Business/Gambling vs. Service....
>>I am not defining the gambler as bad, or I would not be concerned with his self- destruction. I am defining immoderate gambling as bad, and hoping he will desist. If the behavior is not bad, in some sense, there is no reason to stop........>>
I'm not going to comment on what's "bad." We all know what's right vs. wrong. And we should all respect the fact that others "know" this, too.
I'll make some other comments.
Gambling establishments are businesses which are fueled by personal time and trust.
Lacking energy, excitement and drama of risk elsewhere, I just believe individuals are mistakenly throwing their trust and time down a rat hole in a desparate attempt to call the system's bluff.
And you know what? Individuals should have the freedom to make their own choices. The gambling wave is simply a reflection of demand for risk and excitement meeting a venue of "supply" that's deceived us into believing we are getting something in return.
But I don't believe in "business models" for I believe that every model that involves exchanges of time and trust and value between individuals must be, by definition, a service model - ie. which helps and serves by adding value - or the customer served will eventually discover the truth behind the deception and move on.
Example. United Airlines is looking more and more like Divided Airlines because management has exposed it's customers to risks which were't fully disclosed upfront. And only AFTER they screamed bloody murder did they cancel flights they could not promise to make good on.
So their real hidden agenda - make money at the expense of the customer's trust and time - was exposed. And once these agendas are exposed there isn't much left to write home about. Management lost credibility. They can try to buy personal trust - doubling their miles, etc. - but these things ring hollow longer term.
For the most sacred and valuable thing in the universe is an individual's time and trust. Mess with this and you're toast.
And if you go to the heart of this you will realize that United Airlines doesn't own anything that worth anything except for the time and trust of their customers. In effect, customer trust is what "owns" United. United is simply given the right to serve customer based on the trust that customers extend to them.
In effect, the pyramid has always been upside down - ie. customers have always had the ultimate power and control. The individual has just not been empowered to exercise and embrace this inherent energy/value. We are just learning to see this more directly now.
A "business" is a model that purports to be a service model, but there are hidden agendas for making money which can override truth and principals.
As an expression of risk, gambling is only a poor reflection. Nobody is being personally touched, helped or served. The focus is all "me".
I believe real risk always focuses on interacting with things outside of ourselves in ways that give up all control, power and flexibility to others.
And because United wasn't willing to take this risk they make the fatal error of betting that the trust of their customers would shoulder it. Better that the customer shoulder more risk so that we don't have to lose as much money.
NOT!!
Peace.
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