No better than Gypsies ?

[The Player]

I was just thinking as I restart my career as a player
are pro players any better than gypsies ?
We take every penny we can from the machines to earn our daily wage yet we contribute absolutely nothing to society.
I even know a few players that are full time and sign on !

So come on guys can anyone think of something we contribute ?
Or are we really as bad as I fear ?
I feel quite sad about this
Maybe a regular charity donation would be a good thing ?
Ideas ?

[harry2]

When you hit those 105 tops you can always put a few into the charity box on the bar.

[Mattb]

Not really, the government take money from what goes into machines. No worse than benefit scroungers really are fruit players.....it's not that bad is it!

[harry2]

It's one of those agent provocateur type of questions. To stimulate a bit of debate and banter.

[GaryChandler]

hes not even a player

[JG]

It's not 'Steven' again up to his old tricks is it?

[mr lugsy]

why do you say that?

[JG]

Just a bit Stevenish at times. Checked post history and I don't think it is Steven. But it's someone. That much I know.

[sir ratholer]

I was just thinking as I restart my career as a player
are pro players any better than gypsies ?
We take every penny we can from the machines to earn our daily wage yet we contribute absolutely nothing to society.
I even know a few players that are full time and sign on !

So come on guys can anyone think of something we contribute ?
Or are we really as bad as I fear ?
I feel quite sad about this
Maybe a regular charity donation would be a good thing ?
Ideas ?

Interesting points and something I've struggled with personally. My ex used to throw all of this sort of stuff in my face but obv she liked the 5* luxury that conveniently she forgot that fruit machines bought us.

We do contribute to society as we pay an absolute fortune in petrol tax (well I know I do anyway!) and we also, by virtue of earning money, spend more money in the economy than if we did not earn this money, hence keeping businesses afloat and people in jobs.

I do make a small donation to a charity on a monthly basis but this isn't through any form of guilt on my behalf, merely because I believe in what the charity is doing.

I honestly believe that if you treat people with respect, courtesy and how you'd like to be treated yourself, then society should judge you (if indeed you really care about how society percieves you) positively. For example, I ignored a £5 note lying in some clothes in a clothes shop last week, I had no interest in taking money from someone's misfortune. If I did, I would have handed it in or donated it to charity. But I'll fight for every £5 on a fruit machine as it's a free for all.

As for signing on, well I don't do that - for one thing it's inconvenient to organise your routes round a (usually afternoon) appointment and hence it's not cost effective for me, and it's a bit naughty IMO too. As I have no intention of getting a job.

I personally feel that I don't take much from society, so why do I need to give much back - I never signed a contract saying I'd pay tax and I think society should look after people less, not more. I stand on my own two feet and so should everyone else.

[ob]

erm, the player, I couldn't think of a much worse time to be coming back to playing in all honesty, and I say that being a player of 10 years+ experience.

[The Player]

Some good points raised and yes it is a question that encourages debate and discussion but not in a negative way I hope.
What about health care ?
Does any one have private care ?
I am thinking of joining BUPA ,maybe we could get a forum discount LOL
I agree with the post that says it's a bad time to come back but it's either this or a job and they are pretty hard to get and keep at the moment as well.

[sir ratholer]

Some good points raised and yes it is a question that encourages debate and discussion but not in a negative way I hope.
What about health care ?
Does any one have private care ?
I am thinking of joining BUPA ,maybe we could get a forum discount LOL
I agree with the post that says it's a bad time to come back but it's either this or a job and they are pretty hard to get and keep at the moment as well.

My brother works for Healthsure/HSA, could easily arrange a good sign up lol

£10 a month ish gets you a lot of cover, especially if you use glasses/contacts and have a big dental bill.

[thecannonball89]

erm, the player, I couldn't think of a much worse time to be coming back to playing in all honesty, and I say that being a player of 10 years+ experience.

Its not that bad, Just need to put the time in and work hard!

[Mr McStreak]

The subject of paying tax is an interesting one, I personally don't sign on, and don't ever intend to. I also have no intention of getting a job until it is necessary. The last time I worked it was only because I wanted to put some routine and structure into my life, and I was miserable as hell and missed the money. The thing that really pissed me off was knowing that I was effectively working one day a week for nothing, and I doubt my money was being put to uses of which I would approve.

Everyone gets taxed in this life one way or the other, but i'm filled with such a deep sense of disillusionment regarding policies in this country that my philosophy is; I won't take but I won't give.

[joe3_3]

I think this is a very interesting topic, I work full time and play fruits when I have the time, but..........
As an example if I went to a school reunion in say five years time I would not feel at all proud to say I was a professional fruit machine player.
It is not a sociably acceptable 'profession' imo.