Be Careful What You
Wish For
Everyone
at one point in the life has been asked what would you wish for if you had a wish. Popular responses are fame, love, and of
course fortune. In today’s society, people often wish to win the lottery. They
hope the lottery will be their ticket to wealth. The lottery remains popular
despite your chances of winning the Powerball jackpot are about one
in 175.2 million. You're more likely to die from a bee sting (one in 6.1
million), be struck by lightning (one in 3 million) or have conjoined twins
(one in 200,000). However these poor odds don’t prevent people from playing. In
fact, in 2010, U.S. lottery sales totaled $58 billion. More than
half of Americans have played the lottery in the last year, although 20% of customers
buy the majority of the tickets. But, is being a lottery winner all it is
cracked up to be? Read the two articles
below and view the video. Then respond
in the comments by addressing these questions:
1.
What is your initial reaction to all three pieces?
2.
What was the most interesting thing you learned?
Why?
3.
Would you still consider playing the lottery
after hearing all of these stories? Why?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to these pieces was pretty surprising. Even though these people got a lot of money off the lottery but still end up bad. Most of the people seem to either loose all of their money or their closest friends or family turn their back on the them and also worst comes to worst they will kill them. Then also a lot of people used it for drugs and alcohol. I think people that are addicted to that kind of stuff will still be addicted to it if you were poor or rich. When you have that much money you need to have a positive attitude and think about what your doing and not just start spending it wildly. All in all after hearing these story's I probably would conceder playing the lottery and if you have the luck of winning pay more attention on what your doing and be wise with your choices and money.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to the people’s lives after winning the lottery was pure shock. The interesting part of the articles and video was that most people turned for the worst within the first few months of winning the lottery. The tragic things that happened subsequently to the people like overdose, loss of relatives, the sudden lack of friends after you give them money, going bankrupt, getting divorced, families were torn apart, or even death all from a little slip of paper with the right numbers on it. That said I think I’d try my luck once or twice because I believe in myself to make the right decisions with money.
ReplyDeleteForm where i stand it seems too me that win a lotto ticket isn't all its cracked up to be.i think i would give the money to a freind then rather keeping it.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to both of these pieces is shocked. The most interesting piece is even if you win the lottery you still end up broke or someone is killing. This happens cause you didn't tell them about winning or not sharing the money with your spouse or your friend and they end up not trusting you and getting a divorce or you end up dead. When you win the lottery your used to having lots of money and you start to gamble with that money. But, when you gamble it all or u have no money left you fell depressed. Most people pay off collage bills with this money the win from the mega millions. Many also bye car or houses and they end up not having money to pay the bill or the house payment and they end up selling it for less than it is worth cause it is not in very good condition when they sell it. I would not consider buying a lottery ticket after i heard these story about the outcome of winning. I would not want to because if i did people would want the money and i would not want to give it to them so i could go shop or if i win when i'm older i would probably pay off bills or collage bills. So, everyone would probably want some money and if i was used to having so much money i would not want to go back to what i had before i won the lottery.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to all of the pieces was different in may ways. I was shocked by all the fatal turmoil, murders, and all the drug abuses following the lottery. It seemed to me that more than half of all the people who had gotten lotteries were happier when they didn't have all the money to begin with. Also, the thought of family members killing their own family members was very depressing. The most interesting thing that I learned was the rates of things that were most likely to happen to you than winning the lottery. I have never known that the lottery was very hard to win. I would never consider playing the lottery after I saw all three pieces because I think that the chances are wining are pretty slim and you shouldn't be spending money on that. Also, I wouldn't play because of the people that might cling to me for money.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to these three pieces was that they were mostly the same people and I was shocked that thy would end up losing all the money they won or die. That there own family members were taking them to court and there friends and that they were losing their friends. I would still consider doing the lottery because its just a couple people not all of them or even half of them.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to all these pieces was surprised. I was very shocked in the beginning. I was shocked because all these people that won the lottery are wasting money, becoming drug addicts, family members dying, divorces, losing friends, and a lot of other things. What I found interesting is that people try to sue them or take them to court for no reason just so they can have money. I also found interesting that people don't tell their own family member that they won and they just leave because they don't want to share the money. Most of the people are either in jail, dead, or really regretting that they ever own the lottery. After hearing all this, I wouldn't consider playing the lottery. I wouldn't want to risk it. I love the way everything is, my family's got a good income and I couldn't ask for anything more. I have everything that I need. I have friends, home, parents, and people who appreciate me for who I am. I wouldn't want to risk all of that just because I took the chance of winning the lottery.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction was mind blowing. I would think that people would only use a little of the money, but instead they used it for drugs and divorces. What I found interesting is that family members would sue the other just for the money. I would still consider playing the lottery because I think I'll use it responsibly. I might use some of it for nice things, but try to save most of it.
