So really what's the problem with playing alot of poker?

[Python49]

I honestly find poker to be one of my most productive hobbies i've ever had. People all have hobbies and if you're winning in poker as a hobby that's a good thing right? At my college, there were kids who sat around all day playing halo or madden for the same amount of time I play poker. I know because I used to do that for a while. There are kids who do nothing all day but just sit around shooting pool.. yeah i've done that too. On weekends going to frat parties is supposed to be fun right? No, i find it to get boring after a while. Millions of americans sit around watching tv all day and millions of teenagers/young adults spend plenty of time playing computer games like everquest, world of warcraft, counterstrike, and others. Most people have hobbies and things they are interested... what makes poker a bad hobby if you have self control and are winning? This post was inspired by reading people getting depressed about playing so much poker or feel ashamed. What the hell is there to be ashamed about? It's a game that you like to play alot and prosper at and it's less time consuming than something like everquest. In poker you can stop when you want, sit out to do stuff, play on your time, etc. Games like everquest or world of warcraft require more of a committment and you are actually penalized for not playing as much (your friends out level you, you miss out on raids and can't get gear, you lose experience, etc). I can honestly tell myself i'd rather play poker in my free time than sit around watching tv or playing a video game like most people my age do.

[Johnny Richter]

Poker in a controlled environment can be a fun hobby, if played by the right person. When played by the wrong person it can suddenly become not just a hobby but an addiction. Add that to playing at higher stakes while uneducated and that could be detrimental to a person's life. Poker is still gambling and some people can't handle gambling responsibility and it ruins their lives.

Lets face it, your not going to blow your mortgage payment for the month playing counter-strike

[autobet]

Doesn't sound like you have a problem. Have fun.

Most of my hobbies (and exhobbies) cost me a fair amount of money. Playing poker is the only "hobby" I've ever had that I make money at. It also gives me something to fall back on if I lose my job.

[tommo]

poker has its own vicious cycle like everquest and wow.

"hey I won money...woah, now I can make more money" and
"[censored] I lost money...damnit, now I need to make it back"

and given that real money is on the line it can be a lot harder to tear yourself away. Instead of having to deal with the abstract "my friend has 2 more levels than me in an imaginary world" you have to deal with cold hard cash. If you've ever played with a friend at a similar level to yourself you can often find yourself trying to get ahead of him and money is a bigger incentive for most than an item in a rpg.

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poker has its own vicious cycle like everquest and wow.


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Yepp, I think you hit it right on there.
Poker as well as a lot of other computer games has the ability to consume ppl's full attention and make the rest of their lives circle around the game. If you get too involved with it, you will quite likely feel bad, even if you like the game. Just because you might miss other things that is equally and maby more important than enjoying to gamble and win.

I used to play wc3 a lot. And when you meet friends, or family. For example when you're sitting at a dinner and all you really care about is to get away from it as soon as possible, simply in order to play the game. Then you know you are in trouble.

peace

[Sniper]

Poker as a hobby is more productive than playing video games, watching tv, or shooting pool.

But don't shortchange the frat parties, the social skills you'll pick up are priceless. Don't be the silly drunk, be the guy thats dancing, etc with the girls!

[Piemaster]

Nah, be the silly drunk every time

[IlliniRyRy]

[ QUOTE ]
Poker as a hobby is more productive than playing video games, watching tv, or shooting pool.

But don't shortchange the frat parties, the social skills you'll pick up are priceless. Don't be the silly drunk, be the guy thats dancing, etc with the girls!

[/ QUOTE ]



Honing your social skills and just maintaining your social life is really really important, its easy to isolate yourself

[Python49]

lol you can still keep yoru social life and play poker 5 hours a day.... if every day i go to class and get out of class hang out with friends for most the day and then go home at like 10pm i can still play from 10-3pm in my room before going to sleep.... that's playing ALOT of poker and it still doesnt drain your day. But Indiana has a GREAT point, for people who want to be great at something, they spend LOTS of time at it. Professional gamers at stuff like starcraft or counterstrike play the game obsessively. Basketball players live and breathe basketball. A successful lawyer can isolate himself into his job and spend LOTS of time at it if he wants to become extremely successful. Think about people who are great at anything... and ask yourself do you think they only did it casually and kept a balance with everything else in their life.

[Python49]

ok i obviously meant 10pm to 3am