An interesting conversation with a female friend of mine . . .

[Turning Stone Pro]

A girl that I have been friends with for years said to me the other night that "I was addicted to poker."

I thought about that for a minute, and told her "If you gave me the X dollars per year that I make playing cards, I would be happy to stop."

Would I stop? Could I? Should I?

Would you? Could you?

Food for thought . . .

TSP

[TMFS9]

[ QUOTE ]
A girl that I have been friends with for years said to me the other night that "I was addicted to poker."

[/ QUOTE ]

I had the same conversation with my gf a few nights ago, and while it's true I am addicted to it, it's the same way I get addicted to anything that I am trying to better myself at. The example I used was with baseball while I was in college, I seriously had an addiction to working out and practicing. I think its just that poker gets the negative connotation because it's a form of gambling and there are many people who are addicted to gambling. I remember Mason discussing this issue a while back, and I forgot what he said.

[jakethebake]

Tell her she's addicted to work. She goes every day and can't stop.

[ElSapo]

If someone would hand me a check each month for the money I make playing poker online, I'd happily quit.

[rory]

If you were an artist who painted all of the time and created beautiful paintings that people paid you lots of money for, you would be considered dedicated and hard working-- passionate, not addicted.

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]


Food for thought . . .

TSP

[/ QUOTE ]

Only for the starving.

[Turning Stone Pro]

I wish I knew how to cut and paste that picture of the two old grouchy geezers from the muppet show . . .

[jackdaniels]

[ QUOTE ]
Tell her she's addicted to work. She goes every day and can't stop.


[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, this is good! Then you can stick it in her pooper. Oh, wrong forum...

[casinogosain]

http://web.inter.nl.net/users/C.Talboom/muppets/gif/sw1.jpg

-Ash

[SuitedSixes]

[ QUOTE ]
If someone would hand me a check each month for the money I make playing poker online, I'd happily quit.

[/ QUOTE ]

[dogmeat]

You may or may not be addicted. Personally, I've been playing for 25 years and haven't caught the bug yet, so you probably don't have to worry.

Dogmeat /images/graemlins/spade.gif

[theghost]

[ QUOTE ]
"If you gave me the X dollars per year that I make playing cards, I would be happy to stop."

[/ QUOTE ]

What about the potential to improve your game over time and make more from the tables in the future?

[M2d]

[ QUOTE ]
Would you? Could you?

[/ QUOTE ]
in a heartbeat. as others have posted, if I could magically recieve payment for the money I make playing poker, I'd stop in an instant. as an analogy, I bet sports pretty heavily (for my br at the time) a few years back. some expressed concern about my involvement. after looking at a few years of records, I figured out that it wasn't worth it, so I stopped. I was beating ncaa and nfl football for about 56%, but my br was so small back then that, given the time spent analyzing during the week, my hourly was around minimum wage. not worth my time, I quit cold turkey.
it's not about the rush or the action. it's about making money. if you (I) don't make money, or the money is not worth the time, I'm done.

[onegymrat]

ad·dic·tion
n.
The condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in something.

Yes, you and I, along with many other players, are addicted to this game. However, who is to say that it is a bad thing. Some people play golf every chance they get, some can't miss their soap operas in the afternoon, some collect absurd amounts of x (stuffed animals, CDs, coins from around the world, etc.).

I think that if any type of addiction, whatever it may be, is harmful to your life and others, then it is bad. However, if it does not interfere with normal functions of a clean, healthy lifestyle, then it is not a problem. Then again, opinions will always vary.

You pose a great question. I think that those players who answer yes, will be the ones who needs the money now. Those who answer no, are those that do not depend on the winnings, and do it for the thrill of the game. The money is just a perk.

I would answer no.

[Bluffoon]

[ QUOTE ]
A girl that I have been friends with for years said to me the other night that "I was addicted to poker."

I thought about that for a minute, and told her "If you gave me the X dollars per year that I make playing cards, I would be happy to stop."

Would I stop? Could I? Should I?

