Quote: EvenBobYeah,well. I'm sure you know if a player could manage a good enough BS to stay around even, he'd never lose a session.
Bac, for instance. If you could stay within 3 bets of even all the time, never have winning or losing streaks, you could use any neg progression and always win every session you played. And the casino would still have the edge. Where's your 'edge effects every bet' theory in that scenario.
Quote: EvenBobAfraid you'll be converted? That's why libs won't listen to Rush, they're afraid he'll convert them to conservatives.
A study was recently made in the US. They interviewed people (random representative sample) out of bars, some had drunk too much, some nothing (not interviewed the intermediate cases). Asked them about standard political issues (gun control, death penalty, taxes and spending, health system,...) The result was that alcohol ingestion made people lean to the right (conservative). Normal conclusion: "With more thinking, you come to see the limits of conservative positions." Authors' conclusion (this was in a right-wing journal): "Thinking too much obfuscates the obvious answers, drinkers are more prone to pick up the immediate common sense." How laughable!
Here is the question EvenBob's contributions led me to wonder: is there a correlation between conservative thinking and belief in BS (whether you read it as Bet Selection or Bull Shit is the same).
One instance is definitely not enough, so a statistical analysis is welcome.
Other instances from this forum? Or counterexamples?
This makes sense, considering that the major goal of the U.S. GOP is to look out for the interests of the richest 1%, and it somehow has to sell this in a democratic system. In order to convince poor people to vote against their own economic self interest, you have to scare, confuse, and enrage them with meaningless "wedge" issues like Gay Marriage! Gun Rights! Abortion! Global Warming is a Hoax! Family Values Under Attack! And my personal favorite: WAR ON CHRISTMAS!
The reality is that these issues, though they elicit passion, are really not important at all. Really the only issue of importance in government, ranging from a chief of a tribe all the way to an empire, is how we distribute and redistribute resources and wealth. Everything else is a sideshow.
Since the U.S. right wing wants to protect the economic interest of the already-elite, they need something to sell to some segment of the other 99%, because the U.S. remains, however dubiously, a democratic republic.
So the people who buy into these wedge issues and call in angrily to Rush Limbaugh because of the War on Christmas are pretty much self-selecting gullible people. Rational people would take a look and see through the smokescreen and realize "hey, this is only about money, everything else is a distraction."
Therefore I believe there is a correlation between believing in betting systems and supporting the U.S. right wing -- Betting systems are irrational, and unless you are a member of the financially mega-elite, supporting the U.S. right wing is irrational.
Quote: sodawaterIt seems to me that the majority of U.S. conservatives are much more gullible than average, and more susceptible to believing in bullshit of all kinds, including betting systems.
This makes sense, considering that the major goal of the U.S. GOP is to look out for the interests of the richest 1%, and it somehow has to sell this in a democratic system. In order to convince poor people to vote against their own economic self interest, you have to scare, confuse, and enrage them with meaningless "wedge" issues like Gay Marriage! Gun Rights! Abortion! Global Warming is a Hoax! Family Values Under Attack! And my personal favorite: WAR ON CHRISTMAS!
The reality is that these issues, though they elicit passion, are really not important at all. Really the only issue of importance in government, ranging from a chief of a tribe all the way to an empire, is how we distribute and redistribute resources and wealth. Everything else is a sideshow.
Since the U.S. right wing wants to protect the economic interest of the already-elite, they need something to sell to some segment of the other 99%, because the U.S. remains, however dubiously, a democratic republic.
So the people who buy into these wedge issues and call in angrily to Rush Limbaugh because of the War on Christmas are pretty much self-selecting gullible people. Rational people would take a look and see through the smokescreen and realize "hey, this is only about money, everything else is a distraction."
Therefore I believe there is a correlation between believing in betting systems and supporting the U.S. right wing -- Betting systems are irrational, and unless you are a member of the financially mega-elite, supporting the U.S. right wing is irrational.
I agree with some of what you're saying here, except that "right-wing conservative" and GOP are not synonymous. The GOP is made up of many factions, several of whom are uneasy bedfellows, though there's more than a little crossover. Some examples below off the top of my head, not meant to be all-inclusive.
