An interesting conversation with a female friend of mine . . .

[dogmeat]

You may or may not be addicted. Personally, I've been playing for 25 years and haven't caught the bug yet, so you probably don't have to worry.

Dogmeat [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

[theghost]

[ QUOTE ]
"If you gave me the X dollars per year that I make playing cards, I would be happy to stop."

[/ QUOTE ]

What about the potential to improve your game over time and make more from the tables in the future?

[M2d]

[ QUOTE ]
Would you? Could you?

[/ QUOTE ]
in a heartbeat. as others have posted, if I could magically recieve payment for the money I make playing poker, I'd stop in an instant. as an analogy, I bet sports pretty heavily (for my br at the time) a few years back. some expressed concern about my involvement. after looking at a few years of records, I figured out that it wasn't worth it, so I stopped. I was beating ncaa and nfl football for about 56%, but my br was so small back then that, given the time spent analyzing during the week, my hourly was around minimum wage. not worth my time, I quit cold turkey.
it's not about the rush or the action. it's about making money. if you (I) don't make money, or the money is not worth the time, I'm done.

[onegymrat]

ad·dic·tion
n.
The condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in something.

Yes, you and I, along with many other players, are addicted to this game. However, who is to say that it is a bad thing. Some people play golf every chance they get, some can't miss their soap operas in the afternoon, some collect absurd amounts of x (stuffed animals, CDs, coins from around the world, etc.).

I think that if any type of addiction, whatever it may be, is harmful to your life and others, then it is bad. However, if it does not interfere with normal functions of a clean, healthy lifestyle, then it is not a problem. Then again, opinions will always vary.

You pose a great question. I think that those players who answer yes, will be the ones who needs the money now. Those who answer no, are those that do not depend on the winnings, and do it for the thrill of the game. The money is just a perk.

I would answer no.

[Bluffoon]

[ QUOTE ]
A girl that I have been friends with for years said to me the other night that "I was addicted to poker."

I thought about that for a minute, and told her "If you gave me the X dollars per year that I make playing cards, I would be happy to stop."

Would I stop? Could I? Should I?

Would you? Could you?

Food for thought . . .

TSP

[/ QUOTE ]

I play poker because I like to. I am sure I could find a more efficient way to make money than poker. But its fun and the reward for playing well is money! So no I wouldnt quit because I dont play just for the money. I play because it is interesting and challenging and fun.

[irishken]

If someone would give me $10k every month I would quit poker immidietly and burn all my poker books.
Overall poker is [censored] booring game, but hard to find a job that pays as good as online poker.

[djack]

In a heartbeat.

I'm someone who does this as a job, and a means to an end. That's it.

[Klepton]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If someone would hand me a check each month for the money I make playing poker online, I'd happily quit.

[/ QUOTE ]

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[uw_madtown]

If I had the magic check option, I probably wouldn't completely quit, but I sure as hell wouldn't be playing 40k+ hands a month... I'd play very very leisurely, maybe 2 hours a week, and a wider variety of games as well.

[bernie]

[ QUOTE ]
Tell her she's addicted to work. She goes every day and can't stop.

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God, what a beautiful line. I hope to remember this one when someone brings it up to me.

b