zlacker

Impossible optimism can be a good thing too. My family and I play the lottery whenever expected reward is over purchase price. Of course we aren't going to win, but spending $20-50 a week to spend a couple hours dreaming about what we'd do with half a billion is such a fun uplifting family activity that makes us realize our true wishes are a lot closer than needing millions of dollars.

Also I probably talk to my father more often about fantasy football than for any other reason, despite not caring about football.. the gamification and having stakes can be a compelling social experience.

>>elif+(OP)
> spending $20-50 a week to spend a couple hours dreaming

Guessing that is "disposable" income. Sad when you think of people doing the same thing for whom their income is not disposable.

>>elif+(OP)
> Of course we aren't going to win, but spending $20-50 a week to spend a couple hours dreaming about what we'd do with half a billion is such a fun uplifting family activity

I have heard many people say things like this and I always wonder "Instead of dreaming about buying a winning lottery ticket, why don't they just dream about finding one?"