Deficit Hawks (Paul Ryan)
Social Conservatives (Ralph Reed, Pat Buchanan, Mike Huckabee)
Tea Party (Alan West, Ted Cruz)
Libertarian (Rand Paul, Ron Paul)
Log Cabin (large number of Congressional Republican Chiefs of Staff)
Moderates (Mitt Romney, Olympia Snowe, Bob Dole, Trent Lott, Richard Nixon)
Defense Hawks (John McCain, Alexander Haig)
Bigots and Extremists (Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck)
It's not that the message is so wrong (it is wrong). It's that it's expounded and reinforced by glib and ugly people ALL THE TIME, aired every hour, circulated on newslists by email, at your fingertips on the internet, all designed to spur resentment at other people for your lot in life. Anything that's "wrong", there's somebody else to blame for it, according to Fox News. People start to feel justified in simply being mad, rather than moving on with their lives and making the best of it. Mad people sit there fuming, inert and unproductive, having a negative internal dialogue, and forget to count their blessings, appreciate what they have, or work productively to change what they want better. We have a whole block of Americans now who've been given permission to feel life is unfair and they should be unhappy about it. (Life is unfair; what you do about it is what makes you the person you are.) Very unhealthy for the country as a whole.
Quote: sodawaterThis makes sense, considering that the major goal of the U.S. GOP is to look out for the interests of the richest 1%, and it somehow has to sell this in a democratic system. In order to convince poor people to vote against their own economic self interest, you have to scare, confuse, and enrage them with meaningless "wedge" issues like Gay Marriage! Gun Rights! Abortion! Global Warming is a Hoax! Family Values Under Attack! And my personal favorite: WAR ON CHRISTMAS!
Quote: sodawaterunless you are a member of the financially mega-elite, supporting the U.S. right wing is irrational.
Quote: sodawaterSince the U.S. right wing wants to protect the economic interest of the already-elite...
You really believe all this stuff, yet you think conservatives are the gullible ones???? *facepalm*Quote: sodawaterSo the people who buy into these wedge issues and call in angrily to Rush Limbaugh because of the War on Christmas are pretty much self-selecting gullible people.
The truly gullible people are those who consistently vote for liberals (e.g., Obama) and then bitch & moan whenever those liberals implement their plans.
Quote: sodawaterIt seems to me that the majority of U.S. conservatives are much more gullible than average, and more susceptible to believing in bullshit of all kinds, including betting systems.
Oh, you mean like these people?
Quote: kubikulannNormal conclusion: "With more thinking, you come to see the limits of conservative positions."
With any thinking at all, you come to see how this is not an appropriate conclusion based on the evidence given.
Liberalism is a form of mental breakdown . Indeed,
I've heard people who were Libs become conservative
and say it's like finding Jesus, their eyes were
opened to the truth.
Look at Charles Krauthammer, for instance. Extremely
intelligent guy, became an MD, then a shrink, from
a prominent Jewish family. Until Reagan he was a
staunch Lib. He says Reagan opened his eyes to what
Liberalism really was and he's never looked back.
You never hear the opposite, that somebody is a conservative
and became a Lib. I'm sure it happens, but something
would have to be seriously wrong with that person.
What's great about the the present moment is, Obama voters,
the ones who admit they voted for him, are in complete shock.
Even airhead Cher is finally admitting something went wrong.
They're dumbfounded that someone with zero qualifications turned
out to be such a massive disappointment as president. He
looked and sounded so good, it's just not fair.
I resent this as a personal attack. But I forgive to one who doesn't know what he's talking about.Quote: EvenBobYou never hear the opposite, that somebody is a conservative
and became a Lib. I'm sure it happens, but something
would have to be seriously wrong with that person.
I know many people who were right-wing because of family (or university) influence, and once using their intelligence, became left-wing. I'm not speaking about society issues: these are not a question of intelligence. I'm speaking about economics, here. Look at Stiglitz, De Grauwe, etc.
The passage is the same as being raised in a Christian (or Muslim, or whatever) family, and realizing at adult age that they've been brainwashing you all that time.