Would you? Could you?

Food for thought . . .

TSP

[/ QUOTE ]

I play poker because I like to. I am sure I could find a more efficient way to make money than poker. But its fun and the reward for playing well is money! So no I wouldnt quit because I dont play just for the money. I play because it is interesting and challenging and fun.

[irishken]

If someone would give me $10k every month I would quit poker immidietly and burn all my poker books.
Overall poker is [censored] booring game, but hard to find a job that pays as good as online poker.

[djack]

In a heartbeat.

I'm someone who does this as a job, and a means to an end. That's it.

[Klepton]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If someone would hand me a check each month for the money I make playing poker online, I'd happily quit.

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

[uw_madtown]

If I had the magic check option, I probably wouldn't completely quit, but I sure as hell wouldn't be playing 40k+ hands a month... I'd play very very leisurely, maybe 2 hours a week, and a wider variety of games as well.

[bernie]

[ QUOTE ]
Tell her she's addicted to work. She goes every day and can't stop.

[/ QUOTE ]

God, what a beautiful line. I hope to remember this one when someone brings it up to me.

b

[Deftoner]

[ QUOTE ]


I'm someone who does this as a job, and a means to an end. That's it.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Sponger15SB]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Tell her she's addicted to work. She goes every day and can't stop.

[/ QUOTE ]

God, what a beautiful line. I hope to remember this one when someone brings it up to me.


[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I've used this line several times.

So far, it hasn't worked. Not even close.

They still don't care and think you're addicted.

[Turning Stone Pro]

Just be sure not to be standing too close to a frying pan when you say it.

TSP

[bernie]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Tell her she's addicted to work. She goes every day and can't stop.

[/ QUOTE ]

God, what a beautiful line. I hope to remember this one when someone brings it up to me.


[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I've used this line several times.

So far, it hasn't worked. Not even close.

They still don't care and think you're addicted.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd push it to the hilt barraging them with comparisons. but they'll still likely just shake their head anyways.

b

[GuyOnTilt]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


Food for thought . . .

TSP

[/ QUOTE ]

Only for the starving.

[/ QUOTE ]

Zing!

GoT

[NoRiverRats]

I'm still trying to get her to understand that poker isn't like most other Casino games and isn't gambling...once I get through that argument I can deal with the addiction one...

[Army Eye]

[ QUOTE ]
If I had the magic check option, I probably wouldn't completely quit, but I sure as hell wouldn't be playing 40k+ hands a month... I'd play very very leisurely, maybe 2 hours a week, and a wider variety of games as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Come on now. That's not part of the deal. If you take the checks you are DONE with poker. That's the only way the question is interesting.

[1800GAMBLER]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Tell her she's addicted to work. She goes every day and can't stop.

[/ QUOTE ]

God, what a beautiful line. I hope to remember this one when someone brings it up to me.


[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I've used this line several times.

So far, it hasn't worked. Not even close.

They still don't care and think you're addicted.

[/ QUOTE ]

I imagine the dumb response i'd get to this is 'but EVERYONE goes to work!' "then if i'm addict to poker, everyone is addicted to work" 'everyone in the WHOLE world can't be addicted to something!'

/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Rushmore]

[ QUOTE ]
Just be sure not to be standing too close to a frying pan when you say it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Or a rolling pin.

[magithighs]

When I first started playing way more than it would be considered casual, I checked the GA (http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/20questions.html) web site. Luckily it's not a problem and/or addiction, if you're winning. And it helps if it's your job, since you never lose time at work because of poker, and it sure is easy to sleep after a 24 hour session.

Cheers
Magi

[Lawrence Ng]

[ QUOTE ]
Only for the starving.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm hungry. /images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Lawrence

[ggbman]

i would stop in a heartbeat if i got a check for half my average montly expectation.

[mosquito]

[ QUOTE ]
If someone would hand me a check each month for the money I make playing poker online, I'd happily quit.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, but let me get that $$$/month up a little bit, first.

/images/graemlins/grin.gif