Green Greed

What actually goes on in a person's mind when money is in play is simply inexplicable. Of course, there is the bleeding obvious that the person keeps wanting more and more. However, if there is no thought or hard work involved on the way, then it all crumbles to pieces.

From a viewers' perspective, there is just so much joy (how sick can I get?) in watching people make "decisions" which they think would pave the way to a better position, only for them to realize that they had infact been making the wrong decisions each and every step.

I was watching a show on NBC called "Deal or No Deal", which by far has to be the most money minded game show that has ever been made. Atleast, in other game shows like "Who wants to be a millionaire" or "Jeopardy", there is the aspect of General Knowledge, although some of the questions asked in these shows reek of extermely localized cultures. Nevertheless, the participant has to answer these questions rightly to "earn" the money. But, not in this show.

"Deal or No Deal" is based purely on probability, more specifically on diminishing odds. There are 26 briefcases with various amounts ranging from 1 cent to 1 million dollars. First, the player chooses one case and keeps it aside (as a lifeline). In the first "round" of the game, the player must pick 6 cases at random for elimination from the game (they claim that nobody knows which amount is in what case). The 26 amounts are divided into 13 small ones and 13 large ones (all increasing in value). Just by simple probabilty, the chances of eliminating 1 million is very small. So, more often than not, the player usually picks smaller amounts, possibly one large amount (like 40,000) in the first round. Now, 40,000 itself is big, hell, anything more than 1 dollar is big if it is given away! But you should see the player's face, reaction and smart-ass comments when various amounts are eliminated. "It's not bad, I have bigger ones left", or "YeahH!!", and "Whooo!", when they toil to get rid of 20 bucks. Yevan kaasu... kadacha varaikum laabam.

So, after the player successfully fields the tough moments to eliminate 6 cases, based on the value of the remaining ones (also considering the hidden value of the first case which was set aside), a "banker" gives them a deal to stop right there and leave. In most cases, the first offer would be around 40,000 - 50,000 (unless the player was extremely bad in guessing 6 big amounts). Being the true, hot-blooded human that the player is, he/she slams the table saying "No deal!" (they seem to relish saying that!) coupled with an unmistakable expression that flatulates of self-importance. The player thinks that he made a good decision, but that is when Mathematics starts its strip-tease. He has to choose 5 more cases for elimination.

Endlessly egged by the audience and by their own luck/fortune, players end the next round with an amount that normally is more than the first offer. The American dollar has a nickname - Greenback, or green. Not surprisingly, it resembles the word "Greed" too. So, another "No deal!", - followed by a smug expression and a re-assuring look.

In today's case, the player was offered 22,000 first time, 67, 000 next, 100+ next, 130+ next, all of which she rejected with the most emphatic "No deal!". Now I wouldn't have written this post but for one of the comments made by the player's mother in the audience. She said that everyone in her family was wearing green today, since green represents money and fortune.

Now that made me see red. From that point on, I was rooting against her to loose more than what she had before. But I did not have to break a sweat, since our dear old Mathematics abruptly changed her strip-tease to a whipping game. The player had 2 more big amounts left and was asked to choose one case. She picked one of the big ones. No smug expressions this time. Still, she could have left with almost 80K, but she said she was going all the way. All the way, she WILL go. Choose another case! - bang! - the last big one was also eliminated. Now it was my turn to say YEAAH and Whoo!

She left with 20+,000.

I have been vindicated.