There are regions in some parts of the globe that take part in normal activities that, here in the United States, would be considered completely abnormal, even inhumane. However, traditional ties sewn into a cultural realm deem certain events, such as “the lottery,” to be well within socially acceptable limits. Old Man Warner embodies the importance of the power of tradition in this tale and the symbol that takes shape from it. A seventy-seven year veteran of the lottery, he snorts at the idea of ​​giving it up. “Nothing but trouble in that… bunch of young fools,” he says when told that some cities have given up. “Listening to young people, for them there is nothing that is good. And immediately afterwards they will want to go back to living in the caves, no one works anymore..." he blurts out, illogically. The lottery was so steeped in the town's tradition that even the barbaric physical act of killing someone with rocks wasn't the slightest thing..