May Contain Peanuts

Intervention Intervention

Millions of people play the lottery. It's a chance to live the dream of the rich life for the cost of a few dollars. In my opinion though, you might as well just toss those dollars into the garbage. You are actually more likely to die that day then win the lottery. But the fact that winning is incredibly rare is known (not really understood), so the argument is not new.

What is new, however, is an ad campaign by the geniuses at the DC lottery. The District of Columbia has come up with a great new slogan to boost lottery ticket sales that speaks to all the addicts and non-thinkers looking for a quick solution to their problems. These people need a lottery intervention! This intervention is not the you've-gone-too-far-and-need-help type (which it could actually feed into), but rather, you've had a shitty day, why not fix it with a lottery ticket?

I honestly cannot figure out how marketers thought this was a legit ad campaign. The key term in that sentence is 'honestly'. Really, I do know how they got away with it: they don't mind lying directly to their consumers. The ad makes the claim that, hey-you've had a rough day, why not spend a dollar and win some money-therefore making you happier and putting those horrible memories behind you. Of course what they don't show in the ads is practically every one who actually buys a ticket realizing it is a loser, having their hopes instantaneously crushed and hating the fact that they wasted another dollar. This does not turn that crappy day around.

I would hope people would be aware of these facts just by hearing the word 'lottery', but that's assuming people think. Yes, a fool and his money are soon parted, but I feel that these ads are so blatantly misleading that it becomes unjust to make such claims. Sure, people may get a little happiness out of that feeling of hope and potential, but how long does that last and is it even worth it? I could get just as much happiness thinking a large bag of money will fall out of the sky and land on my lap.

I suppose it all boils down to the joys of gambling and the DC guys are putting that forth straight ahead. Had a bad day? Try gambling. Stepped in some dog doo? Gamble a few dollars and see if your attitude improves. Still, selling the short thrill seems wrong when put in the context of day-to-day life. I feel like if people are having that bad a day to warrant a 'lottery intervention', maybe gambling with the chance you may make your day even worse may not be the best idea.

If you really want an intervention, as lame as this sounds, take that dollar and give it to someone who needs it. The act of helping others may actually put you in a better mood by making you realize things aren't as bad for you as you thought. Yes, lottery proceeds often go to school programs or other beneficial civic programs, but the horrible marketing of it taints the whole process. Instead, be an intervention for someone else or hell, just buy a candy bar. Just don't rely on a piece of paper and astronomical odds to turn your day around, no matter what that TV tells you.