcohol. All things in moderation. If it is habitual, something done on a daily basis, it goes beyond moderation.
_____________________________
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfilll the lust of the flesh.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/31/2008 1:44:55 AM
|
|
|
Johnny_
Posts: 395
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: California
Status: offline
|
I think we need to more careful in the way we use the word moderation. I know it is a commonly used word for I hear it so many times, unfortunately more often than not. Why do I bring this up? Well, the word moderation is a very subjective terminology. If there is indeed a universal fine line in moderation, then where is the cut off point? It is so subjective.
For example:
quote:
ORIGINAL: bravjim
If it is habitual, something done on a daily basis, it goes beyond moderation.
Well, I completely disagree. I think once a day is definitely moderation. OK, now who is to say that I'm right and your wrong? Because there is no foundation, no limitation, and no end point. In other words, moderation is anything you want it to be and then it turns out to be an endless debate. All of a sudden, depending on who you talk to, moderation can be twice a day, once a day, every other day, once a week, once a month, or once a year...........and the list goes on and on like that Engergizer Bunny.
< Message edited by Johnny_ -- 11/1/2008 2:17:05 AM >
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 10/31/2008 6:55:10 AM
|
|
|
ekserekseez
Posts: 693
Joined: 7/3/2008
Status: offline
|
quote:
Your right, this is wrong venue to ask me for my odds on the election. So there is no way I am going to disclose to you that Obama is going to win next Tuesday in a landslide............
Ha! You're right there (I'm voting for Barr).
Regarding moderation and alcohol, I drink every day, usually at every meal. In the evening I have a couple of drinks. If I'm out with friends, and I have a few, enough to get a buzz, but not so much that I'm falling down hammered, is that moderation? It's certainly what nearly everyone I know does. (Please note that we're NOT driving, which I don't do if I've even had just one glass of wine).
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 11/2/2008 4:37:47 AM
|
|
|
Johnny_
Posts: 395
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: California
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: ekserekseez
If I'm out with friends, and I have a few, enough to get a buzz, but not so much that I'm falling down hammered, is that moderation?
It really depends on who your asking. Like I said before, moderation is anything you want it to be. It is so subjective that there is no right or wrong answer. For instance, my buddy at church thinks moderation is only once a month. Well, I beg to differ but who is to say that he's wrong? Again, someone once told me that moderation was two or three times each day. Well, how can you argue with that since there is no universal time frame or cut off point in moderation. Do you see where I'm going with this? This is the reason why I personally don't care for the word and never use it. I think moderation is once a day. Now I've already given you three different answers from three different people. Have I confused you enough? I wasn't trying to be smart, just being real with you.
< Message edited by Johnny_ -- 11/3/2008 1:38:15 AM >
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Is Gambling an addiction disease or is it a choice? - 11/2/2008 6:20:14 AM
|
|
|
ekserekseez
Posts: 693
Joined: 7/3/2008
Status: offline
|
quote:
Now I've already given you three different answers from three different people. Have I confused you enough? I wasn't trying to be smart, just being real with you.
No, I'm not confused. I don't use the word either.
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