ReplyDeleteI was very shocked I did not think all this would happen. i mean honestly drugs and every thing that was just crazy. If you win money be wise about about it dont spend it on stupid stuff like drugs and all that if you think you will abuse it donate it to a local charity or breast cancer. C'MON honestly this is ridiculouswhat people do with wealth.
ReplyDeleteI was very shocked to figure out that people died or bought drugs with the money. the most interesting thing that i learned was that people died from drugs and killed themselves.I would still try to get the money but i would save it for a rainy day. like if i need to pay bills or something.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to these stories is crazy. The most interesting thing i learned about those articles was that some people arn't very happy when they win the lottery. I would still consider winning the lottery because I could share the money with my family and friends.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to all these pieces were being shocked because I never knew that winning the lottery would cause to drug addictions, suicides, divorces, loosing everything and most of all loosing your family. What I found the most interesting in this was that even if you do when a lot of money in the lottery, it seems like you loose almost everything and aren't that happy anymore. Money can't buy you happiness. It seemed like most of the people were happier before winning the lottery than after winning the lottery with all the tragedies that has had happened to them. From hearing all of the bad things that has had happened to these people I wouldn't consider buying a lottery ticket. I would rather have a family than losing it to some ticket. Even if I ever did win and do the lottery I would still make wise choices and think before I did anything with the money.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reation after reading and watching how terrible things happen to lottery winners is curiosity. What could the lottery winers have spent so much money on? The most interesting thing I have learned from the 2 articles and the video is how many of the lotery winners or their family members end up dead because of the money. Why would money drive family to kill you? On the other side, winning the lottery is not so bad when your know how to spend the winnings. You could do things such as give some of your earnings to a charity, a church, or you can invest in a company. I would still consider playing the lotter because if you do win the lottery, not all bad thing could happen. Just remember to be fair and wise with the money you are rewarded.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to the three pieces of information was that winning the lottery isn’t as wonderful as it sounds. The most interesting thing that I learned through the two articles and video was that people usually have a worse life when they win the lottery rather than what they bought the ticket for, a life of wealth and fortune. I think this is interesting because winning the lottery has a certain connotation about it that just makes you believe that you’re going to have unlimited money and will have a perfect life of many friends, but it turns out to be the exact opposite. I don’t think I would participate in buying a lottery ticket after reading this information since the odds are horrible to win, and even if I did win then I don’t think I’d want to have the pressure and stress of attempting to handle a large sum of money.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to these stories is shocking and sometimes can be a bad thing to win. The most interesting thing I learned about these articals is how all that money can got to your head. It makes people do things that they probably wouldn't do. I think that it's sad that people act this way when they get all this money. I don't think i would consider buying one because people have sued and murdered the other winners for their money and i don't want that to happen to me. Also i don't want it to influence me to do bad things.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to the articles and video is surprised. I would never think so many bad things would happen just from winning the lottery. Murders, suicides, drug overdoses, gambling, divorces, you would think everyone would just be happy. I wasn't expecting so much bad luck. I think the most interesting thing I learned was how slim the chances of winning the lottery are, one in 175.2 million, yet tons of people still try to win the lottery. I would probably still consider buying a ticket, and I would be more careful if I won. I wouldn't spend it all too fast or waste it on silly things.
