TV Show "Tilt": Bad for Poker?

[Freudian]

Don't think it has any effect at all. It's not like the movie Casino hurt Vegas. It's fiction.

[the alex]

Whatever "glamourizes" the game is +EV for all of us. It brings people to the game who are only brought to the game for the glamour. These are the best opponents.

[pheasant tail (no 18)]

The show sux. Is it bad for poker? What ever--If I had to guess, I'd say it is good insofar as it alerts more poeple to the game. You must remember why there are so many people willing to constantly take the worst of it. They like the excitement and danger. They hate their perpetually safe lives. By going out and f%#&ing up a few hundred dollars they know that no one owns them. How could they feel owned after showing disregard for the very thing that rules many of their (and our) lives.

Poker is so much bigger than WPT, WSOP, on-line etc. Sure, as an industry it is just beginning. It's future growth is finite and we hope that there will be plenty of recreation players w/ no fundamental skills and plenty of money. And we hope that they play big limits. But there will always be 25 million people playing poker every week. Always have been, always will. So no, poker is fine.

And while I agree that the show really is bad, what do you propose, showing a bunch of geeks who read books and newsgroups all day? Lets face it, we are a pretty boring lot. You can dress Sklansky up in a hip 70's polyester shirt, but we all know he's a nerd [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img].

PT

[DrPhysic]

Are you sure that "Any press is good press." ???

I think anything that holds poker up to the general public as a less than desirable environment, group of people, or activity is potentially dangerous in an environment where some members of the first official born again bible banging US congress have already stated the intention to outlaw internet gambling during this session.

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Doc

[traputillucry]

so your saying no one cheats on poker thats funny too, There is all kinds of cheating going on you would be a fool if you did not think that comeon. Look at blackjack or any other card game comeon now cheaters are part of life and you have to admit or maybe you dont know alot of people do cheat on sit and go's anyone every heard of people using stuff like firetalk or counting outs to make the game unfare comeon now get a clue e.s.p.n is just showing one aspect of it right now I am sure it will change.

Give it time you only seen three hands the other night in it I am sure it will get better over time.

[Aytumious]

I think you replied to the wrong person here.

[Justin F]

Very true. People do rely on TV for most of their knowledge. Its sad but I think its sometimes true. I think that TILT is just a show. It is a drama, a soapopera. If people who are not poker savvy want to stereotype poker players as cheats and bums then let them.

I do however think that many people are smart enough to realize that this show is over dramatic and made primarily for ESPN to ride the poker wave while its still high. ESPN doesn't care about showing poker in a good light. They only care about getting money out of the new popularity of poker. However, they hired bad writers so they probably won't make any money at all.

As far as the poker wave goes: Eventually things will level out. Those who chased the dream of quitting their day job and playing poker for a living will realize they have to work at poker to make money and start playing only recreationaly. They will have niether the time nor the energy to get better. Poker will find many new good players who found the game in 2004. These players enjoy playing and studying the game to the extent they become winning players.

We will all look back at TILT in a year (after it goes off the air) and think about all the discussions we had in embarassment. That dumb show will not even get any viewers let alone change people's attitudes about poker.

[Cazz]

I hope you are not talking about "Desperate Housewives", 'cause I'm still trying to find that street.

Back on topic...

The show makes me think about how many cheaters there might be out there, and I play a decent amount. Based on that, I assume that it will make many non-players hesitate to go to a casino.

Now if we can get more scenes with Everertt's daughter, then that could be good for poker. It would at least make me happy.

[mreinecker]

i think the show is merely entertainment, and isn't a true display of what poker really is.