Supporting "Bum" culture

Quote: Wizard

I know the table games manager of a Laughlin casino and he says they are so hard up for employees that they will take anybody with a beating heart.

It seems that way from this side as well. I have taken to calling ahead before I drive up there to see if and what time a casino will have craps dealers.

I play off peak hours but as far as just walking in, usually only the Nugget has a full crew. Harrah's used to, but I don't play there anymore. We stopped going to the "R" when they shorted my wife, but I walked in the other day with a friend just to look. Two dealers, no box, and no players, after noon on a Saturday.

I wondered to myself about this shortage of players, or the economics would do it's magic and fill the tables. I thought it might benefit management to ask some of the players why they don't play at particular casino's, or what the players might think would make the casino more attractive, instead of just hiring another consultant? No offense intended.

We are all aware that management, which used to come from the ranks is now filled with accountants, etc., generally are not people, people. I think the absolute bottom line thinking at times bites them in the rear. Picking up nickels in front of a steam roller. My .02.

Quote: petroglyph

I wondered to myself about this shortage of players, or the economics would do it's magic and fill the tables. I thought it might benefit management to ask some of the players why they don't play at particular casino's, or what the players might think would make the casino more attractive, instead of just hiring another consultant? No offense intended.

We are all aware that management, which used to come from the ranks is now filled with accountants, etc., generally are not people, people. I think the absolute bottom line thinking at times bites them in the rear. Picking up nickels in front of a steam roller. My .02.

IMHO players would be able to tell you what they do not like, but less of what they like. But the nail is hit on the head with the comment about the MBA culture in management. Too many layers of guys too worried about protecting their Cadillacs and swimming pools to take a chance on anything. Just trend the industry and make a bonus for doing that. Same problem in half the industries and companies in the USA.

Quote: FrGamble

The other thing to recognize is the lack of a "living wage". If you find a job that pays minimum wage there will be no way for you to pay for shelter, let along food, clothing, toiletries, etc.

I agree with you there, Padre.

Quote: Evenbob

You can spot the truly desperate very
quickly just a little experience. The
pro beggars, which most of them
begging are, have a way about them.
And again, it's not embarrassing to
them. In a way they look at themselves
as superior to you because they're
living by their wits and you're their
chump. I knew some of these people
for years. I saw them for years, I knew
their names. They like what they do,
that's why they do it.

Did you see the "Wolves and Sheep" (episode 7 season 2) of Better Call Saul? It put this sentiment perfectly in the opening, said the sheep.

A Good Samaritan is rare one who is a Bad Samaritan and interferes in a negligent manner can be very dangerous.

Quote: Wizard

Did you see the "Wolves and Sheep" (episode 7 season 2) of Better Call Saul? It put this sentiment perfectly in the opening, said the sheep.

Never heard of it. I even knew a couple of
bums that traveled between cities to live
off panhandling. I think it's much more
lucrative now, the media gives them a
spotlight. In those days the word 'homeless'
wasn't even used yet. They were called
street people.

I picked up a hitchhiker once and drove him for about 5 hours. His story was pretty much that of a roving pan handler. He heard good things about Gold Beach, Oregon, but when he got there they pretty much ran him out of town. Doesn't surprise me. I've heard they don't take kindly to outsiders in that state, especially in small towns.

So, I picked him up in Redding, where he managed to get to from a previous ride. He asked to get dropped off in Sacramento, where he knew people, which was on my way. Pretty friendly guy. I could tell he simply enjoyed the freedom of having nothing to lose and traveling wherever he wished.

Quote: FrGamble

The other thing to recognize is the lack of a "living wage". If you find a job that pays minimum wage there will be no way for you to pay for shelter, let along food, clothing, toiletries, etc.

I could not disagree more vehemently. "Living wage" is a misnomer.

I just think our society is too spoiled and feels entitled. Our "standard of living" is so much higher than the majority of the world population.

What does the "average" person on earth have and how do they live? Clearly a "living wage" would be at least one standard deviation lower than that.

Quote: DRich

"Living wage" is a misnomer.
Our "standard of living" is so much higher than the majority of the world population.

What is this world population nonsense? A living wage is determined by geography and is often most visible in upscale areas wherein the fast food workers and bank tellers must commute from outlying areas because rents are too high to support locals.

Many ski resorts fill this bill. We impose liability on a burger joint if they force their staff to work excessive hours while driving over curvy mountainous roads, but we do not impose on the burger joint an obligation to pay enough to allow their employees to live locally and resist corporate scheduling powers.

But the 'world population' ain't got nothing to do with it. A village in Africa may have a certain 'average annual income' but its of no relationship to the income of Aspen or San Francisco or anything else in America. The American dream does not embrace 'and if you can't get a well paying job you can move to Africa and eat grasshoppers.' Our TV sitcoms do not show penniless Bangladeshians as role models or career choices.

The joke is 'Another day gone by and I have not used algebra' NOT 'Another day gone by and I have not drunk from an open sewer and eaten a rat'.

I agree with Fleastiff. A living wage means that someone who is working for a living should be able to reasonable live and provide for his/her family. This could look different in different countries and even in different counties. It is a shame that in America you can work full time at many jobs and still find yourself unable to afford a roof, food, clothes, and other essentials.

Quote: FrGamble

I agree with Fleastiff. A living wage means that someone who is working for a living should be able to reasonable live and provide for his/her family. This could look different in different countries and even in different counties. It is a shame that in America you can work full time at many jobs and still find yourself unable to afford a roof, food, clothes, and other essentials.

Unicorns should poop skittles.