ReplyDeleteThese three articles and video was very surprising. I would never think that winning the lottery would be such a bad thing. I always saw it as very good luck and a life of happiness. Not death, suicides, drug addictions, and divorces. I thought that winning the lottery would be amazing, but now I am starting to rethink that decision. But, I do still think that I would buy a ticket and try to win the money because I know that I would still decide save it and not spend all of it on unreasonable things.
ReplyDeleteI would probably still play the lottery even after hearing the stories because it's not a big chance that I would win. My initial reaction was that I wasn't surprised at all. Most people do like to spend the money on strange things. The most interesting when I learned was that they were not really happy with their money. They wanted to spend it all on unreasonable things. It is true when they say money doesn't buy happiness. The lottery winners just wanted to spend it all ASAP.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reaction was that these people just didn't know how to handle money, but now i see the science and psychiatric side of this. I see that when people get used to spending a lot of money, they don't stop even after they run out of money. The most interesting thing i learned is that it is a science behind how people lose the money they won. I was also surprised that people don't tell their spouses or people they said they would share it with and it ends in divorce or jail time. I would still play the lottery because it is just a fun thing to do but i would get my priorities correct before i accepted the money if I won.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reaction to the three stories was sort of surprising. I never thought that people who won the lottery would use it to buy drugs. I knew very well though that living with a whole bunch of money is harder than living with a little. People who are rich keep spending and spending just to make themselves happy when money does not make you happy, it simply makes it harder for you to get happy. The most interesting thing that I learned was that people are so greedy that they don't even tell their own family or spouse. This is horrible because they don't want anyone to know they won, for they think they will spend all of their money, but in the end it is they who lost it all. Even though after hearing all of these stories, I would still consider playing the lottery. I would do this for many great reasons. One, I would give a lot of it to my church. Second, I would donate it to charities to make the less fortunate more happy. Lastly, I would put the rest of it in the bank and continue to live my normal life because what I have now is more than enough.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reaction to these 3 pieces is that people should be more careful and smarter about what they do with their money. They should not waste in on expensive mansions or new cars. Instead they should spend it on paying off debts and save the rest for a "rainy day". The most interesting thing I learned was that most people end up dying, develop serious addictions, or go bankrupt a few months after winning the lottery. I honestly think that people should be smarter and know how to manage their money. I would still play the lottery after hearing all of this. if I did win, as an adult, I would pay off any house or school payments or get out of debt if I'm in it. After that I would save the rest of the money for myself incase anything bad happens and I need some money.
ReplyDeleteMy overall reaction to these articles are shocked and disappointed. I would never had thought that the lottery would lead to lawsuits, drug overdose, and would tear families apart. The most interesting thing I learned was that some of the lottery winners wish they tore up the ticket before they got their money. I would still play the lottery because I would share anything I won with my family and friends.
ReplyDeleteMy overall response to these stories was surprised. I don't get why people in the first article didn't just spend their money wisely, they weren't smart and ended up broke or dead. The woman in the second article spent her money wisely and also saved some of it so she's most likely gonna end up with a great life. The most interesting thing i learned was that you have a better chance of getting killed by a bee sting or getting struck by lightning than winning the lottery! After hearing all these stories I wouldn't really consider buying a lottery ticket because the chances of me winning are one in a million.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised because the corporations that make the lottery possible never show the behavior and actions of people a month or two after they won the lottery. The most interesting think that I learned from the video and the articles was the way they acted after they won the lottery because it seems like they live fulfilling and productive life after they win the lottery, but instead they get caught up in drugs and crime. I would consider playing the lottery after watching the video and the articles because it also shows some people who do good things and give back to the community they lived in.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading these articles and watching the video I am very shocked and surprised by what the outcome was. Most people who have won probably didn't use their money wisely and in the end they were broke, murdered, or died of a drug overdose. The lady in the second article spent her money smart and used it for the important things in life and not for drugs. I know it is probably harder living with millions of money because you want to keep going out to buy new things you see advertised in a magazine, t.v., or on the internet and then you have no money for the important things. After watching the video and reading the articles I might not consider buying a lottery ticket with all of the outcomes.