Nearly 50,000 members are proud to call LotteryPost.com their home; technically, we now comprise an "army." Is there one among our numbers who isn't at least remotely acquainted with Cash Only's position on annuity payments?
Probably not; he was making his views very clear even before I joined up: He doesn't like annuity payments, and he believes games which don't offer a cash option are inherently unfair.
Now, you all know how much I hate posting an opinion that might be unpopular or, Heaven forbid, one that might hurt someone's feelings. If you know I hate it, then you also know I'm gonna do it anyway, so here goes:
Personally, I decline to accept CASH Only's apology, because I don't believe he owes me one.
If he's guilty of anything, it's refusing to be silenced; we can only convict him of exercising the very small voice he has in legislating such matters.
Close your eyes for a minute (well, read this first ...) and imagine that we ALL felt that same level of passion for the same issue. Now imagine that we all felt that way at the same time.
Suddenly, our voice isn't so small, is it? (This plays a lot better if you imagine me slowly waving the American flag against a fade-out background of majestic mountains and grain fields and stuff; the music will just start automatically ...)
I applaud CASH Only's untiring efforts. He does what he can do to keep this issue alive by essentially forcing us to think about it every time we see his screen name. There is nothing written in the Sacred Scrolls (rules page) mandating that we must read Cash Only's posts. When someone sees "jim695" on the homepage, he probably assumes that I've posted yet another boring diatribe on the subject of the Hoosier Lottery. When we see "LOTTOMIKE," there's a good chance we'll have the opportunity to cast a vote. It's a form of branding, I guess; we ALL have our buttons, and we all have issues we're passionate about.
We're running a little short on tolerance, though. Rather than criticize and attack each other for our individual views, opinions or obsessions, would it be so much more difficult to support and encourage the intelligent discussion of those concerns? Even when we disagree (it's been known to happen here), the very concept of the word, "community" demands that we have the good sense to realize and accept that certain issues are more important to our neighbor than they might be to the rest of us. If we can't accept that, then we can't truly call ourselves a "community," and we certainly wouldn't dare call ourselves an "Army;" an army is capable of achieving complete unity.
Military imagery aside, let's look at CASH Only's posts from, say, six months ago. He didn't really seem to have much to say, except for what everyone already knows. His posts from that time and previous were very succinct and pretty much devoid of any real meat. Jump ahead a few months and he finally begins to explain a few things, and supporting his arguments rather than simply and constantly defending them. I think this alone speaks volumes in support of my LP.com "community" theory. After all these years, he has finally reached a point where he feels comfortable enough to join in on some of the barbershop banter, and wonders if maybe some of us would like to know what he thinks about other topics. Now that he's beginning to come out of his shell, will we kick him back into it?
I don't post very often anymore because, quite frankly, I reached a point several months ago where I could predict with some accuracy the responses I'd read to any given topic. Besides, the forum just isn't that interesting anymore; the message boards are full of member predictions and requests for dream numbers and the like. Too many outspoken members have stopped posting, and I suspect most can be traced to the same cause (see paragraph 9).
In case my vote should matter, I say, "Keep those rants coming, CASH Only." Keep posting, and if someone doesn't want to read your opinion, well, then, I suppose they won't read it. Still, I encourage you to make comments that challenge my own opinions. I would rather see your posts than remember them, because it means you're still here - you're still one of us - you're still a member of the community you've helped to create. I like living here, but it wouldn't be the same without you. So keep 'em coming. Even if no one else reads what you have to say, I'll read it, if for no other reason than because I believe someone should. If you'll take the time and trouble to speak your mind, I offer you my promise to see that your words will find an ear. You're one of us, and I owe you that meager consideration.
We're heading for territory none of us wants to occupy. Todd our God might own this web site, but LotteryPost.com really belongs to all of us; it's ours because we are the communal heart that beats within its heaving chest. If we don't come together now, we may soon divide into East LotteryPost.com and West LotteryPost.com. Or, if you prefer, Upper LP.com and Lower LP.com. No? Right and Left? Red and Blue? Well, then, make up your own analogy, but I'm asking you to choose one that will cause you NOT to want this to happen as much as I ... um ... don't (I think that's right).
Well, you know what I mean. At least I hope you do; not for my own sake, but for the sake of our community.
Merry Christmas, everyone ...