Attack on bookmakers by Harriet Harm-Men

[LeTiss 4pm]

Didn't somebody post Paddy Power's annual figures a while ago?

IIRC, the machines in shops were more profitable than their traditional betting business within those outlets

[Ferru123]

The problem with saying people should be free to spend their money as they wish is that a lot of people in this country are just stupid and actually need guidance/help/precautions as they are unable to do so for themselves.

Are you seriously advocating treating grown adults like children, and restricting how they can spend their money, on the basis that some of them are thick?

Would you also outlaw Betfair, on the grounds that most of its customers lose money consistently, with a few traders and gamblers (along with Betfair itself) at the top of the pyramid, and everyone else losing money?

I once worked with a guy who claimed to have lost 750K on Betfair (and I believe him - the guy was a phenomenally successful salesman).

Jeff

[andyfuller]

If it was discovered now it would probably be banned.

So would the car - that's not a compelling argument.

Why would the car be banned? Because some people die driving it?

[Ferru123]

Yes - 'elf and safety!

The Internet probably would also have been heavily restricted if politicians had forseen 20 years ago how big it would grow, before it became too big to easily control...

Jeff

Why would the car be banned? Because some people die driving it?

[andyfuller]

Are you seriously advocating treating grown adults like children, and restricting how they can spend their money, on the basis that some of them are thick?

Would you also outlaw Betfair, on the grounds that most of its customers lose money consistently, with a few traders and gamblers (along with Betfair itself) at the top of the pyramid, and everyone else losing money?

I once worked with a guy who claimed to have lost 750K on Betfair (and I believe him - the guy was a phenomenally successful salesman).

Yes I am advocating treating adults as children at times. Taking a friday night for example, there are some people who would (some do) go to pubs and drink themselves into such a state that they pass out etc. They are unable to make sensible decisions so that decision has been taken out of their hands as much as is possible and they should no longer be served when drunk.

I wouldn't outlaw Betfair either and I wouldn't out law the machines. Measure need to be taken to govern their use and the current rules are not sufficient imo.

Another good example of people being stupid are people speeding, rules are put in place about how fast you can go but if you removed those restrictions and made it a free for all as you seem to imply you prefer you would get people going at 70mph+ in built up areas, past schools etc.

What do you mean by Health and Safety. Cars are very safe. To misquote Theo P who said on Dragon's Den this year, cars don't cause accidents people do.

[Ferru123]

Taking a friday night for example, there are some people who would (some do) go to pubs and drink themselves into such a state that they pass out etc. They are unable to make sensible decisions so that decision has been taken out of their hands as much as is possible and they should no longer be served when drunk.

I can tell you from experience that it's very easy to get served when blind drunk!

I wouldn't outlaw Betfair either and I wouldn't out law the machines. Measure need to be taken to govern their use and the current rules are not sufficient imo.

I can understand someone being for banning slot machines because of the problems they are perceived to cause. Ditto an anti-restriction libertarian stance.

But your position amounts to 'Well, I'd restrict them, but only a bit', which is inconsistent...

Another good example of people being stupid are people speeding, rules are put in place about how fast you can go but if you removed those restrictions and made it a free for all as you seem to imply you prefer you would get people going at 70mph+ in built up areas, past schools etc.

If I speed, I risk killing other people. If I use slot machines, I risk depleting my own bank balance, but that's it...

What do you mean by Health and Safety.

I don't think I need to define 'health and safety'!

Cars are very safe.

Define 'very'.

Safe relative to what?

Statistics would suggest that driving your car carries more risk than sitting on your sofa...

To misquote Theo P who said on Dragon's Den this year, cars don't cause accidents people do.

Slot machines don't ruin lives - people's inappropriate use of them does...

Jeff

[andyfuller]

Slot machines don't ruin lives - people's inappropriate use of them does...Jeff

Exactly. There aren't many things I can think of that ruin lives when used appropriately, inappropriate use of them does. Hence why we have rules etc to try and curb the inappropriate use of them which takes us back to the article and what Harman was saying.

Cars are very safe.

Define 'very'.

Safe relative to what?

Statistics would suggest that driving your car carries more risk than sitting on your sofa...

Do you find yourself sitting in an empty room on your sofa arguing with yourself at times?

Can you forward the link to said stats

[Ferru123]

I see you chose to ignore my other points!

You are advocating protecting people from themselves, which I don't think is government's role.

Apart from anything else, nanny states are expensive to run, and frankly there are better uses of state resources at a time of austerity...

Jeff

Exactly. There aren't many things I can think of that ruin lives when used appropriately, inappropriate use of them does. Hence why we have rules etc to try and curb the inappropriate use of them which takes us back to the article and what Harman was saying.

[andyfuller]

I see you chose to ignore my other points!

I thought you said them as a joke as I didn't think they warranted a response. I will reply to them after racing.

[pdupre1961]

There aren't many things I can think of that ruin lives when used appropriately, inappropriate use of them does....

Guns