Friday
May022008
$2 Fantasy
Friday, May 2, 2008 at 9:15AM
I bought a 649 ticket yesterday. I don't usually do that, I've probably purchased less than 10 tickets in my whole life. But occasionally I see the jackpot numbers while I'm waiting to pay for gas and I feel like spending the two dollars necessary for my chance at financial independence.
by cafenut
I know that I won't win anything, the probability is so close to zero that if that number appeared in the course of some scientific experiment, you'd assume that it was zero. You have much better odds of being killed in a car accident on the way to purchasing the ticket, then you do of actually winning. Which means that from a statistical point of view, if you are thinking of buying a ticket, you're really better off just staying home.
by Kaworu Koneru
I know the odds, but the fun part about the lottery is the drive home after buying the ticket, where (assuming you aren't killed in car crash) you can fantasize about what you'd do if you did hit those most improbable of odds.
by noahwesley
Should I donate all of it to a charity? That would be awfully noble of me, but I know that as much as I'd like to be that selfless, I don't think I could give all of it away that quickly. And then I wonder if I should buy all my friends and family sports cars or houses. Spread it around. The problem with that idea is that it would probably frudementally change your relationship with everyone you know, as they'd all want a piece of the action.
by guano
No, I don't think I'd want to risk ruining my relationships by treating them like charities. In fact I think I'd prefer to completely conceal my new wealth if possible. Carry on like nothing ever happened and hope that no one finds out. Invest the money, donate much of the interest to charities on an on going basis and only use a very small amount of it to buy myself and my friends small things that don't raise suspicion.
by net_efekt
Living that sort of life would be very rewarding I think. You'd have complete financial security, the benefit of knowing that you are making a difference by helping people with your money, and you'd still be able to maintain the appearance of a normal life. It would be like having a secret identity. I'd be like Batman, only instead of fighting crime in my own city, I'd be fighting poverty in another continent. And while I'm sure that eventually people would become aware that something was going on, you wouldn't have to necessarily reveal all your cards. You could just say that you "came into some money" and refuse to elaborate.
by Beard Papa
So while some people call gambling a "stupid tax", and say that you are throwing your money away on impossible odds, this is what a lottery ticket does for me. It gives me at least a solid couple hours of happiness while I wonder at the possibilities presented by $40 million payday. And isn't that worth $2?
by Steve Rhodes
by cafenut
I know that I won't win anything, the probability is so close to zero that if that number appeared in the course of some scientific experiment, you'd assume that it was zero. You have much better odds of being killed in a car accident on the way to purchasing the ticket, then you do of actually winning. Which means that from a statistical point of view, if you are thinking of buying a ticket, you're really better off just staying home.
by Kaworu Koneru
I know the odds, but the fun part about the lottery is the drive home after buying the ticket, where (assuming you aren't killed in car crash) you can fantasize about what you'd do if you did hit those most improbable of odds.
by noahwesley
Should I donate all of it to a charity? That would be awfully noble of me, but I know that as much as I'd like to be that selfless, I don't think I could give all of it away that quickly. And then I wonder if I should buy all my friends and family sports cars or houses. Spread it around. The problem with that idea is that it would probably frudementally change your relationship with everyone you know, as they'd all want a piece of the action.
by guano
No, I don't think I'd want to risk ruining my relationships by treating them like charities. In fact I think I'd prefer to completely conceal my new wealth if possible. Carry on like nothing ever happened and hope that no one finds out. Invest the money, donate much of the interest to charities on an on going basis and only use a very small amount of it to buy myself and my friends small things that don't raise suspicion.
by net_efekt
Living that sort of life would be very rewarding I think. You'd have complete financial security, the benefit of knowing that you are making a difference by helping people with your money, and you'd still be able to maintain the appearance of a normal life. It would be like having a secret identity. I'd be like Batman, only instead of fighting crime in my own city, I'd be fighting poverty in another continent. And while I'm sure that eventually people would become aware that something was going on, you wouldn't have to necessarily reveal all your cards. You could just say that you "came into some money" and refuse to elaborate.
by Beard Papa
So while some people call gambling a "stupid tax", and say that you are throwing your money away on impossible odds, this is what a lottery ticket does for me. It gives me at least a solid couple hours of happiness while I wonder at the possibilities presented by $40 million payday. And isn't that worth $2?
by Steve Rhodes
Reader Comments (3)
As apparently your only fan I must correct:
"I don’t usually do that, I’ve probably purchased less than 10 tickets in my whole life. "
FEWER than 10.
Fewer.
Cool. Nice to see my work around the place. ;-)
net_efekt
No problem, without sharing via CC and tagging images accurately, this blog would be boring.
Well more boring anyways :) .