? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

There's a seat open. It's been open for over an hour. We play on, nine-handed.

Finally, a new player arrives, rack of chips in hand, and is about to sit. What do you think happens at this instant?












"Dealer, I want that seat!!!!"

Usually followed by another player who says, "No, **I** want that seat, and the rules say that since I've been here longer than you, that it's mine!"

WHY DO PEOPLE DO THIS??? It drives me nuts! That seat has been available for an HOUR, and nobody wanted it until the new player arrived.

Please, somebody explain this one to me.

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

Why should playing with people not based in reality bother you? I would think it makes a better game.

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

The arrival of a new player forces the moment of decision and amplifies whatever anxiety the player has about missing out on their choice.

It's the same reason why the last piece of cake is so much more desirable than just a normal second piece. Oh, sure, you could have just taken two, but you didn't know how urgent it would feel when the option of more cake was about to be taken away from you.

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

one reason observant players will do this 'after' they find out who is coming into the game in reference to how they want to position themselves to the adjusted table with the new player coming in. especially if he's a live one.

OR they do it just to bother you. gives them a thrill seeing ya tense up. [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] breaks the monotany of the game.

b

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

when in doubt people are idiots

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

They may want that seat because of the player who is about to sit. Sitting to this player's left/right might be a very useful tool for future play. I think another, less frequent reason, is that people are jerks.

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

They do it because they are JERKS.

Good dealers and floorpeople will NOT let them have it once the new player has claimed it in ANY fashion.

al

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

It's the "Law of Scarcity" and the "Law of Supply and Demand" at work as bisonbison explained using the last piece of cake as an example. I've seen this happen many times on eBay. When there is still 4 days left for an item there are no bids. Then during the last 30 minutes there is a feeding frenzy. Same thing happens when car dealerships make "limited time offer below invoice" price deals. As Robert Cialdini has said, "Scarcity creates urgency".

I am not implying that the sit which has been open for an hour should be auctioned off to the 5 jerks that suddenly want it. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

Happened to me yesterday. I had to stand around and pick my nose (after standing around and picking my nose FOR AN HOUR WAITING FOR A TABLE) for 3 hands before this lady was allowed to move to the seat of her dreams on the non-smoker side of the table so that I could wedge myself between 3 smokers with 2 more behind me waiting for a table (sat with my back to the ropes).

I'm going to have to start going with a gas mask.

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

If they know the player coming in, they may be absolutely right to want that seat. For example, if changing seats would put a maniac on their right, while staying put would put him on their left, they SHOULD fight for the seat.
If the new player is a chain smoker, drunk, or babbler, they may want to get away from him or put him where he will have the least negative effect. For example, if the smoke would blow from seat 3 into my face, but I would not feel it in seat 3, I'd ask for a change to seat 3.
If they don't know the new player, I have no explanation for their behavior.

Regards,

Al

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

Hi youtalk,

They do this and countless other behaviors for reasons that, while valid to them, make no sense to you. This proves that they are morons and jerks.

Cris (hoping the sarcasm dripped heavily enough)

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

[ QUOTE ]
when in doubt people are idiots

[/ QUOTE ]

Well put, well put.

Meanwhile, the ebay thing doesn't really apply. That happens because people don't like bidding days in advance for an item, when there are normally identical items ending earlier. And people just don't like bidding days in advance for anything. Most people lack the qualities of patience and foresight.

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

Also, Why Do people ask for a deck change??? Last I looked, its the same 52 cards?

Oh well some people are freaks

WJ

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

We are a territorial species. A few years ago, some researchers looked at behavior in parking lots, and found that it took about 35% longer for a person to pull out of a parking spot they no longer needed if there was someone waiting for it. It seems we defend a territory with perceived value, even if it clearly has no inherent value to us. In fact, the parking spot has a very high value to the shopper on his way in to the store, but no value whatsoever once you have completed your shopping trip. We do this instinctively. Until desired by others, the open seat has no value. Remember Tickle Me Elmo?

-A response from an actual real life shrink.

Awesome resposnse, N/M
 

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

As I wrote in "ESP is nonsense," people believe in ESP and do all sorts of silly things such as change decks and seats because the idea of randomness is literally terrifying to them. They simply cannot tolerate that there is NOTHING THEY CAN DO about their cards or other factors that affect their lives.
You can read my article at cardplayer.com, top left corner, magazine, writers, my name.
Regards,
Al

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

Yeah, I thought it had something to do with "marking one's territory". Same as the "Why won't players cooperate when it's time to square the table" thread I posted earlier.

Thanks to all for the replies.

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

Milo, you're going to fit right in around here.

[ QUOTE ]
few years ago, some researchers looked at behavior in parking lots, and found that it took about 35% longer for a person to pull out of a parking spot they no longer needed if there was someone waiting for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

This had me cracking up!

Now are you sure this is pure territorialness? Or could there be other causes? For instance, if I had the first parking spot at the supermarket, and a corvette was waiting for my obviously great spot, I'd hurry up so he could get it. But if it was a mini-van, I'd assume they had been waiting there for plenty long enough to block traffic and totally piss off everyone else in the lot, forcing them to back up and go around to the next row in order to finally get ANY spot. So in that case I'd take my sweet time, scanning radio stations, fumbling through my groceries, etc etc.

al

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

And you wonder why you get bad beats? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

The woman in the mini van has three kids to shlep into the super market one of whom has a doctor's appointment in a half hour...the guy in the vet is hurrying so he can meet his mistress and not have to hassle with the three kids in the mini van.

NO, i don't really think that is necessarily any more true than your scenario, but couldn't stand the logic!

Yes, there are reasonable implications concerning the vehicle and the driver, but to assume that the minivan had delayed others and the vette hadn't is a big stretch.

Re: ? for the shrinks: why do players do THIS....?
 

Please read the "Art of War" if you want a thorough understanding of territory, or turf, and the logistics of supplying and defending your own territory.

That is just one part of one of the classic books of the world. Plus, the Barnes and Noble version is quite well translated and can actually be comprehended!