4 ms·
This is true, for many people playing the lottery is a means to attach a nonzero probability (no matter how small) to a fantasy. For myself, I'm uncertain how
by thearn4 11y ago
This is true, for many people playing the lottery is a means to attach a nonzero probability (no matter how small) to a fantasy.
For myself, I'm uncertain how much of a fantasy it would really be to suddenly hold ~$1B (though I obviously wouldn't hesitate to try..). But have you ever played a video game, then discover an exploit or cheat code to give you everything you want, then realize how boring and pointless it became relatively soon afterwards?
Part of me wonders if shuffling all the way across Maslow's hierarchy of needs in the real world would have the same psychological effect. I think we crave a certain comfortable level of struggle.
- ceejayoz 11y ago> But have you ever played a video game, then discover an exploit or cheat code to give you everything you want, then realize how boring and pointless it became relatively soon afterwards? I don't think that's a great comparison. You've removed the point of the game by cheating, but the point of life isn't "accrue $1 billion".
- jkereako 11y ago> I think we crave a certain comfortable level of struggle. For years, my greatest fear has been to win the lottery because of that reason exactly. I don't know what I would do with my life. And it would cause all sorts of stress among friends, family members and potentially strangers. Regardless, I still bought a ticket.
- brazzledazzle 11y agoIf possible I'd claim it in secret. I've heard that you can create a trust to do so but I'm not sure if there's truth to that or not. I'm also not sure how I'd be able to secretly help friends and family so it may be moot or just a temporary measure.
- StevenNunez 11y agohttp://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2012/02/11/10-things-to-do-when-you-win-the-powerball/#2715e4857a0b4a43e4dc3776 http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2012/02/11/10-thi... Looks some good first steps.
- HCIdivision17 11y agoNo doubt, but it's a problem I'm willing to struggle with :) I think it's part of the worry people have had for ages and ages: what do you do idle? Do you find things to do? Or just stop doing things? Or do you create and/or learn a skill? Do you work harder to leverage it all for power?
- clentaminator 11y agoWell, do you have hobbies? Interests? Things that you think about wanted to do when you're at work? Things you have to stop doing because gosh darnit you need to get up for work tomorrow even though you'd rather carry on until morning? If you have those, then why not do them more? All those things you enjoy and do without question or thought, or wanted to try, those are the things that you do.
- HCIdivision17 11y agoYup. I suspect I (with likely a large number of people who tend to sites like this) would have no problem filling our time well. And for those that don't, I'd bet a good number of them could learn to :)
- Retric 11y agoThere is some research on this. Assuming you make ~75+k winning the lottery would probably have minimal impact on your long term happiness. Sure, work is a non issue, but you get a whole new set of concerns.
- elif 11y agoI think that's probably true for most people, but not a given. `Mo Money Mo Problems` is true if you use your money to buy things, celebrity, social/political status. It's not true if you start an incubator with no expected returns, start a charity, etc.
- logfromblammo 11y agoBut real life has an infinite amount of unlockable content.
- ForHackernews 11y ago> for many people playing the lottery is a means to attach a nonzero probability (no matter how small) to a fantasy Probably the same reason people found startups.