I’m not sure if there’s ever been any studies done using gamblers as test subjects but it seems to me that the information we acquire from win/loss experiences, somehow, like a weird “Pavlovian Response” stimulates complex thought processes in our brains, which may help us in other areas of our lives. One thing’s for sure, the gamblers I know, come up with all kinds of creative and unique (at times devious) solutions to their problems, while most people just settle for the easy standard solutions (packaged-up nicely by those popular psychologists and talk show hosts).
For example, one of those that everyone likes so much is the rhetorical question: “Is this glass half empty or half full?” that, together with a photo of a glass of water, can supposedly determine whether you’re an optimist or a pessimist! They corner you into answering, followed by “It’s all a matter of your perspective on life!” or “Only you can change the way you see the world!” etc… And they make you feel guilty about it, about how you see things, or maybe because you didn’t even want to answer the question in the first place; because if you’re like me, you think it’s a bullshit question, in fact a poisonous one. Think about it, what kind of sick control freak tries to convince the world into see the universe in terms of everything being “half full or half empty”? It’s simply nonsense! As a matter of fact, I have a question for them – not a rhetorical one, but a very real and practical question. “If you’re dying of thirst, what the fuck difference does it make how much water’s in the glass!?” How’s that for a positive outlook!
I challenge anyone to show me a gambler who just sits on his winnings when he’s flush, “when his glass is full”, it just doesn’t happen. A player needs that money to be in action, moving like water needs to flow. And when he’s down, “half empty” let’s say, does he reload? Hell no, he plays whatever’s left in his account until he’s either on top again or bust, taking shots on parlays with his last few bucks. No, the gambler doesn’t look for the easy Oprah Winfrey solution to life, in fact just the opposite!
I remember one guy, a polished Ivy League type (a big player) who called in one day with a diabolically brilliant solution to a problem he was facing… In a panic tells us that he needs to move all the money out of his account (about 40k) and put it into a new account (which we did), but that we should NOT close his old account, he would be needing both. He explained that his wife had found his account information and the phone number to the book (but luckily not the password). Apparently, she had even called asking questions. But being experienced with wives, our customer service department gave her no information. Our motto: “don’t pitch the bitch!”
So our guy, after being put through a full blown interrogation, with his twisted, calculating gambling mind, concocts a seriously demented plan. He somehow manages to convince his wife that the account information she stumbled upon was in fact something he was planning to give her as a birthday gift! Something “fun”, a “family thing”! Telling her how great it would be if they could play $1 cards or roulette together, even sports as a couple, while watching the weekend games for entertainment. Unbelievable right! My case in point, “complex thought process” in action!
Then after what must have been an intense husband/wife squabble, she ends up buying into this story and even calls us later, happy, and asking how to wire money to her new “birthday account” (really HIS old account).
So picture this… there they are, all cozy, two happy clams, sitting on the couch watching sports and betting tiny itty bitty plays on their joint husband/wife account at America’s Bookie, when only five short minutes later our guy excuses himself to the bathroom (to hide) secretly calling us, laying the wood with two to five dimes per play on the other account! Meanwhile she’s sitting there thrilled to death, thinking how great it is that they’re finally doing something truly together! What a guy!
