Slashdot Mirror

Spoken like someone who hasn't got a clue.

I am a recovering compulsive gambler.

Addiction of any sort can be fairly accurately diagnosed by the "20 questions" that most 12 step programs offer. Have a look at http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/20questions.html to see what I mean.

I know for myself that despite all logical and rational understanding to the contrary I would, at my worst, do anything to keep gambling. I personally know of people who lost families, jobs, went to jail, committed terrible crimes, literally starved themselves in order to keep gambling. I knew a couple of people who after long battles with this illness committed suicide because they could no longer keep up the fight.

I am aware that there is a preponderance of models and schools of thought on this area (well highlighted by the Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction).

Addicts of any kind share one common fundamental characteristic - when in the grip of addiction they hold nothing to be holy. There is absolutely no barrier (other than physical restraint) that could stop them from satisfying that craving. No thought of kids, family, God, the law, self-respect - nothing can beat that insidious desire.

So, no offence but you are talking through your arse.

And if you really want to learn about addiction - Google for your nearest GA chapter, call and ask if you can attend a meeting as an observer. I can guarantee you will change your perception of addiction.

Help

Here's one to start: Online poker

... to help out my fellow brothers by slashdotting these guys.

Offtopic?

Well, this is /.. I should not complain, I know better, I should accept.

CC.

I couldn't in all fairness let you get away with that without the opportunity to help out my fellow brothers by slashdotting these guys.

It's called short selling, or shorting. For more information on your house-collateral-shorting-plan, call this number: (213) 386-8789

you my friend have bigger fish to fry first. good luck, im pulling for you. if you dont like that, theres always the slots to fall back on when trading goes bad again.