Re: Thoroughbred Horse Racing [Merged]
tigersnake said:
Not trying to lecture anyone, but a mate is having marriage problems due to gambling. I suggested he talk to someone, get some counselling. He shook his head and said 'nah stuff that'. 'Can't hurt pal'. I said and left it. Anyway, that was friday, he went to his first session Monday and got a lot out of it. He thought about what I said, in the tote saturday, saw the helpline on the bottom of a tote ticket. Rang them, they booked him in locally for Mon arvo, he went and said it was a real help, and all free! He's got a spring in his step which I haven't seen for ages, time will tell, but I was rapt. I was a bit stunned actually, I've tried to get family to get help and failed.
Also good because his wife was talking about booting him out and he was angling for my spare room ;D.
Good punting though RFC, thats your one biggie I'd reckon. Enjoy it and try not to give it back.
Its a good point snake. you gotta be careful on the punt. The race of the heart at the 200, the odd fistful of bookies money, the feeling of being smarter than every other dumb bastard. Its addictive for sure. When i was a young man, i was working in kalgoolie clearing the equilvalent of $2K a week with no commitments. I knew I had a problem when I had lost a fortnights pay before 10am one saturday (3 hour behind in the west, you can get on the first in melbourne over breaky). Me and maurice rioli strangely. The next couple of weeks of self loathing in my donga was enough to wake me up that I had the genetic loading, the personality, the upbringing to do the lot and end up drinking sherry from a brown bag, living in a half way house and scraping together a buck to have a go on the Dapto dogs. I think its like smack. The addiction never goes, you just control it. Ive got a few strategies in place. I punt on the horses in spring, on the tigers about 5 times a year and restrict myself to betting more than I can afford to lose (which gives the best rush, for better or worse, obviously) only once a year. Im on top of it.
again, a good point to raise snakester, especially for young tigers out there and especially with that little poonce waterhouse's face everywhere trying to get a slice of your hard-earned. Life is a punt, and being able to weigh the odds, do a quick cost benefit analyses and have a go is a good life skill. fortune favours the brave after all. BUT, you gotta be smart and measured about it. make some not-negotiable rules for yourself. Its like having a line of coke at the christmas party.
edit: Tigers @ $3 might just be my little annual treat
. I'll have a think about it, apply my checks and balances and see.
edit 2: I dont want to be flippant about a big issue, but ive got to tell a funny story thats very relevant. My family has had a lean year fiscally speaking. Theres light at the end of the tunnel, but its been as tight as can be. The other day, the senate took the unusual measure of looking over our Visa statement and saw a $50 withdrawal for Xbet in Darwin and she said to me "you didnt really gamble $50, when we couldnt afford groceries did you?". I replied "Yes, I had $50 on the tigers to beat footscray by 60+, thats how the electricity bill got paid" It was a funny one, because (1) I didnt have a leg to stand on and i responded in a commensurate style BUT (2) I was telling the truth and so the senate kind of didnt know what to say. :don't know
