5 ms·

The fact someone sells a service doesn't mean it's right, proper, etc. Gambling is heavily regulated for a reason. I would say that games like these should be

The fact someone sells a service doesn't mean it's right, proper, etc. Gambling is heavily regulated for a reason. I would say that games like these should be regulated just as much. Imagine going to the arcades, playing street fighter II, and it saying "We know you can't get on the score board because you suck, but if you pay $20 we'll put you at the top of the score board anyway". Would that be completely fine and above board?

mattmaroon 17y ago
Like many drugs, gambling is heavily regulated because of puritanical values, not because regulation helps reduce the social impact. These games are not gambling at all, and share no more in common with gambling than any other form of capitalism. And yes, it would be totally fine. If you don't like it you don't have to play Street Fighter II. And given that it costs 50 cents a play and has a steep learning curve, that's effectively what they do in a roundabout way.
- bumblebird 17y ago
  They share a lot. They are addictive, and the further in you get sucked, the harder it is to stop. Because of this, the further in you get, the easier it is to be exploited and taken advantage of. I don't think it's about being puritan, it's about protecting the most vulnerable members of society from themselves. For example, say you get 95% of the way through a game, then the game asks for $100 to get past an absolutely impossible stage, they'd probably get a fantastic amount of people spending the $100 reluctantly. Which IMHO isn't a nice way to do things.
  - mattmaroon 17y ago
    You can't protect people from themselves, that's the problem with those laws. Research shows this time and time again. Anti-gambling laws don't protect gamblers, they just move them from safe, legal, regulated casinos to scammy underground gaming halls and instant bingo ticket parlors. Anti-drug laws don't decrease drug use, they just increase violent crimes. But that aside, thankfully capitalism doesn't require you to find a "nice" way of doing things. I'm as addicted to shaving as any player is to a Facebook game. (We could both stop, but don't want to.) I'm even more addicted to food. But that doesn't mean Gilette and Whole Foods are scammers.
    - bumblebird 17y ago
      I don't think that's a good analysis. Anti gambling laws does indeed push the hardcore gamblers into underground gaming halls. But the important thing it does is stop lots of people getting hooked in the first place. Same with drugs etc. Having said all this, it's clearly extremely lucrative to setup games like this.

mattmaroon 17y ago

Like many drugs, gambling is heavily regulated because of puritanical values, not because regulation helps reduce the social impact. These games are not gambling at all, and share no more in common with gambling than any other form of capitalism. And yes, it would be totally fine. If you don't like it you don't have to play Street Fighter II. And given that it costs 50 cents a play and has a steep learning curve, that's effectively what they do in a roundabout way.

bumblebird 17y ago
They share a lot. They are addictive, and the further in you get sucked, the harder it is to stop. Because of this, the further in you get, the easier it is to be exploited and taken advantage of. I don't think it's about being puritan, it's about protecting the most vulnerable members of society from themselves. For example, say you get 95% of the way through a game, then the game asks for $100 to get past an absolutely impossible stage, they'd probably get a fantastic amount of people spending the $100 reluctantly. Which IMHO isn't a nice way to do things.
- mattmaroon 17y ago
  You can't protect people from themselves, that's the problem with those laws. Research shows this time and time again. Anti-gambling laws don't protect gamblers, they just move them from safe, legal, regulated casinos to scammy underground gaming halls and instant bingo ticket parlors. Anti-drug laws don't decrease drug use, they just increase violent crimes. But that aside, thankfully capitalism doesn't require you to find a "nice" way of doing things. I'm as addicted to shaving as any player is to a Facebook game. (We could both stop, but don't want to.) I'm even more addicted to food. But that doesn't mean Gilette and Whole Foods are scammers.
  - bumblebird 17y ago
    I don't think that's a good analysis. Anti gambling laws does indeed push the hardcore gamblers into underground gaming halls. But the important thing it does is stop lots of people getting hooked in the first place. Same with drugs etc. Having said all this, it's clearly extremely lucrative to setup games like this.