[extropy-chat] American Humanists Association 2004 conference report - complete!

[Rafal Smigrodzki]

Michael Anissimov wrote:
> But the tens of *billions* of dollars stolen from people over the course 
> of decades through the practice of gambling speak to me through the 
> marble floors and fancy woodwork.  Most of the people who lose money in 
> Vegas do not have huge salaries - they are the multitudes of working 
> middle-class people who come to Vegas just to have a little "fun".  But 
> they are hopelessly clueless about statistics, addicted to the rush of 
> gambling, and it is straightforward for the casinos to coax away their 
> life savings, resulting in their long-term suffering.  These fancy 
> casinos and tourist attractions have been erected here in the middle of 
> the desert - but at what cost?

### Well, let's look at the bright side - the clueless spent their money 
on gambling, rather than homeopathic medicine, or supporting the 
Democratic party. This is innocuous, apparently pleasant to those who 
have too little mathematical savvy to interfere with their thinking, 
does not harm third parties, or children, and therefore may not be 
proscribed.

Rafal