IMPORTANT ETHICAL STATEMENT-MUST READ

[CountDuckula]

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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).

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The point of the original post is not "poker is shameful", but rather "some people could be damaged socially or professionally if it became common knowledge that they play poker," and therefore, one shouldn't 'out' a poker buddy unless one knows that it's ok with him/her to do so. Some of the responses to that point have been something to the effect of "Well, if that's the case, they shouldn't play poker in the first place." I don't think that's entirely fair, myself; I think that the original point is a good one, and that some people really aren't getting that point.

-Mike

[bigfishead]

Well said Duck, TY

[Chipr777]

It shouldn't have anything to do with if YOU agree that poker is shameful in certian circles. It is a fact that it is and that needs to be respected. Period.

[truefox]

I respectfully submit that this whole thread is wrong-headed. Let's see if I understand what you're saying. I play poker with someone at the local casino and I bump into her/him. You're suggesting I should pretend that I've never laid eyes on him before, lest he suffer some reprecussions of some kind because his companions learn that he's a poker player. Is that it?????

So why might that be?

Hmmm....maybe he's with his wife and he's been telling her he's going to the dentist for bridgework? Then it becomes my responsibility to protect his cover, so that he can continue to lie about where he is and what he's doing--or where their money is really going.

Or maybe he's an addicted gambler, out having coffee with his GA buds. I should be most careful not to undermine his pretense of integrity...I should deprive him of the opportunity to get the help he joined the group for.

Or he's a Jevhova's Witness, standing at the bus stop with other JW's. Should they learn of his secret, double life he will be shunned, ousted from the Church and never spoken to again. I must, of course, not shake up the house of cards in which resides his hypocrisy.

Good souls that you are, you feel it important to engage in duplicity (pretending not to know someone) so that they will not be accountable for what they do IN PUBLIC that is at odds with someone they pretend to be or say they are. I'm sorry. This reeks to high heaven of deceit. You are what you are, you do what you do. Stand up and take responsibilty for it or don't--that's your business. But ask me to support you if you pretend you are one thing but are in fact another? Find another of your ilk, this girl sets the bar higher.

[TimM]

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what do you think that would have done to that manager's opinion of me

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This is why I want to play poker, so I don't have to give a [censored] about such things.

[TimM]

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(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!!!!

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The one person in my family I would not want to know about my poker playing is my uncle. He is was a gambling addict many years ago, and eventually got into Gamblers Anonymous and is now very involved in the organization itself.

I could probably still convince him that I know what I am doing, that I am a winning player, and would not play if I weren't. But the problem is that I believe he would then feel I am taking advantage of others, some of which may be gambling addicts at risk of losing everything.

[BigBaitsim (milo)]

I am very open with friends, colleagues, students and even some clients that I play poker. It is a small town and clients have mentioned to me that "so and so played with you at the Moose Lodge." I am NOT open about the extent of my play, or that I play online, except with close friends and my wife. In applying for jobs in MN, I will likely not mention poker, except perhaps to mention that I had a home game that met once a month or so to play nickel/dime/quarter poker (which is true).

[BigBaitsim (milo)]

When I run into a patient (I am a clinical psychologist) in public, I do not address them or take notice of them unless they address me first. I tell them this is my policy to avoid breach of confidentiality. Like it or not, we are engaging in activity that many find distasteful or immoral. I do not ask you to lie for me, but I'd rather you not wander up and say, "Hey Milo, we missed you at the 10/20 last night at the Greek's place, were you playing at that club on 31st?"