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Pokies Protest March

nellgwynn55

nellgwynn55
Pokies Protest March
Jul 26 2008, 8:01 AM EDT | Post edited: Jul 26 2008, 8:01 AM EDT
Duty of Care are organising a pokies protest march.
The march will be held in Darling Harbour from 10.30am on August 24th 2008.
All marchers are asked to wear a mask that expresses how they feel about poker machines.
For more details, see www.dutyofcare.org.au or email nellgwynn55@bigpond.com
Senator Nick Xenophon (independent No Pokies Senator) will attend and speak with marchers
Bring a friend...,,,bring a banner...organise a bus trip. Lets tell the government how we feel about poker machines and the harm they are causing our family, our friends and our communities.
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Anonymous
1. RE: Pokies Protest March
Jul 31 2008, 4:17 PM EDT | Post edited: Jul 31 2008, 4:17 PM EDT
I believe that any move that encourages discussion about pokies is fantastic. I encourage everyone to attend.
I also believe in full disclosure. Even though the image originated from a painting, wearing masks that were popularized by a teen orientated slasher movie is not something I agree with. I disagree with the notion of hiding one's identity.
What would be more effective is for people to call upon Safeway / Woolworths (depending upon which state you live in) to practice responsible gaming. Also, telling shoppers about Safeway / Woolworths involvement with pokies will inform them about the kind of organisation shoppers choose to support with their grocery expenditure.
Government seem to have been consistently deaf to calls to bring in more responsible practices. Maybe its time to address an orgainsation who by its own statements is associated with over 11,000 pokies.
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nellgwynn55

nellgwynn55
2. RE: Pokies Protest March
Jul 31 2008, 6:48 PM EDT | Post edited: Jul 31 2008, 6:48 PM EDT
Hello anonymous.
The reason marchers are asked to wear a mask that expresses how they feel about poker machines (it doesn't HAVE to be the "silent scream" one) is that many people feel unable to march unless their identity is pprotected. Apart from pokie addicts themselves, people wishing to join us on the march include people who work as government funded problem gambling counsellors (they risk their organisation's funding if they are seen protesting against pokies), people who have a problem but work in banks, and people who work in local government who risk their careers.
While pushing venues to adopt "responsible gaming" practices seems a good idea, poker machines are purpose designed to addict...to shape and condition behaviour AND to alter people's cognitions so that they believe the odds of winning are greater than they actually are. No amount of "responsible gaming" strategies pushed in venues are going to prevent people from becoming pokie addicts until the machines are redesigned. Poker machine designers are just too good at what they do.
The pokies protest march we are holding is being held outside the Sydney Exhibition and Convention centre where the Australian Gaming Machine Manufacturers (AGMMA) are holding their annual conference and expo.
I want to go after the manufacturers who KNOW their product is addictive. Aristocrat in Australia alone spent $65 million on product research and development. Want to guess how much they spent PREVENTING problem gambling? That's right! Not ONE red cent! Quite the opposite in fact. They spent $65million to make their product "more attractive" to users and to make machine users sit longer in front of a machine and to spend more money than they intend!
Rather than go after the venues, let's get the govt to force the designers to produce a product that won't harm 10% of all people who use them?
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Banpokies1
Banpokies1
3. RE: Pokies Protest March
Jul 31 2008, 7:50 PM EDT | Post edited: Jul 31 2008, 7:50 PM EDT
"I believe that any move that encourages discussion about pokies is fantastic. I encourage everyone to attend.
I also believe in full disclosure. Even though the image originated from a painting, wearing masks that were popularized by a teen orientated slasher movie is not something I agree with. I disagree with the notion of hiding one's identity.
What would be more effective is for people to call upon Safeway / Woolworths (depending upon which state you live in) to practice responsible gaming. Also, telling shoppers about Safeway / Woolworths involvement with pokies will inform them about the kind of organisation shoppers choose to support with their grocery expenditure.
Government seem to have been consistently deaf to calls to bring in more responsible practices. Maybe its time to address an orgainsation who by its own statements is associated with over 11,000 pokies. "
Hey Anonymous...I totally agree with being upfront and NOT hiding one's identity....and your anonymity on this blog makes your comment now sound a bit hollow really.....Libby Mitchell
Please 'show yourself' and join us? Please do not be shy....you obviously have good points and ideas...and we need you! www.dutyofcare.org.au
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Banpokies1
Banpokies1
4. RE: Pokies Protest March
Aug 7 2008, 5:13 PM EDT | Post edited: Aug 7 2008, 5:13 PM EDT
"I believe that any move that encourages discussion about pokies is fantastic. I encourage everyone to attend.
I also believe in full disclosure. Even though the image originated from a painting, wearing masks that were popularized by a teen orientated slasher movie is not something I agree with. I disagree with the notion of hiding one's identity.
What would be more effective is for people to call upon Safeway / Woolworths (depending upon which state you live in) to practice responsible gaming. Also, telling shoppers about Safeway / Woolworths involvement with pokies will inform them about the kind of organisation shoppers choose to support with their grocery expenditure.
Government seem to have been consistently deaf to calls to bring in more responsible practices. Maybe its time to address an orgainsation who by its own statements is associated with over 11,000 pokies. "
You disagree with hiding IDENTITY? ....really....ANONYMOUS?? How very consistent your comment is!
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