Going to quit

Quote: MrV

Let's cut to the chase.

We can play armchair psychologist ad infinitum, but it makes sense to leave it to the pros.

This might be a good time for us to reflect and do a bit of self-examination.

Here's twenty questions.

Answer them candidly and truthfully, then you'll pretty much know whether you are a compulsive gambler.

Quote: rainman

Hi my name is rainman and I have a gambling problem :)

Quote: LarryS

Ahigh

I have gambled at least every weekend since 1980(and sometimes once during the week as well)......so I too wondered if I was addicted....untill a few years ago I was between jobs and although I could afford it...I stopped gambling(for over 3 months) because I didnt feel it was right to use family funds for gambling if I wanst bringing anything in.
I did not become irritable, lose sleep, lose interest in life, have personality changes, lose appetite, get depressed.(all the signs of withdrawl).
So I had my answer.

However gambling every 8 waking hour is a different animal.

If you were really interested in identifying if you have a problem, you wouldnt be here. Although I am in healthcare I am not a specialist in addiction.
I will not even attempt to diagnose or offer an opinion on your mental health. I think Mr V said way way back that your energy should be devoted to hooking up with a therapist (at least for one initial session to see whats goig on).

I concour

your over reaction to peoples comments, by posting picture after picture of personal pictures to try to prove you are normal says to me something just isnt right.
The more you do that the more you draw attention to something being wrong.

You dont have to prove to US that everything is peachy in your social life. We go on with our own lives after reading your posts.
You have to convince yourself and those around you. Not by some sort of declaration...but by the way they observe you living your life.


in your words a couple of people close to youtold you that you have a problem. Well then that says it all
We are not close to you. We dont see everything that goes on daily. We know only what you choose to tell us.
We dont hear your daily comments, see your actions, see your interactions, look you in the eyes, sense your angst. We just see these words and are expected to make a valued judgement,

I defer to "people close to you".

They know best. If THEY have reason for concern....all the pictures that you post here wont dissolve their concern.

You cant BS those folks....being close to you they can see through it.

It seems you are searching for at least one person to say..:"its all good..just keep doin what you are doin." But it hasnt happened and its frustrating for you.

People close to you wont say that...so there is a better chance of that happening on a board filled with people who dont know you.

I will not diagnose, I can just say that there is enough there...for you to look into a medical remedy....at least get an opinion.

Quote: Ahigh

There's no question I play frequently.

I don't think there's a problem. Even still.

To be perfectly honest, I think I have a bigger problem spending time on this forum than I do spending time at the casino.

Quote: Zcore13

They are related. Same basic issue.

Quote:

other people are not talking to me as a result of the sequence of events unfolded after this happened...A couple of people have told me that they think I have a problem (just two people, really, but they are close to me)

Quote:

Just have to ask: if this experience has not acted as an epiphany, was it instead a reaffirmation?

"What, me worry?"

Quote: MrWarmth

Unsolicited advice for Ahigh: If you like what you got, keep doing what you're doing.

Unsolicited advice for everyone else: He's not going to change until it hurts him more to stay the same. Don't get your collective panties in a wad trying to convince him of something he may or may not be. If you think he introduced this for ulterior reasons, don't feed them and stop posting in this thread. You're not going to "win the internet" by brow-beating him into convincing/realizing/whatever he's an addict.

Quote: LarryS

wow someone with the "final answer". If only he posted this just after ahighs first post he could havesaved us 20 pages of discussion.

Quote: LarryS

wow someone with the "final answer". If only he posted this just after ahighs first post he could havesaved us 20 pages of discussion.

Quote: Boz

What part of "unsolicited" didn't you understand. I believe Mr gave some good advise that beats many of the posts on here beating Ahigh down. Ahigh can read any of the posts and either take the advise or tell them to go f themselves. Mr's post is no different so why bust on it?

And YES I am busting on your post because of the way you replied.

Quote: Boz

What part of "unsolicited" didn't you understand. I believe Mr gave some good advise that beats many of the posts on here beating Ahigh down. Ahigh can read any of the posts and either take the advise or tell them to go f themselves. Mr's post is no different so why bust on it?

And YES I am busting on your post because of the way you replied.