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reaction to these three pieces is very surprised and kind of shocked. You would think that people who win the lottery would be the 'luckiest and happiest people on earth'. Not buying drugs, going to jail for murder and committing suicide. Honestly these stories are terrible and heart breaking. The most interesting thing I've learned is the condition that these people end up in after they win. Also the fact that a lot of them wish they never even won in the first place. Its really sad to think it tore up families, killed people, got them addicted to drugs and people ended up in jail, all over money. I wont play the lottery I don't think. I mean some of those stories kind of scared me. There is no reason someone should end up like that just because of the lottery. Also the chances are strongly unlikely and if your the one in a million chance, and you win, its going to pretty much destroy your life in most cases. Even though, there were some people that are fine and spent it wisely... but not very many.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to these stories is that it's shocking how people can waste that much money. Sometimes when you win the lottery you get killed because you won all of that money. Some people spend all of their money on drugs and alchohal becasue they're addicted. When you have that much money you need to think about what you're doing and be smart with your money. What I found interesting is that family members would sue them just so they could have money. After hearing all this I would not play the lottery because hopefully I won't even need it because I'll be in the MLB anyways, at least I hope so. Also, you have barely any chance of winning and if you do win you're probably going to get killed anyways for the money so it won't even matter.
ReplyDeleteMy overall reaction to these three pieces is that almost everyone that won the lottery either died or something bad happened to them. They would use the money on drugs or on supplies to most likely murder someone. What I learned after reading these is that be careful when you play the lottery because you could have something bad happen to you. I would still play the lottery because I would not be these people that buy drugs and kill themselves from pressure. Also I would only buy a ticket a month or so I don't get bankrupted.
ReplyDeleteThe reaction I got from these stories of the lottery ruining lives is surprised. I was shocked to see how winning money isn't all it's cracked up to be. For a lot of winners there lives either ended or were ruined do to greediness or bad mistakes. What I found interesting was that a lot of the winners used their wealth for drugs or other harmful things. Also, that a lot of families have been destroyed due to the winnings and even stories of family members killing the winner for the money. Although, I've heard all of these crazy stories, I still would buy a lottery ticket and use former winners mistakes as a guideline of what not to do.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to these stories is crazy how people use all that money in such a short time. I think the people that got the money didn't know how to use it. Some people died from drugs, being murdered because they had so much money or didn't died and they still have the same life style they started out with. The most interesting thing I learned was that after having so much money you could still lose it all within one to two years, ether by being sued killed or just waste it on unnecessary products or items. After hearing everything about winning the lottery I would still play. In my family I learn what is important and what isn't. If I won the lottery I would keep it on the down low I would still keep my job and keep the money in a private account. Its not about how much money you got its the way you use it.
ReplyDeleteWhen i first read all these stories I was actually pretty shocked to hear that bad things happened to basically all of these people who have won the lottery. The piece of information that I found most interesting was that when you win the lottery and get divorced, the person you were once married to gets some if not all of your money. I thought that the person who actually won the money would be able to keep all of it. I don't think that I will ever buy a lottery ticket. I don't want to risk losing people who I really care about all just because of money.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to these stories was surprised. I would have never expected anyone's life to go so downhill after winning millions of dollars. After reading and watching these articles I have learned that if you ever win the lottery, you should save and spend your money wisely. This piece of information stuck in my head because all these stories of people that didn't spend their money wisely ended up going bankrupt or they died. I will still probably end up buying a lottery ticket because even with all these stories of bad things that happened to people, it has only happened to the people that haven't spent their money wisely.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reactions, to both of the articles and the video, actually wasn’t shock. If anything I was actually quite aware of how money can do more harm than expected. Being rich is always publicized as being a good thing while poverty is publicized as being a bad thing, both can cause self-destruction and relationship issues. The most interesting thing learned was that some people actually do wish they never won the lottery. Winning such a thing is the majority of the human population's dreams, finding someone to admit it was more of a burden than a blessing was quite shocking to me. My response to if I would still consider playing the lottery, while knowing of the faults, is somewhat mutual. As long as your wits are kept, common sense is used in all decision, and stupidity and trust don’t go hand in hand; yes. I would still consider playing the lottery if choices were made wisely, and not with the stupidity the majority of people happen to have when a large sum of money comes in their possession. The fact that you normally wouldn’t be in your right mind, because of the shock of winning such a thing where winning is 1 to 175.2 million, I wouldn’t choose to still take part in having a chance of winning the lottery. Quite often relationships are torn apart, stupid decisions are made, greed come into part, and unwise decisions are made. If you sum up the pros and cons together the risks don’t seem like they’re worth it. No, I wouldn’t want to win the lottery unless I had everything organized and sorted out enough to where stupidity and greed don’t come into my decisions more than logic.