Does social responsibility extend to poker?

[VBM]

Social responsibility is to poker what table manners is to feeding pirhana.

One has nothing to do with the other; I thought about this and for all we want to dress up poker with thoughtful metaphors about how socially redeeming and beneficial poker is, at it's essence, it's the nature channel:

1. You kill/cripple or be killed/crippled.
2. The weak and sickly provide sustenance to the strong and clever.

Look at Stork's thread; the vast majority of posters have no issue with fleecing the weak player. Indignation was reserved for the violated conditions of nvrwin's deal.

Honestly, compassion, kindness, teaching, cooperation; they're all attributes that make for a quality human being, but they have no place at all at the poker table.

Post a hand where you lay down a nut flush on the river to someone else for any reason; you'll probably just get replies about what a fool you are or requests for you to play.

People frequently get lambasted in small/micro's for the way they mention 2+2, b/c no one wants to tap the aquarium.


Kill or be killed...

[revots33]

The "kill or be killed" nature of poker is one of the reasons I think this site is so great. It's a nice thing that so many good players will share their expertise and experience to help others improve. They do this with the knowledge that their advice might cost them money later on, when an opponent uses their own strategies against them.

My experience has been that poker players are, generally speaking, a very generous group who enjoy helping other players improve their game. But once you're seated at the table, it's game on. Which is how it should be.

[chezlaw]

[ QUOTE ]
Late Night Poker is on Discovery Home & Leisure, as is World Heads Up chamionship.
Most of the rest are on Challenge.
European Poker Tour just started on British Eurosport.
I'd guess the standard "Family" type 100 odd channel package will cover them (my NTL one includes them all). There is occasional poker on Sky Sports too, but there's plenty on the other channels without paying the extra for that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks very much. The aptly named Essental package it is.

[Puss In Boots]

You're dumb FYI

[Mr_J]

"We say the drug dealer is an immoral person."

Society is a bit funny hey. Gambling, alcohol and tobacco are more destructive than 'drugs', yet society views them in a totally different light. Bars, casino's, the banks, the insurance companies etc etc are legitimate businesses yet anyone who deals is scum.

I would relieve a compluslive gambler of his money. As an advantage player, it is the most +EV opportunity I will get so I'm not about to pass up on it. As a person, my view is people have to take responsibility for their own actions. It IS his fault if he loses his money. People always have a choice, it all comes down to how strong they are. I might feel sorry for him, but I won't feel guilty.

[Mr_J]

"Poker, in my mind, is the only available option for someone to get ahead if they don't already have money, connections, an expensive degree, etc."

Actually this is why most people get into dealing. It's a good way to build up cash or because they think that there are no other options.

[lehighguy]

Ones legal and one isn't, I think thats a pretty clear difference.

[steamboatin]

That's dead wrong, especially in low limit. If you are a winning low limit player, you are in the entertainment business not the gambling business. Keep the fish happy, make damn sure they have a good time so they return. If you are setting near me, we have a nice friendly chat. I want to to enjoy your time at the poker table because people are accustomed to paying for entertainment. If they have a good time, they'll be back.

I want the fish to ask to sit at the table with me. If you are an ass, they'll tighten up and play better against you or leave the game. Either way, you are making the game harder to beat. A smart low limit player tries to keep the game friendly and the fish happy.

[Francis]

I'm amazed there's so much debate on this topic.

I'm a new player, doing modestly well at .50/1 at Party and skins. I don't play beyond my BR. The $1200 BR I've built up is probably 40% skill, and 60% bonus whoring.

There are times when I do real well, and times when I don't. I outplay some, and get outplayed by many others.

But I understand the game; at the table, you're trying to win money, period. I always attack the dorks who buy in with too little, have just gotten a bad beat, or are clearly bad players.
These are +EV plays in general.

Should I feel sorry for these guys who don't play well? Do they feel sorry for me when they hit a 2 outer on the river to win a 25BB pot? No quarter asked or given...

We are all responsible for our choices in life, the whole notion that gambling (or any additiction for that matter) is a disease is a crock. Case in point; I don't drink anymore, period. In my college days (almost 20 years ago), I found I got way too fond of the bottle, and I had a problem limiting my drinking. I woke up one morning and said, I can't handle this, therefore I choose to cut it out of my life. And so I did.

Gambling the same. If you can't handle it, get out.