Interested in this new phenomenon of racing “chat rooms” and their correspondents, I have discussed the subject with an experienced clinical Psychologist friend and provided some examples of the contributions for her assessment and comment.
I shall share her comments and my own with you.
It is impossible to determine whether the brevity of many of the contributions demonstrates limited attention span, but it is suggestive of it.
It can be deduced from the comments that a majority of the contributors is over fifty and a significant proportion is over sixty.
Much of what is written is nostalgic and backward looking.
There is evidence that many of the contributors are obsessive and have brain damage caused, most probably, by excessive consumption of alcohol over many years.
Many of the assumed names used contain a direct reference to brain damage, alcohol or drunkenness. Some of the contributors are clearly psychotic.
There is a great deal of anger both patent and latent.
This is manifested in the extent of the comments which are merely abuse.
Disagreement does not lead to an exchange of views but to angry confrontation.
Many resort to thinly veiled references to obscenities by the use of the higher case symbols on the numerical keyboard.
There are frequent characterization of others as “imbeciles” by people who themselves betray obvious signs of feeble mentality.
This is likely the result of frustration and self loathing brought about by the losses and probably substantial losses sustained by many gambling on racehorses over a period of many years.
Whilst typing errors are a commonplace even amongst the highly educated (we have all had to learn to type and some do it much better than others) there is the clearest evidence that very many contributors have had a very limited education.
This is established by the paucity of the vocabulary and very many spelling errors (as distinct from what may be merely typos).
There are far too many for need to quote. It is apparent.
The permitted use of pseudonyms guarantees a limited anonymity that has interesting results.
There are assumed gender references akin to Internet “cross dressing”.
Where the sex roles are real there is frequent sexual and vulgar innuendo.
The frequency of “misbehaviour” suggests that many of the correspondents are unsupervised, that is that they live alone.
This is most likely the consequence of a combination of late middle or old age, addiction to gambling, brain damage caused by excess alcohol consumption over a long period and low self esteem.
Some are clearly addicted to the “chat room” itself.
They make daily contributions and sometimes many contributions on the same day, rarely rising above the banal.
This leads to a feeling togetherness and a reaction, often violent, against newcomers.
There are exchanges of thanks for “back up”.
There is a pack mentality amongst some contributors.
One even identifies himself or herself with an animal which is both a carnivorous dog and a term for a servile creature. Interesting mind there!
There is ample evidence that many live in a “Wonderland” world where the dream of getting rich by beating the game has replaced reality.
Money has become not a means of exchange and security but something akin to tokens or “Monopoly money”.
Many are hopelessly addicted gamblers.
And what of the rest? The newcomers tend to be younger and better educated.
They are polite and have not yet suffered the onset of “Korsakoff’s Syndrome”.
But they tend not to stay, either because they are driven off or rightly conclude that there is little enlightenment amongst the dross.
One is reminded of people on rubbish heap turning over the mess with a stick hoping to find something discarded but useful.
And then there are the intelligent, the well educated, the courteous, the charming, and the lovers of horse racing who enjoy the sport and the companionship and are happy to relate and share their interest and their knowledge with wit and grace.
Where are you? There are some I know but really why do you bother.
Remember the rubbish heap metaphor. Good luck!
