Should Seniors Be Allowed To Play Mahjong?
By Tokz
@ilocosboy (45157)
Philippines
September 4, 2018 12:22am CST
Don't gamble the police will arrest you, yes even when you're senior citizen or an elderly?
The president of senior citizen are in tears when relating how the police arrested seniors like criminals and addicts.
"They are just playing majhong and not gambling." He explained.
But police said when it involves money, no matter how small it is, its still gambling just like playing cards.
The senior said its their recreational, past time and bonding. Its boring and stressful staying alone in the house.
Majhong is a kind of tile games printed with different things (though I don't know how to play it).
Do you think seniors be given leeway to play mahjong?
19 people like this
20 responses
@lady1993 (27225)
• Philippines
5 Sep 18
@ilocosboy yeah~ will they be released soon though?
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
4 Sep 18
Its really pity seeing these old fellows arrested like criminals
2 people like this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
5 Sep 18
why did those enforcers take into custody these senior citizens? these ripe people are just enjoying their time together. we here at home, we play mahjong and we bet. it was only 25 cents, 50 cents, and one peso. it cannot even reach 50 pesos.
2 people like this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
7 Sep 18
@ilocosboy they should wait until they reach the ''senility stage'' (agkabaw). some senile persons are ill-tempered.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
5 Sep 18
That's the point, these implementors never really understand the feelings and belongingness.
2 people like this
@rsa101 (37932)
• Philippines
7 Sep 18
I guess the police was bored too and just had to contend to just doing an arrest for a group of senior citizens that are just enjoying their free time. I think it is wrong and they over applied the law that forbids gambling. I think they should be investigated further for doing so.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (37932)
• Philippines
7 Sep 18
@ilocosboy True this is an example of abuse of power. They should try to evaluate what these people are doing. If these senior citizens do try to invite others and let them bet in then they might be suspected doing illegal gambling but if its done leisurely I guess they should be allowed to.
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
7 Sep 18
Seniors are never threat and yet they treat them like criminals.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
7 Sep 18
Exactly my friend. Not because the higher demand accomplishment that they need to arrest these weak fellow.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
7 Sep 18
I thought it was a free game anyway always have done.
I think that is so silly of the Police to do that.
Senior people need much more love than most.
So what if they played with buttons or toy money would they be arrested for that too?
So sorry that this has happened to them and hope it all gets sorted out.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
7 Sep 18
@ilocosboy
Maybe they could get together in their houses instead then as its also not allowed here but the irony of it all is that they allow all those gambling sites online as well huh?
What the eye does not see and they do that here also.
If you can´t beat them join them.
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
7 Sep 18
People condemned those who arrested the seniors. That's true, they arrested old and weak people but not the gambler at online and so with bettors of basketball and cockfighting.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
7 Sep 18
It used to be a free game but when the government went strict on gambling, the police included the recreational game of the seniors.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (40432)
• United States
7 Sep 18
@ilocosboy As long as the amounts are small and they are having fun, what does it matter? What else is there to do in that home?
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
7 Sep 18
I dont know, maybe the policemen having the hard time understanding that.
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
7 Sep 18
No crime at all, it is just a recreational games of seniors.
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
4 Sep 18
I agree with the Police, as long as there is money involves it is still gambling.
We have neighbors here who most of them are seniors who play mahjong, I can hear the sound of tiles they are making if someone wins, they call it "Karaw". And I think they should give them a warning if caught once, a consideration for seniors.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
4 Sep 18
A consideration for seniors is laudable. Sometimes I understand the olds, they say boredom because of being alone in the house can shortened life, true or not, maybe they can give consideration to oldies and don't treat them like criminals.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
5 Sep 18
I agree to that and giving warning is just proper but when they immediately raided the house and handcuffed the weak seniors and put them into jail could be overkill, they are not criminals treated like that.
It could be lame excuse but sometimes there's nothing wrong giving some considerations
1 person likes this
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
4 Sep 18
@ilocosboy
Some seniors or old people make their senior citizens as a lame excuse for not liable for any crime.
It is in the law if we don't follow the law, who else will follow? And seniors should be one of the people the young should look after because they been to everything. Unlike seeing them gambling and make excuses because they are bored, for me it is a lame excuse. Maybe they will be arrested and Police officers will give them a warning, the next time they will be put in jail. Because no one is excused from the Law.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
6 Sep 18
living here in USA that does sound silly not to let them do what they please as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. too bad your country does that.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
7 Sep 18
They don't give considerations to oldies, how sad.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
6 Sep 18
Yes, for me, they should be allowed to play mahjong because it is an enjoyable game.
The seniors I know are so active and their brains sharp, because they always would gather at one of their houses and play mahjong. As long as it doesn't involve much money, it can't be called gambling.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
7 Sep 18
Basing on all comnents majority are in favor to let elderly people play mahjong without the threat of arrest from policemen.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
6 Sep 18
Actually they are playing inside the house but the police are so strict and wanted the accomplishment.
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
6 Sep 18
Actually its only now the police so strict on gambling, they arrest people playing majhong, playing cards, dado among others.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325415)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Sep 18
@ilocosboy It's a shame they can't continue to play.
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
4 Sep 18
Its very little amount of money, just a reason for them to talk about anything, to fight boredom and to be with fellow elderly. The one I interviewed categorically said "we never consider it gambling."
And I understand them.
1 person likes this
@simplfred (20608)
• Philippines
4 Sep 18
I think that's totally gambling. I just hope that they'll find other things for their past time. Senior deserves to be happy.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
4 Sep 18
Or maybe they can be more lenient to elderly people.
1 person likes this
@simplfred (20608)
• Philippines
4 Sep 18
@ilocosboy Well, I just hope that if they are caught for the first time they'll just warn them.
1 person likes this
@yoalldudes (35040)
• Philippines
4 Sep 18
Mahjong is a past time, recreations and form of socialization for the elders. Maybe there just needs to have clarification on the law and implementing guidelines.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
4 Sep 18
Its also part of cultural practices, why not arrest the cockfighters and bettors in basketball, isn't it?
@yoalldudes (35040)
• Philippines
4 Sep 18
@ilocosboy I personally don't like cockfighting. It's barbaric lol
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
5 Sep 18
It involves very small amount of money.
1 person likes this
@theend (2778)
• Gifu, Japan
5 Sep 18
@ilocosboy If not legal violations, absolutely everyone can play.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
4 Sep 18
I really believe its just a pass time for time. It may involve very small amount of money but it is just part of the game.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
4 Sep 18
i honestly didn't know we have such laws here. if they played in a private setting, will they still be arrested?
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
4 Sep 18
Yes, they will arrest even in private setting. The police are no considerate at all.
Remember when they arrest tambay and minors on curfew, they also implemented the anti-gambling law.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
4 Sep 18
I agree.
When I posted a survey in facebook I noticed more of those comments are in favor in giving consideration to elderly people.
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
5 Sep 18
That's the point of my interviewee, they have very few activity and mahjong is just one way for them to be active, physically and mentally
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
4 Sep 18
They should be allowed to play it, to ease boredom of being alone in the house or being a senior citizen; it's just for recreation and not gambling per se!
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
5 Sep 18
That's right, giving few consideration would be appropriate
