Ethics of Intentionally Putting People on Tilt

[The Dude]

I'm sure I'll get some heat from quite a few for being a softie, but all comments appreciated.

While we have all benefitted from someone at our table being on tilt, where do you guys draw the line between the desire for profit, and the desire to be "a good neighbor." I have won countless pots from people steaming, and I make no apologies for that. But to me it is a whole 'nother ball game when it comes to doing things that encourage someone to go/stay on tilt.

I have no reservations profiting from someone on tilt, but the idealist in me would like to see poker become so clean that everybody plays in a healthy, stable manner. That means no gambling addicts and nobody on tilt.

Comments?

[GuyOnTilt]

Comments?

Dude, you're up way too early. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

GoT

[The Dude]

Up early? No, no, no. I'm up LATE. I'm about to hit the sack now! Get a good night's rest, then head to the office, if you know what I mean. [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[LetsRock]

Personally, I don't care for the tactic of forcing someone into tilt. Once in a while, I'll play with a real meathead that is a total obnoxiuos PITA who I will encourage to get steamed, but in general, I'll try to be the "good neighbor".

[Al Schoonmaker]

In about two weeks cardplayer.com and cardrooms will have "Part II: Creating It," in my four part series on tilt. "Part I, Avoiding It," is currently available at both places. Since I don't want to compete with my own column, I won't take a position here. I'll just say that the first section is titled, "The Ethical Issue: How far can you go?"
I will be very interested in reactions to my position.
Regards,
Al

[Robk]

I don't think there's anything unethical about it. If someone exhibits tells when they talk during a hand, you're taking advantage of a psychological weakness. If someone goes nuts when you needle them, you're taking advantage of a psychological weakness. Is there some distinction I'm missing? It may not be classy, but that's another debate.

[toots]

Depends on the person, I guess.

If it's someone I've been having a pleasant game with, I wouldn't want to. If it's some guy who's spent the last five hands complaining about the bad beat he got six hands ago, I might be inclined to push him over the edge just for entertainment value.

Then again, I'd probably do that independently of any potential winnings I might see. Like I said: simply for the entertainment value.

I know that's rather harsh of me, but what the heck?

[aces_full]

I normally like to be a good neighbor, but if I see someone beginning to tilt, I have no problem pushing them over the edge and kicking them when they are down, especially if this person has been acting like a jerk.

The best time I had doing this was with a calling station who lost and lost and kept beating himself up for it. In one hand I had made a full house and he called me down with top pair. He got mad when he turned his cards over. I told him if he ever wanted to win he needed to fold a little more often. So a few hands later we end up heads-up in a pot. I have nothing but I bet it out. He folds, and I quickly turned over my cards. That sent him over the edge. It wasn't 30 more minutes until he was broke.

[Al_Capone_Junior]

In a live cardroom, I am always gentlemanly, nice, pleasant whether winning or losing, and will only purposely put someone on tilt when they are being a real JERK and totally deserve it. In those circumstances, I certainly know how to get under someone's skin, especially if I manage to beat them a few times. I have never claimed to be Mr. Nice Guy.

Online, I find the whole environment SO irritating and annoying that most of my live play ethics go straight out the window. Many of the advantages of a pro go out the window online, because the software protects the fish from making mistakes they would normally make live. Plus, there are a million fish waiting to get into your game online, so if you accidentally offend one, no biggie, 999,999 more are waiting for your table to have an open seat. So online I'll do all kinds of stuff to get an edge, even stuff I'd normally consider to be excessively ruthless in a casino. The anonymous nature of online play - I both despize it and take full advantage of it at the same time.

al

[GuyOnTilt]

Up early? No, no, no. I'm up LATE.

Same here. I hit the sack a couple minutes after posting. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

then head to the office, if you know what I mean.

Dude, what? No invite?

GoT