Weekly Discussion Prep Sheet #4

BMST 4404 WEEKLY READING/PODCAST/VIDEO DISCUSSION PREP SHEET Winter 2025 Date: January 21st 2025 PART I KEY POINTS: (Each student chooses what they consider the three main points/observations arising from the readings) Podcast: 1. In the podcast, it talks about how people in places like New York City often act differently because of their social status. Some people pretend to be rich or successful, even if they’re not, just to fit in. For example, they might giggle a lot or act careless to seem like they have money or come from a wealthy family. This shows how people sometimes act in ways that aren’t true to themselves just to blend into a certain group. It’s like they’re pretending to be someone they’re not just to feel accepted. 2. The podcast also points out how having more money can make people feel more confident and carefree. On the other hand, people who don’t have as much money might try to act the same way, but it’s not as easy for them. The difference in wealth can make people feel insecure about how they come across to others. People with more money often seem more relaxed and less worried about the future, which can make others feel less confident especially if they don’t have the same financial stability. 3. There’s also some humor in the podcast about the weird things that really rich people do because they don’t have to worry about money. For example, one speaker hoked about how rich people never pack up leftovers or take toilet paper home from public bathrooms, which is something most people would never do. It shows how the rich sometimes forget the struggles that others face because they don’t experience those challenges. It just goes to show even though it’s a small thing, it shows how people with more money don’t always understand how important those little things are to others like taking food home to simply avoid wasting it. Article: 1. Online sports betting has become much bigger, especially in Ontario since 2022 when iGaming Ontario started. These gambling apps make it look like betting is based on skill like trading stocks. For example, platforms like the Score show statistics that make it feel like gamblers can predict the outcomes of games. But the truth it, it’s all a gamble, and most people end up losing money. Many people are now spending more money on gambling than on things like saving or investing which is leading to serious problems like debt. 2. More people especially young men are becoming addicted to gambling. Since online sports betting became available, there’s been a huge increase in calls for help from people who have gambling problems. Some of them are as young as 16. These people often lose all their money, end up deep in debt, and struggle with mental health issues. Even small wins can make them feel hopeful causing them to keep gambling. It’s like a cycle where people keep getting pulled back in which makes it harder to stop. 3. There are too many gambling ads especially during sports games, and they are often aimed at younger people. These ads can make gambling seem cool with celebrities endorsing them and because of this, groups like Ban Ads for Gambling want stricter rubles for gambling ads. Some people in the government are trying to stop gambling ads from targeting kids or being too tempting but there is resistance because the gambling industry is powerful and brings in a lot of money. It’s hard to find a balance between stopping harmful ads and keeping the money flowing into the economy. PART II Each student will complete the second half of their sheet with the following: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: provide two questions related to the reading/media for the group to stimulate discussion. Podcast: 1. The podcast talks about how people act differently because of their wealth and how it affects how they feel about themselves and others. So, how do people from different financial backgrounds handle these pressures to act a certain way to fit in? 2. The podcast also talks about some rich people’s behaviours, like wasting food, which might seem funny but actually shows a bigger problem with how disconnected some wealthy people can be. How do these behaviours affect relationships and create divisions between people? Article: 1. Do you think the way gambling is advertised as something you can control, like trading stocks, misleads young men into thinking they can win and how do you think this affects their gambling habits? 2. Since more young people are gambling and getting into trouble, how can we make sure that they understand the risks without trying to control their choices?