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching all 3 pieces, i realized the lottery isn't what its all cracked up to be! I used to think it was always a good thing, but after watching those peoples stories and video, it made me think, why would you lose money and possibly go bankrupt? Also, i learned that if you do ever win the lottery, be sure to spend it wisely! it could ruin close friendships and you could lose other things as well. Finally, after watching the video and 2 articles, i wouldn't want to play the Lottery, even though i could be one of those very lucky winners.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the two articles and watching the video, my initial reaction is that people should spend their money wisely and not waste it, and I was shocked to see that so many negative outcomes such as murders and drug addictions resulted from winning. I have heard of people who win the lottery and spend their winnings on drugs or expensive things they don't need, but I never thought that family members would kill the winner to get a part of the prize. It is sickening to consider that the world is this greedy. The thing I found the most interesting was that a woman named Evelyn Adams won the lottery twice, but she still ended up living in a trailer because she gambled her money. She should have used it wisely to pay off any debts she had and to save the remaining money in case she needed it in the future. I find this interesting because despite the very slim chances of just winning once, she won two times. After reading these stories, I probably wouldn't play the lottery. I never planned on playing it before this assignment, and now I'm sure I won't. I'm satisfied with how my life is, and I don't want the lottery to ruin it.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reaction to these was shocking, they got so much, but most of the winners ended up losing it all. The most interesting thing learned was to spend your money and invest it even when you have a lot of money. This was interesting to me because I did not know that most people lose it all after that win the lottery. I would most definitely still play the lottery. I would still play because after reading and watching this video I would invest and save my money.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to these three pieces is that people can become crazy when they get some money like gambling and buying drugs and liquor and wasting everything they had. In society know we treat success and fame as a place but it should be the journey and not spending it all on useless things. The thing I found most interesting was the women that divorced her husband after she won the lottery and she lost the trail and had to give it all up. After seeing all these articles I might still play the lottery when I'm older and feel lucky and if I do win, I'm not going to be stupid and waste it all. Because winning the lottery doesn't make you stupid, I guess stupid just win the lottery.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the two articles and watching the video, i would have to say that my reaction is surprised. the most interesting thing I learned is that after those people won they wasted all their money and time on buying alcohol and drugs. Not only that but they wouldn't lend some of their money to their families because they wanted to keep it all for themselves so they could but more drugs. Although the articles and video made some good points I would still buy a lottery ticket because i know that it would be a great chance to try to win a lot of money, and i would never spent it on worthless thing like drugs, and share some with my family.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the two articles and watching the video, my initial reation to the 3 peices was very shocked. I always thought that if you won the lottery, all your troubles would disappear, but I was obviously very mistaken. The most interesting thing I learned was how after people won the lottery, their life and everything else around them just went downhill because they get caught in the moment and spend all their winnings away; not even thinking about saving any of it. I would absolutely never consider participating in the lottery after hearing from all of these experienced players. I wouldn't to risk tearing others lives apart because of the choices i made with the money I won, with the tiniest of chances winning it.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reaction to these pieces is very surprised. I can't believe people can put all that money towards such pointless things such as drugs. Or that someone was murdered. The most interesting thing that I learned was that people just wasted all of the money they got on drugs and alcohol. I would still play the lottery after reading those articles. That is because I like to take risks and I think it would be very fun to see if I won all that money.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reaction of all 3 of the pieces is surprising because half of the people lives go treble after they win the lottery all the way form dying or loseing there family. The most intresting part of the articles and the video is how most of the people never find happiness and they end of living a very sad life. After watching this i would still consider playing the lottery for the fun of it.
