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"Best advice" why? Accurate, perhaps. But do you really find going around telling people that they're not going to win the lottery makes them stop playing? Even
by stupidcar 8y ago
"Best advice" why? Accurate, perhaps. But do you really find going around telling people that they're not going to win the lottery makes them stop playing? Even after they read an article about someone who won $100m and has quit their job to sail around the world?
I think such advice misunderstands the psychology of why people gamble on very long odds. The primary drive is emotional, not rational. The rational brain only has to be convinced that a theoretical possibility exists. After that, it's a matter of emotional appeal, and culture is very good at presenting seductive narratives based on rare occurrences.
- solipsism 8y agoBut do you really find going around telling people that they're not going to win the lottery makes them stop playing?" Not 100% successfully, but of course it helps. Why don't you go around and ask some people why they don't play the lottery? I think such advice misunderstands the psychology of why people gamble on very long odds. It's why I don't gamble. It's why lots of people don't gamble. People aren't completely rational, but they're not completely irrational either. Helping people put understand the true odds of what they're engaged in is a good thing. What do you have against people knowing the facts?