Minister sees red on Monash pokies rates

Posted to Monash Weekly (6/5/2013) on 6/5/2013 at 2:29 PM
Commenting on "Minister sees red on Monash pokies rates"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1476473/minister-sees-red-on-monash-pokies-rates/

There is a possible way to prevent gambling harm, only if the greedy government is fair dinkum about it, is to have graphic pictures put on every poker machine, depicting the disastrous consequence of such addiction. This is just an extension of the cigarette packaging campaign.

Monash council's hands tied on pokie venue rates

Posted to Monash Weekly (22/4/2013) on 24/4/2013 at 3:14 PM
Commenting on "Monash council's hands tied on pokie venue rates"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1444135/monash-councils-hands-tied-on-pokie-venue-rates/

Whether it is pressing buttons on a real poker machine or just on a virtual one on a computer, or whether it is betting on horses or footy teams, these are all categorised under gambling.

Unfortunately, gambling places, cigarette sale outlets, pubs / bottle shops / vineyards, and brothels are conducting businesses providing LEGAL services or products, no different from restaurants or supermarkets. It is unfair to treat them differently from all other business premises.

Problem gamblers are like alcoholics and hard drug users. The current methods of supporting these "sufferers" are costly and far from effective. I go further to say that these are medical conditions and need to be treated in a more revolutionary way, namely medically. By comparison, these addicts are no different from sufferers of Asperger's Disorder - one track mind and anti-social.

Prohibition of such services or products may not work for every addict, but it sure helps a lot of people related to them and in the community to avoid serious psychological pain and suffering, not to mention the hip pockets.

On the write track

Posted to Monash Weekly 26/2/2013 on 26/2/2013 at 11:42 AM
Commenting on "On the write track"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1320015/on-the-write-track/?cs=1481

The stories are real, the victims are real, and unfortunately you may become one just like the characters in the book if you are not careful.

It takes years for the society to wake up that cigarettes are social evil, and finally something is done to curb unnecessary death due to smoking and passive smoking. I am not sure sure when we can see graphic labels on alcohol cans or bottles to alert drinkers of what can happen to them and other innocent people if they become intoxicated.

I believe it will take a century to see big graphic sign board displayed outside gambling establishments warning potential and existing gamblers the impact of gambling addiction.

Cigarettes, alcohol and gambling - the Trinity of Societal (Social) Evils.

This is a great book. Buy one or download the eBook from MonashLink website www.monashlink.org.au.


Edited version by newspaper

It took years for society to wake up that cigarettes are a social evil, and finally something is being done to curb unnecessary death due to smoking and passive smoking. It will take a century to see big, graphic, sign boards displayed outside gambling establishments warning potential and existing gamblers of the impact of gambling addiction.

Karaoke bar OK in Kingsway

Posted to Waverley Leader (3/7/2012) on 4/7/2012 at 12:19 PM
Posted to City of Moansh Facebook on 4/7/2012 at 12:20 PM
Commenting on " HAVE YOUR SAY: Karaoke bar OK in Kingsway"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/have-your-say-karaoke-bar-ok-in-kingsway/

The City shopping precinct is not very large compared with some suburbs. Having three Karaoke bars seems far from excessive. I am not proud to live in a City which is second highest in contributing towards gambling loss, or in a State claiming highest binge drinking record.

With another karaoke site where alcohol is served till 1 am, more alcohol-fuel conflicts will occur and may even flow on to the street after the trading hours. A Google search provided the following historical karaoke brawls and stabbings:

28/4/2012 – a brawl over a girl outside a Railway Parade karaoke bar left one man in hospital and another with minor injuries
20/11/2011 - a large fight in front of the karaoke bar in Railway Parade about 3am, attackers were armed with baseball bats and metal poles, 10 were admitted to hospital with various injuries
17/4/2006 - a man stabbed three times in the back at a Melbourne karaoke bar in Church Street, Abbotsford died in hospital

Many Monash Councillors are too young and have no life experience to make such crucial decision, while the remainders are so isolated from the rest of the world to understand what is like beyond the long Australian coastline.

Kingsway karaoke gets green light

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly on 2/7/2012 at 10:00 PM
Title: "Kingsway karaoke gets green light"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/content/letterstotheeditor/

The City shopping precinct is not very large compared with some suburbs. Having three Karaoke bars seems far from excessive. I am not proud to live in a City which is second highest in contributing towards gambling loss, or in a State claiming highest binge drinking record.

With another "entertainment" site where alcohol is served till 3 am, and more than likely females providing services beyond just accompanying clients in singing, the City is doomed even if it is not mentioned in the Aztec calendar.

Competition is good for consumers but not among the competing businesses. When one's business and hence profit is cannibalised, trouble will flare. In some Australian suburbs, shopkeepers are subjected to pressures to pay protection money, and very soon City of Monash will experience the same if business operation like this is not curbed and monitored. Once organised gangs move in, it is difficult to weed them out.

Many Monash Councillors are too young and have no life experience to make such crucial decisions, while the remainders are so isolated from the rest of the world to understand what is like beyond the long Australian coastline.

Karaoka protest turned down

Posted to Monash Weekly (2/7/2012) on 2/7/2012 at 9:43 PM
Commenting on "Karaoke protest turned down"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/karaoke-protest-turned-down/2609503.aspx

The city shopping precinct is not very large compared with some suburbs. Having three karaoke bars seems far from excessive. I am not proud to live in a municipality which is second highest in contributing towards gambling loss, or in a state claiming the highest binge drinking record. With another ‘entertainment’ site where alcohol is served till 3am (should read 1 am), the city is doomed, even if it is not mentioned in the Aztec doomsday calendar.

More alcohol-fuel conflicts will occur and may even flow on to the street after the trading hours. In April, a brawl over a girl outside a Railway Parade karaoke bar left one man in hospital and another with minor injuries, and last November following a large fight in front of the same karaoke bar about 3am where attackers were armed with baseball bats and metal poles, 10 were admitted to hospital with various injuries.

Pokies take a chunk of change

Posted to Waverley Leader (4/8/2011) on 8/8/2011 at 11:07 AM
Commenting on "Pokies take a chunk of change"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au//news/story/pokies-take-a-chunk-of-change/

"Maslow's hierarchy of needs" may be taught as "Maslow's hierarchy of greed". Since I am not a problem gambler, I cannot really understand their psyche. I can only assume that problem gamblers started off as curious children who found something to entertain and excite them.

Non-gambling addicts like you and I do wish to find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. However, our desire to do so is not as strong as that of the problem gamblers. Their greed level is far higher that ours. Were there that many problem gamblers before the existence of Casino and Tabarets?

Prohibition, education and imposition of God's laws or human's laws will not help to reduce the number of problem gamblers. These are hopes, ideals, and unreachable goals.

If the society is serious about solving the problem, just like getting rid of the plague, then the source must be eradicated.

Why were all these gambling machines introduced in the first place? It can only be summed up in one word - GREED!