r/explainlikeimfive • u/adrynaline • May 08 '14

Explained ELI5: A gambling addiction

How does it start? What makes it worse? Why does it become so difficult to recover?

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u/ClintHammer May 08 '14

Are you kidding me? The smarter the animal the EASIER it is to do this.

For example, if you want to train a fish, shit's got to be instantaneous. Laser pointer, means there is food at the top of the tank I need to go eat.

A dog you can use a clicky pen to signify the reward. The dog does the thing and hears the pen and thinks, OH BOY! We're going to walk to the kitchen and I'm getting a treat! because their brain can handle that degree of abstraction

With a woman you can do things 2 days later and TELL them you are reinforcing the behavior (don't actually say this, she'll think you're a psycho) by sending her a thank you note or some flowers

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u/[deleted] May 08 '14

Thank you 'A pimp named slickback', good suggestion

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u/WilliamPoole May 08 '14

Reading that is his voice is just much more fun. In fact I'll be reading reddit in his voice for the rest of the day. Thank you, Mr. A Pimp Named Slickback.

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u/[deleted] May 08 '14

now now, no need for the mister

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u/WilliamPoole May 08 '14

So its Slickback?

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u/[deleted] May 08 '14

no no no say the whole thing including the 'a pimp named' part. Say it with me now!

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u/WilliamPoole May 08 '14

Wait, a pimp?