Quote: LarryS

"unsolicited" does not mean correct, expert, factual, based on reality, the last word, professionally crafted....but it was presented as such

maybe "in my novice opinion" would be more fitting.

unsolicited means...not asked for. So what...its obvious no one asked him for his declaration that we stop commenting. Its obvious no one asked him if ahigh would continue as he stated until................. His comments are not any more or less valid than anyone elses....so to tell us that its useless to comment is ill conceived and to act like he is the last word is illogical.

Quote: MrWarmth

Unsolicited advice for Ahigh: If you like what you got, keep doing what you're doing.

Unsolicited advice for everyone else: He's not going to change until it hurts him more to stay the same. Don't get your collective panties in a wad trying to convince him of something he may or may not be. If you think he introduced this for ulterior reasons, don't feed them and stop posting in this thread. You're not going to "win the internet" by brow-beating him into convincing/realizing/whatever he's an addict.

Quote: LarryS

"unsolicited" does not mean correct, expert, factual, based on reality, the last word, professionally crafted....but it was presented as such

maybe "in my novice opinion" would be more fitting.

unsolicited means...not asked for. So what...its obvious no one asked him for his declaration that we stop commenting. Its obvious no one asked him if ahigh would continue as he stated until................. His comments are not any more or less valid than anyone elses....so to tell us that its useless to comment is ill conceived and to act like he is the last word is illogical.

Quote: MrWarmth

Yup, not asked for. It might be bad advice, but it might be good. Unsolicited doesn't invalidate its accuracy/applicability/whatever.

If you don't like the unsolicited advice, fine, no need to be a noodge about it.

If you don't like that it was pretty good advice and you didn't think of it first to show the forum how smart you are ... well ... unsolicited advice: if you like what you got, keep doing what you're doing.

If you don't like that it kind of makes people who want to bash Ahigh look stupid ... well ... if you like what you got ........

If you don't like it because you don't like my username ... well ........................

I can write what I want, within the forum rules. You can respond how you want, within the forum rules. I don't have to make you happy and you don't have to be a noodge.

Quote: LarryS

I get a kick out of people like you that arrive after 20 pages and have some sort of angst that 20 pages have accumulated.
And you then become the sole arbitor that 20 pages is enough.
kind of like a pseudo monitor.
maybe one day youwill get the promotion. I will pray you do.

Quote: Boz

Maybe he just end signed on after this was 20 pages long. Sorry but I again see nothing in his post that wasn't in many others. What is your issue with what he posted?

Quote: MrWarmth

STOP POSTING IN THIS THREAD!

Quote: MrWarmth

STOP POSTING IN THIS THREAD!

Quote: Boz

Maybe he just end signed on after this was 20 pages long. Sorry but I again see nothing in his post that wasn't in many others. What is your issue with what he posted?

Quote: terapined

I didn't vote but have a mild interest in this thread due to personal addictions.
How about a daily update from Ahigh such as "Day 8 still no craps" I think that's where it stands but not 100 per cent sure because a lot posts in this thread are off topic.
So Ahigh, Day 8 no craps? Accurate update status please.

Quote: RS

I believe his craps sobriety ended on the 4th (or 5th) day when he played craps at the Silverton.

Quote: Ahigh

Back to our regularly scheduled programming when it comes to my free time.

Quote: Sonny44

Jerk. All you started this thread for was getting warm fuzzies for your bloated ego. Jerk.

Quote: Doc

How's this for a notion to get the waters roiling again....


I theorize that Aaron did not play craps over the weekend. He really quit cold turkey and will stay away from playing craps in a casino for a month or more. However, (because he likes to tease and have a little fun with other folks) he posted a claim that he had broken over and played, just to see what outrageous criticisms would be posted about his "failure."
;-)



And no, while I don't really believe that theory would hold up to scrutiny, I also just don't think the name calling is warranted at all.

Quote: Sonny44

Jerk. All you started this thread for was getting warm fuzzies for your bloated ego. Jerk.

Quote: boymimbo

The aware addict doesn't have that sense of relief. It's more of a sense of dread, of knowing that you are doing something that you shouldn't be doing, but am doing it anyway because you can't help yourself.

The average gambler doesn't want to play. The average gambler will take gambling as one of his recreationing items, along with reading, doing housework, other recreational activities. The average gambler shouldn't remember the last time they went gambling (13 days ago) or even be thinking about the next gambling trip (12 days from now).

