1) Mr. Will, I vehemently disagree that habits and addictions are of equal magnitude. They are not synonymous. Are nail biters addicts?
– If they can not control the habit, yes — are you stating that an addiction is only based on the severity of the results?
Are habitual interrupters addicts?
– see comments below
Is not a “drug habit� anything but? Perhaps we can think of addictions as extreme neurotic habits so, if anything, an addiction is a diabolical subset within the habit spectrum.

A drug habit becomes a physical need based on the results of the chemical reactions. If chewing your nails created a chemical response of releasing a large amount of Serotonin, then it would become an addiction; such as gambling.

I was incorrect, or rather, poor at communicating in my prior writing. I believe in addiction, but I also believe that your environment plays a huge role on an addiction. Take for example, gambling. A person may become addicted to gambling because it releases large amounts of Serotonin into their system. They only get this chemical effect at this magnitude when gambling, hence, they continue to gamble away their money until they are broke, homeless, and the other effects of the .5-2.5% of highly addicted gamblers. However, if, for example, one of those addicted gamblers found out that another event, such as excessive speeding, had the same effect, I believe they could do either or without being specific to one event. If the local casino is shut down, they may replace that activity with more excessive speeding — the addiction isn’t so much to ‘gambling’ as to any activity with the same chemical response.

An addiction is not as much to the act of the event but to the effect of the event, which may be the same effect over multiple events.

Now, I don’t argue the affect of outside source chemicals and their addictive properties, but I also put a large emphasis on the environmental factors around the activity, both to start the habit and to continue with the habit.

So, I apologize — after a long discussion with Ryan and Beau, I felt I needed to clarify.

Now, as for your #2 item: Are you trying to say no to gambling by association? Last time I checked, anyone and everyone could gamble, and if they wanted, could open a casino. I don’t agree with your associations being a good reason not to gable.

G’day
–Will

1) Mr. Will, I vehemently disagree that habits and addictions are of equal magnitude. They are not synonymous. Are nail biters addicts? Are habitual interrupters addicts? Is not a “drug habit” anything but? Perhaps we can think of addictions as extreme neurotic habits so, if anything, an addiction is a diabolical subset within the habit spectrum.

Addictions are orders of magnitude more dire and entrenched than any habit. Alcoholics are defined, in part, by their inability to stop drinking, even in the face of high personal and vocational costs.

We all ought to stop using “habit” in place of “addiction”.

2) On top of Jeff’s point that gambling is immoral because one gets something for nothing, the gambling industry is often tied to mafia groups, terrorists, and other criminal elements. Enormous gambling profits (i.e. your losses) go to fund their wholesome activities. I have no desire to make a donation to their causes. Gambling can stay far way from me and my town.

That is why a lot of people in Utah are not ‘addicted’ to gambling; simply because the source is not available to them.

If casinos existed in Utah, sure, some people would not have the self control to know when to stop (hence, losing control as snow put it. However, most know that creating a ‘habit’ (as in my writing is the same thing as an ‘addiction’) out of an event that is more negative than positive is a bad thing, so they do not do it. Going to Vegas once or twice a year to lose money is acceptable, but look at Vegas — there’s nothing to do -but- gamble, so of course that is all people do — it’s enivronment.

Change your environment and you change your ‘addiction’. IE:
1) Get rid of Internet, no more WoW
2) No casinos, no gambling
3) No cigarettes, no smoking

The inability to chose or control oneself is an excuse for people that do not want to change their habits. They feel they receive something from that habit that makes it worthwhile to them. However, it’s just a habit, which requires self control. It’s a personal choice.

Gambling is a bad habit, but only when it becomes a habit. If you keep the lid on it and -control- yourself, a casino near SLC wouldn’t be a huge downfall unless people couldn’t control their own habit.

Take control of yourself, your actions, and the responsibilities of your actions.

However, off that nit-picking point (sorry Carolynn). I, too, believe Gambling is not a good idea for Utah — specifically because of the culture and the focus on family. You don’t have a fun family event taking the kiddo’s to a casino .

I agree that it is a bad choice — at least give me tokens I can turn in for gifts when I’m done gambling my money away .

–Will