Value of the \"profession,\" bereft?
My wife, who is supportive of my poker habit, as no previous hobby has ever been profitable, asked me this morning about the essential value of poker as a profession. She suggested that all jobs have value both as a way to earn money (honorable) and also provide a service or needed function. Doctors, teachers, waitresses, construction workers and ditchdiggers all play an important role in society. Professional poker certainly can earn money to help support their families, but is there value to society beyond this? My poker play supplements in a meager way my income as a clinical psychologist, but in no way benefits anyone. In fact my sitting down at a table means the rest of the table will, on average, lose a BB or two an hour. Not devastating, but certainly no help either.
So, is there any redeeming social value other than income?
Are there any other jobs so bereft of such value?
Does any of this matter, so long as I'm winning?
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