[green_wheel]

I've tried to have sympathy for people who lose money gambling but I just can't. Maybe some argument can be made for the fool who loses money on something silly like a sports game, but people certainly not for people trying to make a buck off of death an destruction.

[CuriousRose]

Often people are under such mental pressures that the chance of a better financial outcome is more mentally digestible than the existing scenario they are in. Considering it from that perspective has allowed me to understand and empathise with the gambler. However irrational or unlikely a sliver of hope, it is a chance at hope nonetheless.

[Mr_Minderbinder]

> than the existing scenario they are in.

In my personal experience that "scenario" is a wearisome but stable job with a good income that would afford a comfortable middle class lifestyle. Yet this unfortunate circumstance was so intolerable that they would rather risk, and have in fact realised, the complete financial ruin of themselves and the ruin of the prospects and happiness of their children than continue to suffer it. So I had little else other than contempt, for them and others like them, when they came to me asking for money.