poker ethics: do you wonder about who you're taking money from?

bigalt · #1 05-02-2005, 04:31 PM

Sorry if this is an old topic, my searching skills are not g00t.

My dear mother is not worried so much about me losing my own money, but more about the people I'm taking it from. It's got me thinking.

Are we not, as habitually winning poker players, bigger leaches on society than people that abuse the unemployment/welfare program? We are taking money straight from the pockets of other people, granted a smaller population than that of the taxpayers of your given country.

That population obviously consists of many different types of people, some of which one might feel bad about taking from (pathological gamblers, bored housewives) and some not (frat boys, the guy on TILT).

But on the whole, do you figure they've put themselves at risk and thus are ultimately responsible? Are you providing them with entertainment, and your winnings off of them are the price of that entertainment?

If someone was walking down the street in front of you and dropped 20 bucks out of their pocket, would you pick it up and put it in yours?

I'm not trying to preach fire and brimstone or anything, I'm just wondering if this is something anybody's thought about.

moondogg · #2 05-02-2005, 04:34 PM

In poker (or any other gambling game), the playes voluntarily wager thier money, with the realization that they may lose it.

Your other examples (abusing welfare, picking up a dollar on the street, etc) do not involve the "loser" voluntarily putting their money at risk.

blaze666 · #3 05-02-2005, 04:40 PM

that's not entirely true, some people don't realise how much debt thy are in, or are compulsive gamblers who can't stop themselves. i wouldn't copmpare it to leeching off society thogh, because winning poker players have a skill that they have worked for.

SwiftBradley · #4 05-02-2005, 04:44 PM

Not a leach? What service of any value do we provide to society? I take many things of value, both materially and in labor, when i spend the many thousands i have made. However, i have contributed nothing.

bigalt · #5 05-02-2005, 04:44 PM

I suppose it's not so akin to begging for money on the street, but does this skill that we've developed offer a service to anyone?

Though I suppose every form of business is aimed at taking money from other people, most offer something tangible in return (or the appearance of such).

moondogg · #6 05-02-2005, 04:45 PM

[ QUOTE ]
that's not entirely true, some people don't realise how much debt thy are in, or are compulsive gamblers who can't stop themselves.

[/ QUOTE ]

They are voluntarily putting their money at risk.

If they are not being responsible about it, that's their own damn problem, and they will never kick the addiction by projecting blame onto others.

IMHO.

moondogg · #7 05-02-2005, 04:46 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Not a leach? What service of any value do we provide to society? I take many things of value, both materially and in labor, when i spend the many thousands i have made. However, i have contributed nothing.

[/ QUOTE ]

Taxes. Lots and lots of taxes.

Rockfish · #8 05-02-2005, 04:47 PM

Honestly I try not to think about the darker side of what you bring up.

I like to believe that in a free society individuals are responsible for their own choices and that they can live with the consequences.

I think the truly afflicted are probably in the minority in the on-line poker world and that most of them are just bad players who saw it on TV and think it's fun.

bigalt · #9 05-02-2005, 04:48 PM

[ QUOTE ]

Taxes. Lots and lots of taxes.

[/ QUOTE ]

haha, that's true. we basically are providing an avenue for the IRS to re-tax many dollars.

DMBFan23 · #10 05-02-2005, 04:48 PM

poker players provide the same service that any entertainer provides. you pay them money, and they entertain you. if your entertainment is porn, hey go see the porn guy. if your entertainment is poker, then come down to the casino and pay your money to the house and the winning players. if baseball is your thing, yada yada yada