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#61
05-26-2005, 04:33 PM
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Re: We are the sewers of society
[ QUOTE ]
if you do nothing but trade stocks, what difference does it make if you exist or not? if you do nothing but play or teach a sport, what difference does it make if you exist or not? if you do nothing but design clothes, what difference does it make if you exist or not? if you do nothing but paint houses, what difference does it make if you exist or not? if you do nothing but fix cars, what difference does it make if you exist or not? [/ QUOTE ] This is dumb arguement, people need houses painted and cars fixed, those workers are providing a service to the community. Maybe sports stars is a valid argument, but they do provide entertainment and you do not need to pay to see them. I suppose with WSOP on tv it is entering that same realm. But then again, the average person can play basketball for fun in a pick up game, but a game of poker will cost you money. (at least at a casino) 
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#62
05-26-2005, 04:33 PM
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Re: We are the sewers of society
You assume that the only way someone can contribute to society is through whatever earns them money
no, i don't. which is why I asked if any "pros" volunteer their time for others. maybe you installed the clapper for some octogenarian. it doesn't matter. the question is: can you make the same money, with the same fulfillment (even if it means working harder), while also bettering someone's life. the other half of the post: do you do things for someone else without calculating your ev. my problem is that I generally don't. which runs very contrary to my values, as i think it is for the best of all concerned to perform random acts of kindness. hence, the original post.
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#63
05-26-2005, 04:46 PM
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Re: We are the sewers of society
[ QUOTE ]
people need houses painted and cars fixed, [/ QUOTE ] Would you die if your house didn't get painted by someone else? Would you die if someone else couldn't fix your car? My point was that if people had to, they could do pretty much anything themselves. Humans survived for quite a long time before the existence of paint or cars or the stock market.
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#64
05-26-2005, 04:58 PM
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Re: We are the sewers of society
[ QUOTE ]
of course they detract from society. no productivity is being created as a result of poker players, and poker players slowly filter the money (or time) out of the economy by building wealth, fancy cars, nice tvs, etc. [/ QUOTE ] Buying fancy cars and nice TV's filters money INTO the economy not out of. Also adressing the OP: I think anyone who pays their taxes is a contributor to the given society, and this is all we can ask of each citizen in the society. Whether a citizen wants to buy things from their given society, or give to charities, or become a volunteer nurse is their own personal decision. Tax paying poker players/pro athletes/cigarette company executives meet the minimum requirements, and that's all you can expect (maybe hope for more). It's just another beautiful freedom of capitalism (seriously). edit: sp
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#65
05-26-2005, 05:11 PM
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Re: We are the sewers of society
[ QUOTE ]
yes. i disagree with the way that our socio-economic structure limits the ability of the poor to ever become not-poor. I dont like that big business essentially runs this country, and i especially dont like conservative christianity. However, after a few years of trying to influence people, ive come to be a bitter, apathetic bastard. Ive found a career path that almost exclusively allows me to either feed on those who engage in activities i disagree with, or really piss off some conservatives. i dont volunteer. i will do nothing to prop up a system that ultimatly is doomed to failure. I dont really care about nameless faces, and most of the volunteering that is done occurs primarily because of the guilt associated with not being poor, and the narcissistic pleasure of helping the lower classes. peace john nickle [/ QUOTE ] The USA, and other functional capitalist countries provide more opportunity for the poor than any other system. This is as good as it will be for the next hundred or so years. Although there is not equal opportunity for everyone rich or poor, that does not hinder the fact that anybody rich or poor, with dedication and effort, can become successful. Inner city kids can go to public libraries too. The creme rises to the top, baby.
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#67
05-26-2005, 05:35 PM
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Re: We are the sewers of society
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ] yes. i disagree with the way that our socio-economic structure limits the ability of the poor to ever become not-poor. I dont like that big business essentially runs this country, and i especially dont like conservative christianity. However, after a few years of trying to influence people, ive come to be a bitter, apathetic bastard. Ive found a career path that almost exclusively allows me to either feed on those who engage in activities i disagree with, or really piss off some conservatives. i dont volunteer. i will do nothing to prop up a system that ultimatly is doomed to failure. I dont really care about nameless faces, and most of the volunteering that is done occurs primarily because of the guilt associated with not being poor, and the narcissistic pleasure of helping the lower classes. peace john nickle [/ QUOTE ] The USA, and other functional capitalist countries provide more opportunity for the poor than any other system. This is as good as it will be for the next hundred or so years. Although there is not equal opportunity for everyone rich or poor, that does not hinder the fact that anybody rich or poor, with dedication and effort, can become successful. Inner city kids can go to public libraries too. The creme rises to the top, baby. [/ QUOTE ] LOL. -Diplomat
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#69
05-26-2005, 05:46 PM
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Re: We are the sewers of society
professional poker players provide the service of entertainment. Gamblers come to play, have a good time, blow off steam, for the competition, whatever. They're being entertained and you are gaining from it. Its no different for someone to choose to buy in to a 10$ tournament than if they would go see a movie for $10, except that they have some kind of chance of return with the poker along with their entertainment - that's what keeps them coming back.
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#70
05-26-2005, 05:50 PM
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Re: We are the sewers of society
what if being a professional poker player allows you the freedom to attend ewery one of your childrens soccer games or gymnastic practices or recitals or coach little league? something that most jobs don't allow a person the freedom to do...what if being a poker player allows you the freedom to take summers off so that you spend time with your family...why must every persons job "contribute a ton to society", is there something wrong with not going down in history or being remembered by thousands of people? i am sure that many people would be very happy to lead thier own lives and simply make those around them happy, even if they are not out curing cancer or some other large scale thing...
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