"the Spirit" of the world....

[DaBurglar]

You cannot deny what is now a palpable, clearly discernible and active force in the world and society....namely a "spirit" of complete and total intolerance, of belligerence, of complete refusal to compromise or meet anyone half-way (or even a "little bit of the way") from whatever position or viewpoint a individual may take.You cannot deny it, you'd have to be in a medically induced coma, or dead, to not discern what I am talking about.   Now, of course, NOT every single individual person is necessarily manifesting or approving of this "Spirit" that I am talking about, but we are ALL impacted and influenced by it.....Take for instance this very forum itself.  Anyone who knows me personally in my own relatively simple, insignificant life knows me to be gregarious and easy to get along with....in all honesty, someone like myself in my circumstances really has no choice but to manifest such qualities in relation to other people.   I cannot afford to actually have people actively hate or wish me ill....nonetheless, when I come here I am subject to this "spirit" of total hostility and discord.  To avoid it, to NOT be influenced or impacted by it, requires REAL active effort and energy.  Indeed, in the real world, even with people not looking for trouble or doing anything bad, they often find themselves caught up in bad situations or the victims of others who are actively manifesting this ill-spirit.  Something must change, or give.....and judging by the current leadership not only of the USA (with its embracing of chaotic, ignorant, racist, misogynistic, mean actions) but of the rest of the world, it does not look like change or improvement is going to come from HUMAN efforts or initiatives.   Something else is needed.....The fact is, HATRED, Violence, ARROGANT Boast filled Dominance, all have a certain effect or impact on the Human Brain.  They all carry their own short term reward for our brain.....it feels "good", in other words, to act out violently or viciously when we allow ourselves to become enraged or upset or offended.....revenge or striking back gives a payoff.   But of course, its a very fleeting, short term reward that is immediately followed by much worse, greater "costs" and effects.   But like anything else these days (greed, booze, drugs, sex, and still more sex) people just no longer want to DO without, or to abstain from anything they feel entitled to enjoying....no one wants to be the one to do the self-sacrificing thing to stop the trend or cycle of indulging.    In fact they now do everything possible to JUSTIFY there actions, however wrong or immoral or contrary to the long term good they used to be, or currently are....Maybe it finally is time to cease and desist all Casino Activity (since, despite what all casino enthusiasts or gambling advocates or apologists insist,  GAMBLING really is not a beneficial, or even a neutral/innocuous form of entertainment or activity....the downside/darkside far out paces and exceeds whatever "good" people claim.)  I truly am beginning to see how, in places like Vegas, or AC etc.  this "Spirit" that I referenced above is saturated in and around these locales.....the selfish, self absorbed greed and excess (booze, smoking, sex/prostitution, drugs, fraud/theft, violence) of every vice imaginable only fuels the fire consuming society as a w(hole).    Ask yourself, why are places like Vegas, AC and Reno, as well as other gambling centers, so crime ridden and so polar-opposite the rich, prosperous cash-infused paradises that they were supposed to become as a result of gambling & casinos?What's really going on in the world and where is it all heading?

[Carcounter]

If all casinos were to go out of business today, I would not care one bit. However, I, and I suspect others on this forum have enjoyed them over the years and will continue to do so. The key is to keep things under control, financially and emotionally and to take in some of the benefits that are non-gambling, such as restaurants, pools, spas, etc. That being said I will only go to casinos where I feel comfortable, which is why I avoid the boardwalk in AC. The downsizing of the casino industry in AC has hit the area extremely hard. I believe Atlantic County has the highest rate of foreclosures in the Country. I know some people personally that have been devastated by the loss of income. I am very interested in seeing how the new Hard Rock, which will open in the old Taj Mahal will do next spring. A big gamble for them, but hopefully thousands of new jobs.

[Tedlark]

Um,


Maybe I'll have more to say if the "Spirit" moves me.....

[billryan]

BBQ the wolf.
Feed the world!

[DaBurglar]

If all casinos were to go out of business today, I would not care one bit. However, I, and I suspect others on this forum have enjoyed them over the years and will continue to do so. The key is to keep things under control, financially and emotionally and to take in some of the benefits that are non-gambling, such as restaurants, pools, spas, etc. That being said I will only go to casinos where I feel comfortable, which is why I avoid the boardwalk in AC. The downsizing of the casino industry in AC has hit the area extremely hard. I believe Atlantic County has the highest rate of foreclosures in the Country. I know some people personally that have been devastated by the loss of income. I am very interested in seeing how the new Hard Rock, which will open in the old Taj Mahal will do next spring. A big gamble for them, but hopefully thousands of new jobs.


Very good post...when hardrock opens there will indeed be thousands of jobs (can't call them new though), but sadly many of the people who were previously in the former jobs at the Taj and other shuttered casinos are long gone, unable to simply hang around indefinitely and wait for the casinos to reopen.

This spirit I spoke of is also one of hopelessness that many people feel, because society leaves them in the dust with few desirable avenues for improvement of their station in life. The shuttering and depression of AC casino industry, which for over 30years had provided tens of thousands of people a decent living and hope, has left a far bigger swath of suffering when you take into account the surrounding businesses that have suffered. The boardwalk is now a shell of what once was...

Even within the remaining 7 casinos, the expected atmosphere of fun and carefree oblivious escape is gone. If you have been there this past summer, and had memories of what it was like even just a few years back, say 2011-12, even when the descent was in full swing, it's not good.   The problems of the world outside have made escaping them impossible even in casinos.

For me, the saddest part is that I frequented AC due to it's access and the atmosphere of being an Oceanside resort. The casinos drive this and make it possible, and while I could care less if they disappeared altogether, the fact is the casinos make AC what it currently is that I find so enjoyable. I could (and I do) visit other seaside towns and resorts, but they are far more expensive and many do not have the extensive accessibility that AC offers.

[Chicagoan]

Fast food restaurants such as McDonalds would be out of business tomorrow if consumers only ate what was good for them, not what tastes good. I submit that consumers are just as addicted to high cholesterol hamburgers from McDonalds as they are to casino gambling. Bottom line: whether it is seatbelts, cigarettes, casinos or hamburgers, it is up to the individual to exercise personal responsibility. It is not the role of government or society to determine/regulate what's good for you. If casinos stay in business due to the addictive nature of their offerings, then the same thing EXACTLY can be said for McDonald's.

[FAA]

Interesting thread. I still enjoy AC, as a relative newbie. I loved it when both the north and south Boardwalk were bustling. But when I tamp down the gambling and enjoy a good meal, usually lunch, I am okay with the environment. Maybe I should have a brief $20 massage on the walk, which would kill an hour otherwise most likely misspent losing $100 on VP. Good math, skip bath and casino's wrath. This is the path.

[billryan]

Fast food restaurants such as McDonalds would be out of business tomorrow if consumers only ate what was good for them, not what tastes good. I submit that consumers are just as addicted to high cholesterol hamburgers from McDonalds as they are to casino gambling. Bottom line: whether it is seatbelts, cigarettes, casinos or hamburgers, it is up to the individual to exercise personal responsibility. It is not the role of government or society to determine/regulate what's good for you. If casinos stay in business due to the addictive nature of their offerings, then the same thing EXACTLY can be said for McDonald's.

Luckily, MickeyDs is experimenting with the McVeggie burger.

[Tedlark]

Well maybe "the Spirit" might whisper to me to sell some of my McDonald's stock...