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[deleted] t1_j8mxqx2 wrote

[deleted]

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alexbutton t1_j8n2vfo wrote

These scammers generally prey on the vulnerable, elderly, etc.

Blowing your rent on slots is not the same as a widow hearing all the things she misses hearing from her deceased partner, falling in love, and sending him money for x reason (say for an airplane ticket, sick kid, etc).

Not everyone is as online as the average redditor and has seen the signs/these stories before.

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mint_lint t1_j8n5fbn wrote

> These scammers generally prey on the vulnerable, elderly, etc.

This could be said about casinos too.

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[deleted] t1_j8n8js8 wrote

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mint_lint t1_j8naaob wrote

So you disagree? Casinos aren’t scammers?

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[deleted] t1_j8o54hw wrote

[deleted]

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mint_lint t1_j8oeugr wrote

This isn’t subjective.

Lets look past the house odds. (Which in and of itself is a scam. Most casual gamblers don’t know blackjack odds or the bet card. If this was published at the table your argument could have weight but this is obfuscated by the casino for obvious reasons).

Casinos use lights and sounds that have been designed to manipulate you.

https://neurosciencenews.com/casino-lights-decision-making-10116/

Casinos pump cold air onto the floor to keep you awake and gambling.

Vegas casinos ply you with drinks to keep you loose and gambling and have been able to successfully keep Indian casinos from being able to give you free drinks.

Players cards are designed to obtain your personal info for meager rewards.

Casinos are scams.

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Kewkky t1_j8n18le wrote

The situations are massively different, but I see where you're coming from.

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beepborpimajorp t1_j8nkv51 wrote

There's a reason these scammers prey on senior citizens.

Your brain changes as you get older to a point your working memory and other functions start taking a dive unless you're aware (if you're over 35 and reading this, go look into it so you can start early) this happens and actively working to conserve them by being active physically and mentally. And even then sometimes it's not enough because stuff like early onset dementia prevents connections from being made that apply things like logic to the stuff you're thinking about.

That's why these people are so easily taken in. Add into it that a lot of them come from a generation that is not well acclimated to technology and that makes it even worse.

So I do feel bad for them. These scammers have their targets (elderly, low intelligence/no education/etc.) pinned down for a reason. It's hard to fight when it's your own brain that's making you feel compelled to do things.

Not saying you have to feel bad for them too, but comparing this to voluntary gambling is a little callous. (And gambling is, for sure, an issue in its own way.)

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Ok-Control-787 t1_j8o1rs4 wrote

> If I go to Vegas and spend my whole check at the slots are you going to cry for me when I can't pay my rent?

I'm not gonna cry, but I do feel bad for people who can't seem to help themselves with gambling, other addiction, or even just general stupidity. People have serious problems with willpower, in many different ways.

Then the casinos design themselves to take as much advantage of that lack of willpower as they can.

That said, I don't blame anyone for not feeling bad for these people. Plenty of things to feel bad about and I can't feel bad for everyone.

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