Hypothetical Question: Gray's Sports Almanac

[Nobody700]

Bet big and win. Than... act like you're an addict. Bet on EVERYTHING... and lose. A lot. Lose moderate, lose a lot, so your wins don't come off crazy. Make sure to act like an addict and even go to therapy for it, and bet big on failures, bet small for some victories... and than happen on a massive victory or two to really get ya bye. That way, you come off a strange case and not a cheater. The fact you bet on every game and lose 8/10 and NEVER lose small, lose big. Win some small, and than win one or two REAL big ones to keep yourself afloat.

[hammerofglass]

You probably don't even need to be sneaky if it's modern day. There's tons of sports betting apps now, just don't win big on the same one twice.

[CharlesPhipps]

Hm some of them would have to use it. Also the theme should be more about how we don't know each other or ourselves as well as we'd like to think as I don't truly hold to the idea that power corrupts rather that power reveals. When you give someone the power to do what they always wanted to do then you see what they always wanted to do.

For example all I want out of this hypothetical scenario is to ensure that I can make my stories come to life which means I would really only need it once or twice and if it was just me I would likely destroy it or keep it in a safe place should I need again (though for safety reasons I would rather destroy it).

In this movie, FUTUREBOOK or whatever, it would go like this.

"A group of friends have gained access to a history book from a time traveler in the future they met as children. Passing it between them, they have managed to help themselves be well off and happy even as they've disagreed what to do with it at times (one tried to stop 9/11 for example while another argued that they could end up worse). Unfortunately, another has found himself deep in debt and wants to use the book much more extensively to become blindingly rich as well as influence the world. An argument turns violent and realizing they'd never let him keep the book, he goes hunting for his former friends.'

[Nealithi]

I think if you had this, you make one modest win to get you some stake money. You then use this for a few losses. Throw off the trail, then go for one big win.
After that the safest thing to do is shred then burn the thing. Do not share it. I have seen that most people are terrible at keeping secrets. They will make excuses to themselves to not keep a secret.

If you keep the book either someone else will find it before it runs out of predictions. Or you will be tempted with 'One more time. How could that hurt?' Humans are great at addicting themselves. The only way to escape the addiction is to remove what it is you are addicted to.

Can't argue with that I mean I am making excuses to keep it after I get what I need out of it if anything just to know I can use it again which just proves your point. I find it interesting that no one is suggesting to just destroy it outright at first though. So far everyone wants to use it, even if only once, and only once that has been done to get rid of it either by destroying it or hiding it.

No one here wants to use it as much as Biff did I think we're all terrified by the idea of what we would become but at the same time the idea of using it seems impossible to pass up. I think this is because it's a no loose scenario at least the first time you use it, you're gambling only not really because you know the outcome. There's no risk in losing and no real risk of hurting anyone or at least not hurting anyone who didn't know the risks signing in.

It's really after that first win that everyone seems a little less certain about. Us it once, no problem, anything after that is where things get tricky. No one here really likes the idea of using the Almanac after that first win and it seems to be agreed that it should be destroyed after you get what you need out of it. But I find it so interesting that no one can resist the idea of using it at least once.

Let me see if I can answer why. Everyone here is working class, that means we do not have money laying around for our problems let alone our wants. It kind of reminds me of a bit in Good Omens where a poor girl was digging up a fresh cadaver for a doctor to practice on. It was less than moral or starve to death.
My own reason for two bets is math. I do not have much free money for a wager at all. So my initial wager won't drastically alter anything and will be a blip of prosperity in my house. But if that is then used for a much larger wager, the returns would then care for my family for the remainder of our lives.

[CharlesPhipps]

The thing is that Doc Brown is frankly a man rich enough to build a time machine out of a luxury car. He may have stolen the Libyans plutonium but he's apparently a well-respected enough scientist that he is a guy that terrorists WOULD go to in order to make a nuclear bomb. He's just someone with a bunch of eccentricities.

Yes, he's correct that Marty risking REALITY (theoretically) by making sports bets to enrich himself is a stupid waste of a time machine's potential versus, say, changing history for the better ala Quantum Leap (and Doc Brown doesn't want to do that either)

But once the object is in your hands, it's a waste to just destroy it and only the luxury of stability means that he won't.

Everyone here is working class, that means we do not have money laying around for our problems let alone our wants.

My father was actually rich, rich with millions and invited to big political events. However, his fortune was wiped out by the 2008 financial collapse. So I have an interesting perspective on the 1%. Some which humanizes them and some which points out where the actual psychos who ruin the world come from.

[Nealithi]

The thing is that Doc Brown is frankly a man rich enough to build a time machine out of a luxury car. He may have stolen the Libyans plutonium but he's apparently a well-respected enough scientist that he is a guy that terrorists WOULD go to in order to make a nuclear bomb. He's just someone with a bunch of eccentricities.

