There are, in fact, at least two distinct types of gamblers: “action” and “trance” gamblers. Craps and blackjack are “action” games which take place around a table with strangers. By contrast, slot machines are preferred by “trance” gamblers, who like to go into their own zone. (I’m summarizing a lot very simply; in fact, many games like poker combine the two different neurological mechanisms.)

“Action” gamblers crave the affirmation of strangers, and their social needs play strongly into their addiction pathology. While “trance” gamblers are far more likely to be female, “action” gamblers are much more likely to be male. (Think about it: do you see a lot of women playing craps? Blackjack?)

Here’s an interesting discovery: when comparing closeted gay men against openly gay men in their respective likelihoods of developing an “action” gambling addiction at any point over the course of a lifetime, it turns out openly gay men are extremely unlikely to do so compared to the closeted gay male cohort, which was perhaps even more likely to become addicted to “action” gambling than straight men. By contrast, the likelihood of developing a “trance” gambling addiction was relatively equal between straight and gay men.

Scientists think the discrepancy in “action” gambling has something to do with the closeted men still needing the affirmation and approval of people they don’t know, while openly gay men tend not to seek out anonymous social approval in casinos. It’s also possible that in coming out, gay men graduated out of the need for demonstrative social approval.

The gaming industry buys very little gay advertising, and I don’t think it’s prejudice. The scientists have shown them studies which indicate it’s not a very responsive market.

Just so you know some of the symptoms of ptsd

1) avoidance behavior
2) impulse control problems
3) mood swings

Just sayin’….

Blunt: “McCain got the discussion going in the direction that we wanted.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..29654.html

This was McCain’s only play, which he played badly.

if she can’t speak to Katie Couric …

and why doesn’t anybody point out that this woman is NOT qualified to teach georgraphy, even though she keeps trying to do it

I took and passed a fucking college level geography class that included a Lab, you goofy bitch. I KNOW there is a maritime border between Alaska and Russia
and I KNOW Canada and Alaska share a fucking land border

I can read a fucking map

DO YOU KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD INSIGHT, YOU GOOFY FUCKING HILL BILLY

somebody needs to ask princess pandora that last question

insight, it’s a word

you could look it up

By inserting himself at the last minute into the bailout negotiations, he was able to scuttle them
and suddenly, from out of a hat, comes this new proposal, which was probably being discussed
for several days, in which the taxpayers appear to be less on the hook, a bailout that is more in line
with republican principles as well. This clogs up the process. So now we can have a debate
without a bailout having been agreed to. And McCain will turn it into a chance to stump for the
Republican bailout plan, which he will say he championed, which will look really good to
americans since it doesnt sound as burdensome to taxpayers, and he knows this wont go
through, but that’s OK, because he will at least have appeared to ride in on a white horse
with a better more populist plan, and when the old deal goes through anyway, he can then
complain for the next month about how the Democrats shoved “their” proposal across
the end zone, their socialist high tax proposal. Etc…

(A nervous twitch, like the villain’s in Something About Mary?

That wasn’t a nervous twitch. It was a whitehead on his eyeball.

McCain is a superficial, attention deficit disordered, intellectually challenged, testosterone-driven dilettante. He lives on the borderline because it excites him; it’s his niche, where competitors are too wise or experienced to go. He’s a puffin on the cliff face because sea eagles and wild cats can’t get at him.

So it is with McCain’s campaign, and would be with his presidency. He’s taken the Rovian superficiality, the lying misdirection and rapacious self-interest and self-dealing of the BushCheney administration and kicked it up a notch. He lies about everything, knows nothing or very little, and looks stern and commanding. Except for that puffy, twitchy left eye. (A nervous twitch, like the villain’s in Something About Mary? A mini-stroke?) He’s like a black and white picture of his admiral father or grandfather, desperately playing the commanding leader in dire times he can never really be. But he’ll street fight anybody man enough to tell him so.

John McCain is a caricature looking for excitement. The borderline is where he finds it, where he seeks to be. Not having examined options or consequences makes it exciting, like driving without head lights. McCain’s lack of true leadership skills, his need to dangle on the edge, careless of the lives and resources at his command, is a sure bet for why he didn’t make admiral, and why allowing him “to lead” the country would be an extraordinarily dangerous thing to do.

Thanks for the patience in the meantime

how cute

bmaz thinks we’re “Patient”

this thing can flash fry a buffalo in 40 seconds

40 seconds ???

I want it NOW

oh, an bmaz, go ahead an post that trash talkin thread early today

some of us Sooner fans got some trash talking to do

an we gotta get it in before December, you know

(wink)

In Louisiana craps is a big favorite among the drug dealing, thug type crowd. That may sound like some stereotype or glittering generality, but it’s not. If I walked over to the casino right now the craps tables would be crowded with young men who are totally blinged out, accompanied by young women who are also doused with ice. I’ve seen more trouble start around the craps tables than probably at all the other games combined. When they lose, they often lose big, and that makes for extremely short tempers.

I find it very telling that McCain enjoys craps. It’s really a game for sociopaths. The article your entry referenced calls it a game for showmen, but it’s deeper than that. Whereas a showman connotes somebody who performs for a crowd, in a way, the sociopath wants people’s attention focused on them for the sake of their perceived identity. It’s not so much an act, or performance, with the sociopath as it is a plea for people to notice them for who they really are (or perceive themselves to be). Some people get showy tattoos where everyone can see them. Smoking cigarettes was originally considered sort of sociopathic, as well as public drug use. John McCain wants people to see how much of a high roller he really is

I don’t intend to sound all “lecturing.” I am fascinated that you brought this to my attention. I hadn’t even heard about his gambling before, but it makes total sense. That behavior is right in keeping with his desire to keep the spotlight on himself, traveling to Washington so he would stay in the news. The consequences of actions usually don’t enter into the sociopaths considerations when they become single minded about their desire to get people’s attention. John McCain probably really thought the folks in Congress desired his presence, his wisdom. Such heightened egomania often closely accompanies sociopathic behavior. What a maroon.

I can totally see that Obama would be good at poker. I bet he could beat me hands down. He’s so reserve and calm. Like when he went to Washington yesterday, knowing full well it was a scripted political ploy crafted by McCain and implemented by George Bush. He never betrayed his inner feelings on the shallow ruse. He never got ruffled. If John McCain intended for Obama to somehow provide him with an advantage, then the plan certainly backfired. Really adept poker players tend to watch their opponents very closely, giving them the rope to hang themselves, so to speak.

I’m really glad you posted this. It provided me with an insight into the two candidates’ characters in a way that normal description or narration simply could not do. You learn a lot watching people in casino’s. I am relieved Obama plays poker. That’s very good news for the debate tonight. (keeping fingers crossed for enormous blowout in Oxford)