NOT!Quote: odiousgambitPretty much defines the Arrogant Liberal: the assumption that they are smarter than everybody else.
Only smarter than the conservatives. Happily, that is NOT everybody.
Sample proof? Or just your hunch?Quote: rob45No correlation.
Quote: kubikulannI resent this as a personal attack..
You're joking. You start this ridiculous thread with
me as the centerpiece, and now YOU think you're
being attacked? You just made all my points in
spades..
Please, I did not ask for "belief" I just asked for sample data in order to make informed conclusions.Quote: sodawaterIt seems to me that the majority of U.S. conservatives are much more gullible than average, and more susceptible to believing in bullshit of all kinds, including betting systems.
This makes sense, considering ... ...
Therefore I believe there is a correlation between believing in betting systems and supporting the U.S. right wing.
I observed that you are (can I say extreme) conservatist. I observe that you defend Bet Selection systems and negate the HE influence ona player's results. I did not say something was "wrong" with you. Just wondered if it is a trait.Quote: EvenBobYou're joking. You start this ridiculous thread with
me as the centerpiece, and now YOU think you're
being attacked? You just made all my points in
spades..
Actally, I don't resent. t was just an ironic way of saying: You're wrong, there are people who go the correct direction, and I am one.
You're right. I did not give all the evidence, in fact. Just with that, you could argue "Liberals drink less than Conservatives," for example, or some other correlation.Quote: 24BingoWith any thinking at all, you come to see how this is not an appropriate conclusion based on the evidence given.
But they did take it into account. They asked people what their political inclination was. The thing is, the shift to the right was measured as well in Liberals as in Conservatives. It was not the splits from Trotsky to Sarah Palin, of course. But significant shift nonetheless.
Quote: kubikulannNOT!
Only smarter than the conservatives..
Yeah, that's why all the Lib tries at somebody
to compete with Rush Limbaugh fail miserably,
it's the over abundance of intelligence on the Left.
Or why, no matter what you to get rid of guns,
they're still here.
Here's a good example of pure unadulterated
Liberal thinking. Uber Leftie Harvey Weinstein
said this week he's going to make a movie that
will shut down the NRA. He says he HATES guns
and all they stand for.
This is the the guy who is filthy rich from making
extremely violent movies like Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction,
Rambo, Grindhouse, Django, Sin City, and many
others, that glorify guns in all their splendor.
The ultimate Lib hypocrite, it would be hilarious if
this guy didn't obviously have about three screws
loose in his fat head.
Quote: kubikulannJust wondered if it is a trait.
.
No you didn't. You wanted to attack me, quit
trying to act like you're so sweet and innocent
now.
Quote: kubikulannYou're right. I did not give all the evidence.
All the evidence? You didn't give ANY evidence,
just a silly opinion. You do know the difference,
right?
Believe what you want.
We saw what you believe already, so that doesn't say shit about reality, does it?
They also had the people do some simple reasoning tasks, to ascertain that it is not alcohol per se but the cognitive consequences.Quote: kubikulannYou're right. I did not give all the evidence, in fact. Just with that, you could argue "Liberals drink less than Conservatives," for example, or some other correlation.
But they did take it into account. They asked people what their political inclination was. The thing is, the shift to the right was measured as well in Liberals as in Conservatives. It was not the splits from Trotsky to Sarah Palin, of course. But significant shift nonetheless.
Quote: kubikulann:-)
so that doesn't say shit about reality, does it?
You realize nobody knows what the hell
you're talking about, right? Are you even
in the US?
Your beloved W thought Belgium was a town in backward (conservative) middle America.
Quote: kubikulannNo. Woohoohoo! I am a dangerous communist from that dangerous place called Europe. Ever heard of it?
OMG, you're from BELGIUM!! No wonder your views
are so far Left, the Lib Mecca of EU. This is Belgium:
Abortion is legal.
Euthanasia is legal under certain circumstances.
Gay marriage is legal.
Drinking age is 16. For strong liqueur it is 18.
Drinking on the streets is legal.
Prostitution is legal.
Death sentence has been abolished.
Smoking in all public areas is banned.