ReplyDeleteOnce I had read these two articles, and viewed the video on the topic, I was very astounded. I had always thought that lottery winners get a chance in a billion to pay off debts, travel the world, follow their careers or upgrade their lifestyle slightly or majorly. Little did I know, that almost half of the past lottery winners say they are unhappy with their lives after they won. Many winners wasted and spent their money frivolously on harmful things such as drugs, alcohol, and gambling. In almost all of the cases talked about in these articles, the winners end up broke, where they first started, in jail (or prison) or even dead after they were given their fortune. One of the most interesting things I learned from these articles, was that one man's wife had even said that looking back she wished she had ripped the ticket apart from day one, and that, even stranger, he agreed. After hearing this, and many other terrible stories about lottery winners, I would not want to purchase a lottery ticket. Maybe if I did miraculously win the lottery one day, I would donate it to a good cause.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to this piece is shocking everyone else on TV shows and on the new make it seem like winning the lottery is a dream come true. but really it not like what will you do if this happens to you like you win the lottery then just spend it on alcohol and drugs how do people do that to themselves jut waste there whole life drinking and doing drugs if I won the lottery I would save my money not spend it all on stupid stuff like they all did I wouldn't want to watch my life go in a drain. Money cant by happiness and fame.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reaction to these three articles is that winning the lottery isn't always good, I was shocked to hear that winners aren't living the "good life". The most interesting thing that I learned is people get so destroyed when winning the lottery. Such as losing their friends and losing 5.4 million dollars in Atlantic City gambling! Winning the lottery isn't always whats best for people. I personally would most definitely play the lottery even after hearing these stories, because in the article it said that financial aids recommend a budget to stay on. Also winning the lottery would give me so many opportunities to go to many different paces, and donate to help find a cure for cancer, and diabetes.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reaction to the three pieces was, "Wow, I would not want to be them." The most interesting thing I learned was that most people who win the lottery or jackpot's lives are ruined. Reason being that they lose most or all of their money, or they end up being murdered. I probably still would try to play it because my dad talks about it every time he buys a ticket, and he tells me all about how to invest it well. Also, its a whole lot of money, and its not like I would get to use it all. It would probably go into a trust fund for college or something of the sort.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to all three pieces was that I was shocked. I always thought that the lottery was a good thing. That you could get out of debt with and live a wealthy life, but the life that most of these people are living isn't life. Its fear of everything and everyone around you. Its depression because there isn't any one who you can trust. The most interesting thing I learned is that people don't get lucky when winning the lottery they get screwed because I was raised to think that the lottery was good. With all the commercials of peoples success and happily ever after's, and everyone buying tickets all the time, it is almost hardwired into my brain that the lottery has to be good. I might play the lottery once or twice just to see if I have any luck, but if I do win, no one will ever hear about it because money can make people do crazy things.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing all three pieces, I was a little surprised. I thought that winning money brought happiness. But a lot of people buy lottery tickets and win nothing in their whole lives. It's seems pointless to buy a ticket if only like one in a million people wins the lottery. The most interesting thing I learned is that people were murdered, or they spent their money on drugs and ended up with no money. You'd thing that someone who had no money and won the lottery would use it on something they need and save the rest.( http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/02/19/lotto-death-curse.html ) I didn't think people would want to take your life for what you have. I guess that's what the expression, "I'd kill to have...____" means. Another interesting point is that one mans wife said she'd wished that her husband had ripped the ticket up the day he got it. Seeing all the evidence that winning the lottery isn't all that it's cracked up to be makes me not want to buy any lottery tickets ever. But I'd probably think differently when I'm older. If I did win though I'd give at least half of the money to a Cancer Charity for my Grandma. With the rest I'd put it away in a bank account and only use it when I need help. Of course, I'd think back to now and remember not to use it for gambling, alcohol, or drugs. Therefore, the reality of winning the lottery surprised me into thinking twice about getting a lottery ticket.
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