Will they ever get it?

[PokerBob]

I am having a hard time explaining to my friends and family that poker can be a lucrative enterprise for a skilled player. They see it simply as gambling, like betting on sports, slots, craps, blackjack, roulette etc., and assume I will eventually be broke and destitute and in GA and blahblahblah. When I explain to them that I don't play those other games because I don't have the advantage, it seems to do no good. Am I wasting my breath? How do I make them get it?

[spentrent]

Most people who play poker lose. Your friends and family are correct.

They won't believe you until you buy a house with cash.

[Rudbaeck]

[ QUOTE ]
They won't believe you until you buy a house with cash.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is going to pose some problems, as mom has forbidden me from mentioning poker in front of my sisters ever. They should be sent to GA I guess.

I've resigned to claiming I make my living selling drugs to school children. No one ever inquires further.

[IsaacW]

[ QUOTE ]
I've resigned to claiming I make my living selling drugs to school children.

[/ QUOTE ]
Perfectly executed. Nice semi-bluff.

[pyroponic]

I'm at the point where I don't mention to anyone I play poker at all, let alone discuss my winnings. I think i'm going to resort to saying i'm a lackie clerk at Office Max, anyone (especially students) feel the same way?

[dealer_toe]

I work at Office Depot, kind of the same boat. Except I have discussions with other poker players. I definetly don't tell people about it that don't play and have no idea.
With exception to my mom, who keeps asking me when I'm going to be on TV at the world series. And every time I tell her I don't play tournaments! (that much).

[Jim Easton]

[ QUOTE ]
Nice semi-bluff.

[/ QUOTE ]

Let's hope it is a pure bluff.

[img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[k000k]

[ QUOTE ]
Most people who play poker lose. Your friends and family are correct.

They won't believe you until you buy a house with cash.

[/ QUOTE ]

Unless it's your wife, who cares.. (and even then sometimes...) I made my wife a beleiver, I keep spreadsheets with a stock-style line chart that goes up up up down up up down up up up up etc.. Bought some kickass xmas presents, nice valentines day gift, etc.. Wives are just like the IRS, they dont care as long as they get their cut! IDK who's cut is bigger tho [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] Now she actually MAKES me play, she's seen me play 8 tables, and (jokingly) treats me like a slacker if I'm only playing 1 or 2.

[MicroBob]

Sometimes it's either going to be lying or dealing with people who don't understand.

I don't blame the people who don't understand...not one bit.

My GF comes from a traditional latino-catholic family and, for some reason, didn't lie to her parents about what I do.

They are reasonably accepting as best I can tell which is pretty impressive because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want a daughter to date an 'internet-poker pro' since I know that most people who call themselves this are just anction junkies with poor bankroll management and bad judgement in general.

Anyway, they wanted their daughter to marry a doctor or a lawyer or something.
Professional poker player was not high on the list.


Her Mom takes her to dinner with friends who she knows from church or the gym or something. Friend then turns to my GF and sayd "so Teresa...your Mom has told me so much about you and I guess there's this guy 'Bob' in your life. What does he do?"
Teresa: "well...(laugh) it's kind of unusual."
She tells them, Mom tries to not look uncomfortable, friend says, "oh...that's...ummmmm....very interesting"....
and the topic is quickly changed.


Are they judgemental? Yes.
Can you blame them? No.

I told her that she could lie and say I did stock-investing on the internet...or that I'm a bartender or a sea-pirate...whatever.
She says she doesn't care what they think, she didn't even know that person anyway...she'll just tell them the truth and let them think what they want to.
Cool girl.


The whole spread-sheet thing can be helpful.
Or just generally talking in terms of $$/hr (and it helps to exaggerate a little bit on the high-side).
BB/100 and number of tables played isn't going to mean a whole lot.

Saying that you are making $20/hr and are 'working' 20 hours a week at it might get you somewhere (and I recommend using terms like 'working').


Went back to the casino where I used to deal BJ (no poker-room there FWIW) before I turned online-poker pro and most of my friends there (dealers and floor-people) have no understanding of it either.
One bitch who I hate asks me who's "staking" me, how much money have I "lost", etc. I didn't tell her what I was doing but I think word traveled around in the break-room when I quit.

I like visiting my friends there so I just ignore the condescendingly ignorant comments.

But I do know what attitudes ARE out there.

I'm just happy that I have a GF who knows NOTHING about it yet isn't judgemental.
my parents don't know poker at all but are smart enough to understand that if you have a small edge and get to push it over and over again you will eventually be profitable.
That's very helpful.


What's more is that my other relatives on both sides of the family are reasonably accepting also. They remember me as the little math-prodigy who could long-divide when he was 5. I didn't exactly become a math genius (college calculus kicked my ass) but they still kinda view me as such.

It's not that big a deal. It's not like I need to approval of my Aunt Barb and Uncle Dave....but I think it's helpful that my Mom doesn't have to deal with relatives who are trying to start an intervention but, instead, say things like 'I just think it's so neat that he's smart enough to do something like that.'

[Shoe]

make them play against you for awhile. when you consistently end up with all of their money, maybe they will believe you.