Hand gun ownership is illegal
Swearing and nudity and even explicit sexual acts on public radio and television are not censored.
Lol! This is perfect, you come from a nanny state
country and are criticizing American conservatives. We
will never be like you in a million years, with your
cradle to grave entitlements and ridiculous gun laws.
Thank god..
Quote: EvenBob. This is Belgium:
Abortion is legal.
Euthanasia is legal under certain circumstances.
Gay marriage is legal.
Drinking age is 16. For strong liqueur it is 18.
Drinking on the streets is legal.
Prostitution is legal.
Death sentence has been abolished.
Smoking in all public areas is banned.
Hand gun ownership is illegal
Swearing and nudity and even explicit sexual acts on public radio and television are not censored.
All of this sounds pretty reasonable to me. Too bad America will have to wait another 50 years at least to become this enlightened.
By the way, I haven't checked, but I would wager every single measurable quality-of-life statistic is better in Belgium than in the USA. Things like infant mortality, life expectancy, literacy rate, percent of people incarcerated, percent of people with mental illness, median household purchasing power -- I would wager every single one of these is better in Belgium than in the USA.
Like in 160+ civilized countries. Those with death penalty are China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran... and the free US of A. Nice companionship, I should say.Quote: EvenBobDeath sentence has been abolished.
(and in casinos!) Like it will be everywhere in a not so distant future. Live with your time.Quote: EvenBobSmoking in all public areas is banned.
Neither is violence. That is because the American film lobby wants to continue selling their dough. We rarely use profanity in French, but every schoolboy knows the word "fuck". Every film has a nude scene, nowadays.Quote: EvenBobSwearing and nudity and even explicit sexual acts on public radio and television are not censored.
In Belgium, at least, we don't pay taxes on gambling gains.Quote: AcesAndEightsFiled under stupid gambling laws: the way recreational gamblers are required to file taxes. I'm thinking about starting a website/Facebook page/twitter account/PR campaign for this cause. Will you all join my PAC and sign my petition?
My demand is quite simple: just let us net out our wins and losses....that's it. I won't try to escape paying taxes on a net win, and Uncle Sam lets me keep my god damn standard deduction if I happen to gamble a lot.
Quote: sodawater
By the way, I haven't checked, but I would wager every single measurable quality-of-life statistic
Belgium is a teeny weenie tiny little country,
and you're comparing it to the US? We have
7 states with a population larger than Belgium.
It's not even comparing apples to oranges,
it's comparing apples to peas.
Get real. Comparing the US to Belgium is like
comparing GM to a mom and pop grocery.
There's not even the slightest correlation.
If Belgium is such a Utopia, why are your crime
rates so high? Your murder and theft rates are
higher per capita than most US states. Doesn't
sound like Liberalism is working like planned to
me. And you don't even have guns to protect
yourselves. lol
Quote: kubikulannIn Belgium, at least, we don't pay taxes on gambling gains.
That's because taxes on gambling income and other prizes are regressive taxes, and Belgium is a modern, progressive country that doesn't steal from its poor to give to its rich.
Huh? Not sure we have the same databanks...Quote: EvenBobIf Belgium is such a Utopia, why are your crime rates so high?
Can you provide your sources, please?
Quote: EvenBobAnd you don't even have guns to protect
yourselves. lol
I would never live in a country were gun ownership was verboten. On Pancer, Comet, Cupid, Vixen and the others.
Thank you, soda, for the kind words, but I would hardly call the casino gambling crowd "the poor". At least, here in BEL.Quote: sodawaterThat's because taxes on gambling income and other prizes are regressive taxes, and Belgium is a modern, progressive country that doesn't steal from its poor to give to its rich.
Why? Because you want to use one (then I'm glad you won't come) or because you like thinking everybody has one around you? Makes you feel safe?Quote: treetopbuddyI would never live in a country were gun ownership was verboten.
Quote: EvenBobThis is Belgium:
Abortion is legal.
Euthanasia is legal under certain circumstances.
Gay marriage is legal.
Drinking age is 16. For strong liqueur it is 18.
Drinking on the streets is legal.
Prostitution is legal.
