Will they ever get it?

PokerBob · #1 03-09-2005, 10:27 AM

I am having a hard time explaining to my friends and family that poker can be a lucrative enterprise for a skilled player. They see it simply as gambling, like betting on sports, slots, craps, blackjack, roulette etc., and assume I will eventually be broke and destitute and in GA and blahblahblah. When I explain to them that I don't play those other games because I don't have the advantage, it seems to do no good. Am I wasting my breath? How do I make them get it?

spentrent · #2 03-09-2005, 10:31 AM

Most people who play poker lose. Your friends and family are correct.

They won't believe you until you buy a house with cash.

Shoe · #3 03-09-2005, 10:31 AM

make them play against you for awhile. when you consistently end up with all of their money, maybe they will believe you.

PokerBob · #4 03-09-2005, 10:35 AM

[ QUOTE ]
make them play against you for awhile. when you consistently end up with all of their money, maybe they will believe you.

[/ QUOTE ]

That only can make things worse, as we both know that short term variance can be staggeringly high.

Radio · #5 03-09-2005, 10:42 AM

Just let them think what they want, They will get it when you prove yourself right by winning lots of cash and never going broke playing. They will come round when they reaslise the amount of money youv made. Its the only way.

OrianasDaad · #6 03-09-2005, 10:47 AM

You are wasting your energy trying to change their minds. Changing somebodies mind is usually wasted effort.

If it's your spouse, that's a different matter. Buy her jewelry with your winnings. Works for me.

Whether or not they agree with you, you are still going to continue to play, so their belief in you doesn't have any practical value.

It's your belief in yourself that is most important.

Rudbaeck · #7 03-09-2005, 10:47 AM

[ QUOTE ]
They won't believe you until you buy a house with cash.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is going to pose some problems, as mom has forbidden me from mentioning poker in front of my sisters ever. They should be sent to GA I guess.

I've resigned to claiming I make my living selling drugs to school children. No one ever inquires further.

axioma · #8 03-09-2005, 10:49 AM

try telling them that youve reached the stage where youre no longer even playing with your 'own' money, that any investment you made out of your own pocket has been cashed in ages ago, and you will never have to reach in there again.

however, they are in a sense correct, you are of course gambling.

Reef · #9 03-09-2005, 10:52 AM

definetaly gotta get some bling.

Zoltri · #10 03-09-2005, 10:55 AM

Why do you care what people think anyway.
From my experience, I dont trust anyone and the more they know about me the more it seems to bite me in the ass at a later time.

I'm a bitter man. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]