The Truth About Playing Poker For a Living

[benfranklin]

[ QUOTE ]
What about Ayn Rand do you find so distasteful? Specifics please. I find that most of the time when I hear her slammed it is by people who have never read her work, or have serious mis-understandings about her philosophy.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that the bigger issue here gets back to the original topic of this thread. In the previous thread, Gamblor said, or implied, that people who play poker for a living are a drain on society. The point of this thread, in my humble opinion, is that you are defined by how you live, not by what you do to earn a living (assuming your career is legal and by your standards, ethical).

The side track regarding Rand shows similar confusion. An idea is neither good nor bad just because Ayn Rand said it. It is appropriate to quote Ayn Rand on an idea if she said it first, and you learned it from her and agree with it; or if you arrived at the same conclusion, and you like the way she expresses the idea.

It is inappropriate, and intellectually lazy, to say that something is correct simply because Ayn Rand said it. It is equally intellectually lazy to dismiss an idea simply because Ayn Rand, or anyone else, said it.

Philosophical concepts, like crotch shampooing, must be judged on their own merits.

[Gamblor]

In the previous thread, gamblor said, or implied, that people who play poker for a living are a drain on society.

Not really.

I meant to imply that people who play poker and contribute nothing else are a drain on society.

contribution = volunteer work, charity, producing some sort of economic good or service.

people who do none of those things are a drain on everything.

[tek]

[ QUOTE ]
I meant to imply that people who play poker and contribute nothing else are a drain on society.

contribution = volunteer work, charity, producing some sort of economic good or service.

people who do none of those things are a drain on everything.

[/ QUOTE ]

In a supposed free society, it's not up to you or anyone else what people do with their time.

But as long as you've begged the question, here it is:

What would someone like yourself do about people that you perceive to be a "drain on society", hitler junior?

[hotdog da 2rd]

[ QUOTE ]
But, to generously paraphrase Jack Nicholson in "As Good As It Gets", people who quote Ayn Rand should have to shampoo my crotch.


[/ QUOTE ]

you going to prison anytime soon? i can recommend a couple people.

[Timer]

"Happiness is a delusion of those whose emotions are superficial."

Ayn Rand

[BlackRain]

True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.
-- Socrates

So Ayn Rand is just as clueless as the Canadian Communists, Gamblor, the guy who posted before me, Me, and the guy who posts after me.

Anyone got any good bad beat stories to lighten the mood? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Shaun]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm a lowly plebe in the grand scheme of 2+2. And I'll most likely get flamed for making this my second post.

But, to generously paraphrase Jack Nicholson in "As Good As It Gets", people who quote Ayn Rand should have to shampoo my crotch.

Had to be said.

Savage

[/ QUOTE ]

He says that because "As good as it Gets" was written by James L Brooks, a typical Hollywood pinko.

Ayn Rand rocks.

[grass]

[ QUOTE ]
The key is to not become one of these pasty fat single guys in a baseball cap who has absolutely no heart or soul....


[/ QUOTE ]

GAVIN SMITH'LL KICK YOUR MONKEY AZZ!!!!! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
In a capitalist system, the real answer to the concerns expressed by Gamblor is...

I don't care.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually I think a better answer is that I have no responsibility to care. I may choose to care or not as i please.

[benfranklin]

[ QUOTE ]

The key is to not become one of these pasty fat single guys in a baseball cap who has absolutely no heart or soul

[/ QUOTE ]

You have something against Michael Moore [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]



[ QUOTE ]


As Ayn Rand said, learn to exist in the world as it is, not as you wish it were.

[/ QUOTE ]

The source (and naysayers) aside, there is nothing wrong with quoting someone who happens to do a good job of expressing one's own thoughts. The problem would be thoughtlessly quoting someone, implying that it must be true because some famous person said it.

Those housekeeping matters out of the way, we turn to our friend Gamblor. He seems to include himself in the set of unproductive social dregs. If so, he needs to set his own house in order first. It seems a bit hypocritical to continue to do something that you think harms society.

Also, he is imposing morals (his own or someone else's) on an economic issue. Why is making a living at poker any less productive than making a living playing tennis or chess? Why is making a living at poker less productive than making a living running a casino? Or working for a state-run lottery? Or currency arbitrage?

A poker player is an information worker in an information society. He buys and sells things, and makes an honest living. Anything beyond that is morality, not economics.

[ QUOTE ]
Is there anything noble in poker playing? No.

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree. According to my dictionary, noble means

[ QUOTE ]
having or showing or indicative of high or elevated character

[/ QUOTE ]

Poker in itself is neither noble nor ignoble. As Ayn Rand said [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] it's how you play the game. If I play honestly, treat my fellow players well, make a good living, and find intellectual stimulation in learning, playing, and sharing information, then I can consider myself to be a man of good character.