SONGSOPTOK: Do you buy lottery tickets?
If yes, then how frequently? What is your motivation for buying them?
SAILAS ABAYOMI: No, I don't buy lottery,
neither do I play lottery.
SONGSOPTOK: Have you ever won a lottery? If yes, then can
you describe what your feelings were? If not, do you feel disappointed every
time you lose?
SAILAS ABAYOMI: No, but I hear people say, they won lottery games; I hear people say, they made millions from lotteries. I hear people say, government tax lottery winners so much, but I have never experienced lottery-related success; this may be so for
such a long time.
SONGSOPTOK: Why, according to you, people buy lottery
tickets, especially where the probability of winning is infinitely small? Is it
lust or is it more of an adventure?
SAILAS ABAYOMI: People buy lotteries for different reasons; to some, it may be an adventure, which may or may not
turn good. For some, it may be pressure from colleagues at work to try lottery
. A few others may be pushed by greed and lust. We all know what money can
accomplish, sadly though, most people live
paycheck to paycheck. More so, when one sees what a colleague or friend has accomplished the urge to get exact or something better is human. More often than
not, people go for cheap money. A major
source of cheap money is through lottery.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think that buying lottery tickets is
rational? If so, what is the rationality behind it?
SAILAS ABAYOMI: Behavioral scientists will give different reasons while people
buy lotteries. For some it may be for the pure economic reason of demand and
supply. In another clime, it may be psychological, a depressed soul may turned
to lottery, drinking ,drugs and other social vices as escape routes to
reduce or to fight stress and
depression. To another person, it may
just be for a fun. From intellectual view point, lottery players are individuals seen as students of
hedonism school of thought, or may be
tagged epicurean. Those that put pleasure ahead
of everything.
SONGSOPTOK: Can buying lottery tickets be compared to
other forms of betting and gambling? Please explain your answer.
SAILAS ABAYOMI: Of course, yes. Gambling, betting, and lotteries, no doubt
are siblings. The structure, purpose, and motive behind
lottery are similar to gambling and betting.
In most cases, if not in all cases, gamblers, bettors, and lottery
players are similar in manners and behaviors; in fact, it could be said these three look-alike social cum economic behaviors constitute a sub-group or culture within a larger
culture.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think lotteries are immoral in the
sense that they tempt people to ‘waste’ money? Do you personally look at it as
wastage?
SAILAS ABAYOMI: Response to this question will vary from people to people; more
so, people of varied culture and social orientations. For instance, a moralist
with strong religious background will see lotteries as immoral. Behaviorist or
behavioral scientist may see lottery as one of residuals the neglect and the least on social ladder in the society hold on to .
SONGSOPTOK: Recent studies designate buying lottery
tickets as compulsive buying. Do you agree with this view? Have you witnessed
this in your own life? Would you consider it to be a form of addiction?
SAILAS ABAYOMI: It is both ways-compulsive and intentional purchase. No doubt, lottery is addictive just as drugs
and alcohol are addictive. It is a
several-year habit some people live with
plus severe or terrible social
and medical troubles families have to cope with. Habit that has taken millions
to rehabilitation centers, seeking help from
counselors, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and other health
professionals.
SONGSOPTOK: All over the world the mega lotteries have
become important social phenomena, surrounded by a lot of hype. What is your
opinion about that?
SAILAS ABAYOMI: To the extent that big money always play a major role in
lottery, it will continue to resonate and have a commanding effect on mankind.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you watch the live draws on the
television? Do you ever speculate on the number that will roll out next? How do
you feel when you get it right? Have you ever guessed all the numbers and
regretted not buying a ticket?
SAILAS ABAYOMI: No, I have not watched any lottery event in recent times.
SONGSOPTOK: What would you do if you won the Powerball or
the EuroMillions tomorrow? We would like to know everything you would like to
do
SAILAS ABAYOMI: This is a probability,
which I think may not be. So long
it is conjectural, it remains so.
SILAS OLA ABAYOMI IS
POET, HISTORIAN, AND CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGIST. ABAYOMI LIVES IN UNITED STATES.
We sincerely thank you
for your time and hope we shall have your continued support.
Aparajita
Sen
(Editor: Songsoptok)
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