Man who thought he won the lottery to sue paper

CP ^ | 08/20/06

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

You're right about that. In addition to being an idiotic waste of money, lotteries are annoying to those who don't play and are just looking to pay for that bottle of Gatorade.

Oh whatever. Take your elitist attitude and shove it.

[KeepUSfree]

Of course...but nobody is suggesting that should be done. If, however, I choose to spend $5 weekly on lotto (which, I don't) ...it's not stupid. It's entertainment. Just like buying a beer at a bar (where they charge as much as a six-pack at the carry-out store). Nobody is going to "win" there either. Is that stupid?? - spending 3 times as much for the beer as you need to. For me, yes it is. I don't drink! But, for others, it's not stupid - not, if they're having fun. It's called "entertainment". And, there are very few forms of entertainment where you get back anything "solid" for your expense. Lotto is the same way. Difference is, a VERY good friend of mine actually won 5 million playing lotto (about 15 years ago...they've wasted it...but that IS stupid). I don't know of anybody who has ever increased their net worth with ANY other form of entertainment.

What's annoying is the "better than thou" attitude. I'm sure I could look at your spending habits and say - "That's a stupid way to spend money"...but I doubt I would. I believe in personal choice. If it's NOT stupid for you - and you can afford it - go ahead. Go to fantasy baseball camp - Go to vegas - Go skydiving..it's ALL good.

[Protagoras]

People get freedom of choice. Not freedom from ridicule.

People who are entertained by imbecilic day dreaming about things which can never be, and pay for the right, are stupid.

[Protagoras]

If, however, I choose to spend $5 weekly on lotto (which, I don't) ...it's not stupid.

So we now know that the figure for stupidity is somewhere between $5 and $500,000. You admitted that $500,000 was stupid. And you say $5 is not stupid.

So you agree with me, we just have different numbers in mind. LOL

[KeepUSfree]

No, I didn't. Your lying again. I never said $500,000 is stupid either. You keep making things up then saying "LOL" - what a loser. I said to spend "ALL" of ones income would be stupid. If Bill Gates wants to spend $500,000 on Lotto tickets...it's no longer stupid - he might derive great pleasure from checking his numbers. He might want to display every possible number combination in frames somewhere. Not my business...who am I to judge. And, more importantly - who are YOU to judge.

A few years ago there was a story about Michael Jordan losing a million or so dollars in Vegas. Is he stupid. No. Must be a better ball-player than gambler. But, a million is a drop in the bucket to him. If he wants to spend a night out blowing a million...more power to him. See, the difference between you and I is that I don't "ridicule" someone for their choices - if those choices are not detrimental to the person, their family or society. How one entertains oneself is a very personal choice. I know folks who collect telephone pole insulators. Not my cup of tea...but I would never be so imbecilicly elitist as to call them "stupid" - and they spend quite a bit of money on them.

You must be one of those liberals...think they know better then everyone else (you sure ARGUE like one...build a straw man - knock it down - think your clever). You never address ANYTHING I say (have you EVER bought a beer in a bar? HAve you EVER gone out to dinner?? If so, you are "as stupid as someone who buys a few lottery tickets with their disposable income".

It's called "disposable income" for a reason.

[FreedomCalls]

HAve you EVER gone out to dinner??

Obviously not, as going out to dinner and spending $40 for a meal would be stupid when you can make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at home for less than a dollar. After all, spending $500,000 on a meal would be stupid and less than a dollar would not be, so therefore he thinks eating out is stupid. (And it seems he hasn't eaten out since 1970 or so if he thinks you can buy a cup of coffee served by a waitress for 50¢)

[Protagoras]

My, my,,how touchy.

LOL

Buying lotto tickets is stupid.

If I were you, I would spend the $2 on a tranquilizer. :^}

[Protagoras]

So let's tie this all up with a neat bow.

You think people should be able to amuse themselves in any way they want, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else, without being criticized, right?

[Protagoras]

Me in #100
"Why didn't you bet your entire $500,000 on lotto tickets? Would that have been stupid?"

You in #102
"Of course...but nobody is suggesting that should be done."

You denying the truth and calling me a liar in #105
"No, I didn't. Your lying again. I never said $500,000 is stupid either."

Stupid is as stupid does.

