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LETTERS: Mental masochism

Editor: I’m somewhat curious about how people in good conscious willingly work at such an insidious source of angst.

Editor:

I’m somewhat curious about how people in good conscious willingly work at such an insidious source of considerable angst through addiction.

The fact is, BC Lottery Corporation, a large and potent advertiser with our mainstream news media, is callously exploiting the often debilitating weaknesses of many of its consumers – especially those with obsessive/compulsive tendencies.

And, no, offering gambling addiction withdrawal services and/or financing in return does not suffice.

There is psychology literature stating that gamblers intentionally – though typically subconsciously – gamble until they lose all that they came in with on the games of chance.

The addiction can reach an extreme point where – as demonstrated in the movie Owning Mahowny – the gambler can break a casino table’s funds and still not leave the casino until he/she is essentially broke.

It’s written that they do so in order to have an excuse to punish their psyches afterwards.

Sadly, it is a form of platonic mental masochism.

Frank Sterle Jr., White Rock