IMPORTANT ETHICAL STATEMENT-MUST READ

[TheGrifter]

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And exactly how long have you been in and around this business? For me it is only 35 years so maybe I dont have enuf experience to expound on such a topic.

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Like that makes your opinion any more valid than anyone elses. Bad argument.

[Rooster71]

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thats always up to you. But it shouldnt be up to someone else.

20 years ago I knew A VP for THE GAP. (long since past away)

He would often take foreign business associates out to dinner. He could conduct millions of dollars worth of business just by going to dinner and getting to know these people. Yet he could lose MILLIONS if the wrong image was presented.

90% of the players at the poker room had no idea what "Gene the GAP' did for a living.

How long do you think you would stay healthy had you been the waiter or busboy at the fine dinner establishment where he brought a couple of clients and you spouted off at the mouth?

Even if there was no threat to you personally, why would you want to screw up someones career?

True story, point made, sincere food for thought.

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If someone's "image" is that fragile, maybe they shouldn't be playing poker at all. In fact, maybe they shouldn't even leave the safety of their home and office.

[frank2752]

Based on the topic heading, I figured I'd give it a read, since it is a must read after all.

It seems ludicrous to me that you engage in something in public and then expect complete strangers to keep some sort of secret for you. You are not engaging in anything illegal. Your argument is that you are concerned with what other people think. Well, people can disagree on just about any topic. If you are Christian, do you hide that in front of Jewish people? If you are black, do you pretend to be white for white people? This is essentially what you are saying. For people with a moral problem with poker, you are arguing that you should not be yourself in front of them.

You seriously should not engage in something in public, and put expectations on other people who are also doing nothing wrong, and doing it in public, that they need to keep your dirty little secret for you.

In one of your posts, you mentioned that as a 10-year old, you learned to keep a secret, well, no need to keep acting liking a child. If you are so concerned with your image, you should seriously consider not playing poker. You should know by now that it is everywhere - on TV, at home, in casinos, and you should know that people will talk about it, since it has become quite public. As many people play poker as have children that play little league, it is everywhere, and with the coverage on TV, etc., it is not some secret society.

If you sit with people for hours on end (in PUBLIC), you cannot expect them to pretend it never happened. Either wear a mask, play on the internet, or stop playing poker, because your concerns are definitely not going to be shared by many in this day and age.

[ricdaman]

(1) I am a Christian, who is a respected member of my church.
(2) My mom watched her uncle go through a divorce and lose everything because of his gambling addiction and his losses at poker.

Knowing these 2 things, I told everyone that I "ran a business" instead of played poker. About 6 months ago though, my brother (who is also a pro) and I told my mom and dad that we played poker. At first, my mom was heartbroken. But after we took the time to show her our poker logs and our years of winning money, and after she had a chance to watch it on TV, she accepted it. IN FACT... my mom and dad PLAY POKER now!!!!

Also, I told some people at my church that I play poker and that "my business" is really playing poker. Know what they said??? "SO DO I."!!!!! WOW!!! Here are these people at church I was afraid would condemn me for gambling, and they said, "I play poker too."

Poker is not what it used to be. It is widely accepted as a game of skill, and the number of people who condemn it and look down upon it today are few and far between.

[truefox]

So what do you do? Borrow a friend's car to drive to the casino? Park a block away and take a cab? What on earth will happen if someone you know sees you in the building????? My local casino is on Lake Michigan. Consider playing here...if you're recognized you could just jump the rail and drown yourself.

[Randy_Refeld]

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if you're recognized you could just jump the rail and drown yourself.


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Fortunately the people most likely to be offended to learn that someone gambles are also the least likely to be in the casino. The original poster is absolutely right that you shoudl ignore someone you know form the casino unless you are certain it is ok to stop and talk to them. In some areas teh the surroounding community doesn't know gabling takes place. When I was on the floor in Vegas I woudl talk to a lot of people (about 1 a week or so) that would tell me they hoped the Indian gaming woudl pass becasue they didn't like driving over from LA every weekend (since I worked in Vegas I wasn't about to tell them they could play poker in LA). Once when I dealt at the Bike, I got very ill and went to the hosipital. They wanted to know what kind of job you woudl dress up in such a funny outfit for (they had no idea there was legal poker in LA county). To a large part of soceity poker is becoming accepted, but there are still those that think anyone that gambles as an illness and are prone to steal etc.

RR

[beta1607]

I am a 23 year old know-it-all and I work in politics and it would reflect very poorly on my boss if people found out that I 'gamble' to supplement my income so I fully understand your point Bigfish. Its just a matter of common sense that seems so simple especially in a profession like mine where loyalty and discretion are the two most valuable attributes.

[bernie]

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I am a 23 year old know-it-all and I work in politics and it would reflect very poorly on my boss if people found out that I 'gamble' to supplement my income so I fully understand your point Bigfish.

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Yep. Especially if your boss why trying to push through an anti-gambling initiative. Fantastic.

b

[bigfishead]

well stated Randy, but i have almost giving up on the significance of the message in the post. Some people will just never "get it"

[truefox]

Well maybe it's not a "get it" thing. Maybe it's a "I don't happen to agree that poker is shameful" thing. We can have differences of opinion. Doesn't mean I don't "get it." If you're explaining Baye's Theorem and I'm confused, okay I don't "get it." If you're going to tell me that, having comprehended it, I can now use it to predict the color of my next boyfriend's hair, well I think I'd disagree (and yes, I could be wrong).