Conformity And Alienation: Gambling
Matteo Mancuso
Mr. Girardo
HSB4M
April 22 2013
Conformity and Alienation: Gambling Turning 18 brings on many new responsibilities and it also allows for more fun and freedoms. It also means that the purchasing of lottery tickets and/or scratch cards is legal. When it comes to the topic of gambling, I would have to say that I will probably conform and actively participate in the act of gambling by the purchasing of scratch cards when I turn 18. I want to conform willingly because it seems like fun and the consequences are minimal. I’d also like to think that I have a good sense of self control and that I can handle myself when it comes to gambling. I feel as though I am pressured to purchase these lottery tickets because “everyone
else is doing it”. The pressure mostly comes from friends and classmates that have turned 18 and have begun to gamble and also win money from it. The pressure isn’t too great, but hearing that winning money is just a scratch away will defiantly intrigue anyone. The pressure not to conform also stems from my parents, the purchasing of lottery tickets in my family has become routine. Every Friday, my father drives down to the corner store with my mom and plays their lotto 6/49 and encore tickets, usually with minimal success and maximal complaining about how “they never win”. I am pressured, but at the same time I am not pressured to conform into the never ending cycle of gambling. Popular culture, in a way, emphasizes to be yourself, but also to conform at the same time. There are many ad campaigns and celebrities that are out there who claim that the best person to be is yourself and that no one should tell you what to look like. But, at the exact same time, there are ad campaigns and actors and actresses that inadvertently say the exact opposite.
Mr. Girardo
HSB4M
April 22 2013
Conformity and Alienation: Gambling Turning 18 brings on many new responsibilities and it also allows for more fun and freedoms. It also means that the purchasing of lottery tickets and/or scratch cards is legal. When it comes to the topic of gambling, I would have to say that I will probably conform and actively participate in the act of gambling by the purchasing of scratch cards when I turn 18. I want to conform willingly because it seems like fun and the consequences are minimal. I’d also like to think that I have a good sense of self control and that I can handle myself when it comes to gambling. I feel as though I am pressured to purchase these lottery tickets because “everyone
else is doing it”. The pressure mostly comes from friends and classmates that have turned 18 and have begun to gamble and also win money from it. The pressure isn’t too great, but hearing that winning money is just a scratch away will defiantly intrigue anyone. The pressure not to conform also stems from my parents, the purchasing of lottery tickets in my family has become routine. Every Friday, my father drives down to the corner store with my mom and plays their lotto 6/49 and encore tickets, usually with minimal success and maximal complaining about how “they never win”. I am pressured, but at the same time I am not pressured to conform into the never ending cycle of gambling. Popular culture, in a way, emphasizes to be yourself, but also to conform at the same time. There are many ad campaigns and celebrities that are out there who claim that the best person to be is yourself and that no one should tell you what to look like. But, at the exact same time, there are ad campaigns and actors and actresses that inadvertently say the exact opposite.