[Ray Of Light]

Poker has NOTHING to do with ethics or moral duty. If you are saying that poker players as human beings will have a sense of morality, then of course I agree with you.

But the game of poker, the actions of raising, betting, checking or folding have nothing to do with morals. It is simply about making the best move for extracting the most money from your opponent.

If you don't like to be put in the kind of situation where you are likely to be taking money off someone who can't afford it, then you shouldn't play poker, or indeed gamble at all.

Wherever there is money being wagered on games of chance, no matter how high or low the stakes, there is a chance that there is a complusive, (or potentially complusive), gambler in the game, betting away what they can't afford.

I don't like to see others throw away money complusively like that. But I prefer instead to concentrate on not falling into the same trap (maintaining discipline in my bankroll managament, taking regular breaks from the game and so on).

"Certain people may be forced to justify to themselves that busting an addict is "ok" in order to maintain a living but can never make it right to do so." ... Nice point. So tell me, are you now going to quit playing poker? Or are you only going to play in penny stake family home games that are nice and friendly and everyone gets there money back at the end of the day?

Its nice to think that you only take money from players who can afford it. But it is unlikely that every single player you have ever faced at a poker table, online or off, could easily afford that $200 losing streak that maybe yourself and the other players at the table put them on.

Poker is my job. I am focused on winning, and relish the chance to play players on tilt. This is how I put food on the table and pay my rent. The moment I start to feel bad for my opponent when I am at the table when I find myself beating them, is the moment I start looking for another job.