Yes, he's correct that Marty risking REALITY (theoretically) by making sports bets to enrich himself is a stupid waste of a time machine's potential versus, say, changing history for the better ala Quantum Leap (and Doc Brown doesn't want to do that either)

But once the object is in your hands, it's a waste to just destroy it and only the luxury of stability means that he won't.

Everyone here is working class, that means we do not have money laying around for our problems let alone our wants.

My father was actually rich, rich with millions and invited to big political events. However, his fortune was wiped out by the 2008 financial collapse. So I have an interesting perspective on the 1%. Some which humanizes them and some which points out where the actual psychos who ruin the world come from.

You may elaborate if you wish. Insights can be useful.

Also the original Back to the Future Doc mentioned he would see who won a few World Series and maybe place some bets. It is the second movie he was aghast at the idea.

[Nobody700]

The thing is that Doc Brown is frankly a man rich enough to build a time machine out of a luxury car. He may have stolen the Libyans plutonium but he's apparently a well-respected enough scientist that he is a guy that terrorists WOULD go to in order to make a nuclear bomb. He's just someone with a bunch of eccentricities.

Yes, he's correct that Marty risking REALITY (theoretically) by making sports bets to enrich himself is a stupid waste of a time machine's potential versus, say, changing history for the better ala Quantum Leap (and Doc Brown doesn't want to do that either)

But once the object is in your hands, it's a waste to just destroy it and only the luxury of stability means that he won't.

Everyone here is working class, that means we do not have money laying around for our problems let alone our wants.

My father was actually rich, rich with millions and invited to big political events. However, his fortune was wiped out by the 2008 financial collapse. So I have an interesting perspective on the 1%. Some which humanizes them and some which points out where the actual psychos who ruin the world come from.

Look, a lot changed between 1 and 2. Marty's GF was a different woman, Doc got some serious work done on his face, Marty fucking with 1885 caused us to lose hover boards in 2015, you can't say Doc is the same man.
You may elaborate if you wish. Insights can be useful.

Also the original Back to the Future Doc mentioned he would see who won a few World Series and maybe place some bets. It is the second movie he was aghast at the idea.

[McAvoy]

You could use it if you do small and modest bets mixed in with intential loses. Or win one big one, but even the big ones won't be enough to get truly rich off of it. Not Biff rich anyway.

Throw it on unlikely bets too with obvious mixed results.

I remember in 2012 a man placed a bet that the first scoring drive of Super Bowl 46 would be a safety. Tom Brady did exactly that and the man won $50k. A safety in football is hard and requires a specific placement of the football to even work. Even then it required him to place $1,000.

My brother nearly won a $800 bet on this last Thanksgiving that the Giants first drive would be scored by the QB. He nearly won because the QB did run it in but turned out to be a yard short. Next play the team's RB ran it instead.

[Nobody700]

You could use it if you do small and modest bets mixed in with intential loses. Or win one big one, but even the big ones won't be enough to get truly rich off of it. Not Biff rich anyway.

Throw it on unlikely bets too with obvious mixed results.

I remember in 2012 a man placed a bet that the first scoring drive of Super Bowl 46 would be a safety. Tom Brady did exactly that and the man won $50k. A safety in football is hard and requires a specific placement of the football to even work. Even then it required him to place $1,000.

My brother nearly won a $800 bet on this last Thanksgiving that the Giants first drive would be scored by the QB. He nearly won because the QB did run it in but turned out to be a yard short. Next play the team's RB ran it instead.

Too be fair, Biff became rich from not just gambling, gambling was the start of his massive riches. He really became rich off his casino, political connections, and general awful personality that we know is praised and beloved.

[clearspira]

Look, a lot changed between 1 and 2. Marty's GF was a different woman, Doc got some serious work done on his face, Marty fucking with 1885 caused us to lose hover boards in 2015, you can't say Doc is the same man.
You may elaborate if you wish. Insights can be useful.

Also the original Back to the Future Doc mentioned he would see who won a few World Series and maybe place some bets. It is the second movie he was aghast at the idea.

(Snipped because of broken formatting).

Jennifer is meant to have the same face though as Prime Marty recognises her. Which is a serious problem in the narrative.

The biggest plot hole of this movie by far has always been what happened to the Marty 2 when he goes back in time at the end of part 1. By the rules of this franchise his actions would have wiped out Prime Marty which does not happen because we see part 1 play out again in part 2.

The only way to get around this is that somehow Prime Marty and Marty 2 joined together into one being somehow (which clearly is not what was intended but fine). At which point, yeah, I guess a different sperm or egg could have joined to make a different Jennifer somehow. Maybe her parents had sex on a different night thanks to George 2 or something. Although realistically, such a change would do far more than just change her face. She would be a completely different person to the point of even being male.

Cool film but the story does not work whichever way you try and handwave it.