[KeepUSfree]

Takes you 3 whole posts... Once again, you can't follow a simple "conversation". In post #102 I was referring to MY $500,000 - which WAS my entire net worth at the time. Yes, that would have been stupid. So, once again, you try to compare 2 different issues. So, maybe you weren't actually lying....you just aren't capable of following a simple line of reasoning. But, more likely, you are trying - like all good liberals - to twist my words...which I won't allow you to get away with. See...it's called "proportion". As you can't seem to fathom, $500,000 is alot of money to some (I'd say most...me too). To others, (such as P. Diddy), it's THE START of a nice party - he routinely blows millions on parties. I've been to weddings that cost $500,000...one day. $100,000 on flowers ALONE. He was a famous Sports figure. Made 7mill per year.. Big deal. It was a nice time. My wedding cost about $2000 and it was a struggle at the time. Who is better - him for spending 500k and not hardly noticing...or me for spending 2k and having to struggle with paying for it.

I'll give you a hint - NIETHER of us is better...we just made personal choices that were weighed against MANY factors.

As for relaxing...don't worry about me... My entire life is about relaxing and enjoying myself. I enjoy arguing with liberals - it's one of my greatest pleasures.

And, even though you won't address ANY question I ask, I will still tell you. Yes, since I believe in the individual and in freedom. I believe a person ought to be able to do anything they like with their money (we'll keep it within the law...even though that is WAAAY to narrow a definition...but - so you don't start trying to twist things...anything legal is ok.)

Should they be free from ridicule? Nobody is "free from ridicule".

Like I said, you're free to "ridicule" anybody you want - for any reason....I'd fight to the death to defend your right TO ridicule someone who spends $2 on Lotto tickets every week.

However, at the same time, I also know that choosing to ridicule someone based upon the legal use of their disposable income is the mark of a VERY small-minded person who can't see beyond their own small sphere of life.

I welcome, promote, and marvel at the differences between myself and others.

You make fun of them and try to denigrate them.

I'm ALOT happier being me.

[Protagoras]

Like I said, you're free to "ridicule" anybody you want - for any reason....I'd fight to the death to defend your right TO ridicule someone who spends $2 on Lotto tickets every week.

Ok, get ready, it's a pity you have to die, but if anyone says I have no right to say they are a moron for spending $2 on lotto tickets, I expect you to lay down your life.

Anyone who buys lotto tickets is a moron and should be ridiculed.

[KeepUSfree]

If they were going to kill you for saying it. I would gladly defend your right to say iy. I wouldn't die though....cause I'm good at what I do. And, if it comes down to "me ot him"...it's gonna be "himm".

[NittanyLion]

Ok, get ready, it's a pity you have to die, but if anyone says I have no right to say they are a moron for spending $2 on lotto tickets, I expect you to lay down your life. Anyone who buys lotto tickets is a moron and should be ridiculed.

I would argue that the bigger moron is the busybody who ridicules others for their personal choices. If a person receives more gratification from spending that dollar on a lottery ticket than on anything else, then it is entirely rational that they would do so. Conversely, perhaps they instead derive greater joy from putting it in a slot machine, toward a beer, a baseball ticket, a bank account, etc. Then it would be entirely rational for them to spend it there. Nothing moronic about it.

It would seem the person most deserving of ridicule is the one who can't seem to grasp elementary economic principles.

[Protagoras]

Wow, you're a tough guy!

So, you would defend my rights, but only if they were going to kill meeeeeeee?

[Protagoras]

Lighten up Francis, your chain maybe even shorter than the one on the other guy which I have been yanking for two days now.

LOL

[NittanyLion]

Lighten up Francis, your chain maybe even shorter than the one on the other guy which I have been yanking for two days now.

I'm just fine, thanks. If you're just giving him a hard time for the sake of argument, then never mind. If you actually believe what you're posting, you're sadly mistaken.

ROFL.

[Protagoras]

If you're just giving him a hard time for the sake of argument, then never mind.

Never mind then. LOL

Some of these folks take themselves and their opinions so seriously (on subjects of absolutely no importance) that they can't tell when they are being strung along.

I fear this particular chap will never figure it out and I'm starting to get bored, so I'll just move along.

(except to read his last salvo, which should be a lollapoloosa!)

[NittanyLion]

Hahaha! My mistake...The sarcasm didn't come through to me...

[KeepUSfree]

Trust me, there was no sarcasm....he's just a dork with a big mouth