Death sentence has been abolished.
Smoking in all public areas is banned.
Hand gun ownership is illegal
Swearing and nudity and even explicit sexual acts on public radio and television are not censored.
Lol! This is perfect, you come from a nanny state
country and are criticizing American conservatives.
I don't usually wander into these threads, but I'm quite confused. Assuming your list is accurate, how is it descriptive of a "nanny state"? Most of those stances are completely the opposite of a nanny state.
Quote: kubikulannThank you, soda, for the kind words, but I would hardly call the casino gambling crowd "the poor". At least, here in BEL.
Here is the USA, most people who gamble are poor or at least not rich. Action in the casinos might be dominated by the high rollers, but that line out the door of the 7-11 to buy lottery tickets is made up mostly of poor people. Just like the broke college student who wins a new washing machine on the Price is Right is stuck with a tax bill for that. It's insane.
Quote: gpac1377Most of those stances are completely the opposite of a nanny state.
No they're not, they're the embodiment of one.
Quote: kubikulannWhy? Because you want to use one (then I'm glad you won't come) or because you like thinking everybody has one around you? Makes you feel safe?
The second amendment in this country was designed to protect it's citizens from their government.
Alas, not true! They are reducing jobless benefits in order to lower firms' taxes! I know, I know, EvenBob will tell you the jobless are rich bastards and he wants to suck their blood to give it to the poor multinational empires. But I don't think that way.Quote: sodawaterBelgium is a modern, progressive country that doesn't steal from its poor to give to its rich.
When is the last time you needed a gun to "protect" yourself from your government? Didn't EvenBob quote the issue as a retaliation to crime rates? Are the criminals he targets members of the government? And, essentially, are THEY using their guns to protect themselves from the gov? Oh, yes, they shoot at the police, right! So that is what you have in mind with your 2d amendment?Quote: treetopbuddyThe second amendment in this country was designed to protect it's citizens from their government.
Quote: EvenBobNo they're not, they're the embodiment of one.
(From Wikipedia), a nanny state is "overprotective or interfering unduly with personal choice."
The only items on the list that restrict personal choice involve smoking and guns. And those are the two that I would take issue with.
Everything else encourages and/or allows personal choice (i.e., abortion, euthanasia, gay marriage, drinking, prostitution, profanity).
Quote: kubikulannWhat decent rational argument do you have pro-tobacco and against cannabis?
I'm against government. All drugs should be legal.
Quote: kubikulannHuh? Not sure we have the same databanks...
Can you provide your sources, please?
In terms of crime, Amsterdam is the most dangerous city in the Netherlands... according to the annual Crime Meter2 published last week by Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, Amsterdam is the country’s least safe city... Last year Amsterdam ranked fourth in a list of European capitals with the highest per capita number of murders and other unnatural deaths.. It addition, over the past decade or so many homicides took place in the criminal circuit — with criminals killing other criminals in turf wars or acts of revenge.
This is what happens when the criminals know
the public has no weapons. Sounds like a
wonderful place to live. http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/162-amsterdam-livability
Oh? Anarchist? Black flag and the Commune and all?Quote: gpac1377I'm against government.
You know, it is not because Jacques Brel sang Amsterdam that the city became a Belgian one...Quote: EvenBobIn terms of crime, Amsterdam is the most dangerous city in the Netherlands...
"a list of European capitals": still much lower than in the US.
Quote: gpac1377(From Wikipedia), a nanny state is "overprotective or interfering unduly with personal choice."
Here's more from Belgium:
The law automatically assumes you consent to having your organs donated upon death.
Quote: kubikulannOh? Anarchist? Black flag and the Commune and all?
I think government is usually a bad way to solve problems. But there's no perfect system because people are imperfect.
Stop, stop, I'm blushing with pride. How civilized my country is. You need the eye of a stranger to realize how nice it is at home.Quote: EvenBobHere's more from Belgium:
Thank You, EvenBob. Do you allow my printing your list to cheer up my compatriots when they're feeling down?
Quote: EvenBobHere's more from Belgium:
The law automatically assumes you consent to having your organs donated upon death.
They wouldn't want my liver.