It's the alcoholic knowing he's addicted, knows that he shouldn't drink, but walks into the grocery story and buys a fifth. He may be able to put it in the freezer to cool down for a couple of hours, and he knows that he shouldn't drink, but he opens up the freezer and pours himself a drink. Before he drinks it, he may question what he's doing, then justify it to himself and down the drink. Later on, after the bottle is done, he smacks his kid around, throws up in the toilet, and regrets his action, only to repeat it again a few days later.

The gambler, knowing he's addicted, knows that he shouldn't drive to the casino, but, having an hour free on a Wednesday afternoon, drives to the casino anyway. Not having any cash in his bank account, he resolves to just do the free play mailer he received and leave. After sitting down at VP and losing the $40 free play in 5 minutes, he knows he should leave, but realizes that he can just take out a $1,000 cash advance on his credit card, so he walks over to the bank machine, takes out only $500 of it, and sits down and plays, resolving to make back that $50. Meanwhile, three hours go by, and the wife is texting you asking you where you are. Your child is calling you asking you to pick her up early, and you ignore it. After all, you've had a tough week at work, and you deserve this break. The $500 gets spent, and you haven't hit the hand you were looking for, so you go pick up the other $500 available, knowing that if I just hit those four deuces with an Ace or that Royal, I'm back up. And that gets spent. The wife picks up the child and you manage to get yourself out of there before dinner is ready. You come home and lie about how much you lost, and your wife just deals with the fact that she won't be able to come with you on your next work assignment because you blew it at the casino, like you did last time, and the time before that, and the time before that.

It's not a sense of relief, it's more of a feeling you get of doing what you have to do to stay sane.

Quote: FinsRule

So how has the quitting been going? I know you relapsed once. Have you been doing better since then?

Quote: Ahigh

No.

Quote: Ahigh

Photo of Popeye from Saturday. First time I touched a $5,000 chip in my life. Today, deposited all my cash except $100 and paid all of my bills through until September 15th.

I played some games with Silverton on Saturday afternoon and they asked me to leave (first time this has happened). Sunday I came back in used my coupon and left (didn't shoot). Not sure how angry Silverton is with me, but they've been rude to me lately (via proxy of the changes in policy there lately -- nothing personal).

I don't think that they are comping and/or rating the same way as they have been previously. They are starting to pull back on some of the things that has made them a great place to gamble for locals.

I still was able to hit a hard eight with my $25 free bet coupon on Sunday though (turned into $250). So at least that's not been
taken away yet.

Quote: WBGamble

Quote: Ahigh

Photo of Popeye from Saturday. First time I touched a $5,000 chip in my life. Today, deposited all my cash except $100 and paid all of my bills through until September 15th.

I played some games with Silverton on Saturday afternoon and they asked me to leave (first time this has happened). Sunday I came back in used my coupon and left (didn't shoot). Not sure how angry Silverton is with me, but they've been rude to me lately (via proxy of the changes in policy there lately -- nothing personal).

I don't think that they are comping and/or rating the same way as they have been previously. They are starting to pull back on some of the things that has made them a great place to gamble for locals.

I still was able to hit a hard eight with my $25 free bet coupon on Sunday though (turned into $250). So at least that's not been
taken away yet.

What did they ask you to leave for? On another note, I really enjoyed reading the pages about your work and work history. Might even hook up the N64 for some Pilot Wings

Quote: Ahigh

It's embarassing though when I have someone with me and I ask for $15 worth of food after having $1,000 on the felt a few hours earlier and they say "no."

Quote: superrick

What embarrassing is that anybody would risk that kind of money so they could get a $15 comp!

Sorry Ahigh you know how much I hate comps, I think the worst thing anybody can do in a casino is Playing for Comps!

Quote: AxelWolf

Depends on the comps and the % you are giving up. Playing a low variance break even game, earning 10's of thousands in comps that can be used for everything, including gift shops, movies, food rooms etc etc. Is not the worst.

The worst is believing you have an edge when you don't.

Quote: superrick

Well we all know that craps is not that game. by the way please tell everybody what game fits that parameter, because I never knew there was a break even game in a casino!