morality question

[melioris]

Thanks everyone for contributing to this thread. It has given me lots to think about. With the move, the new house (first time home owners!), the new job, family, the World Cup, and finding a good soccer league in Milwaukee, I am definitely taking a break from playing online for a couple of months. I suspect when/if I come back my game be stronger than ever. And the break means I got more time for TP.com.

PS-Despite all my liberal, touchy-feely “lets make the world a better place” tendencies, count me among those that hate stupid people. Maybe just our definitions of stupid are somewhat different.

[SirFWALGMan]

I think anyone who has played poker for a while has to ask themselves these questions. Night after night your winning money so someone is losing it. A percentage of those who are losing have alot of disposable income so it does not effect them. I think a smaller percentage have no self control and lose money they can not afford to lose. The question is should you care that you are taking money from this second group of people. It is hard to answer. I guess you should care but ultimately we are responsible for our decisions in life. I have made many bad decisions and paid for them, and many good ones that have helped me out. So while I hope people with gambling problems would get help I do not feel it is my responsability to make them get help by leaving the game or anything of that sort.

I have seen alot of degenerate gamblers, mostly at the blackjack tables, and nothing is going to stop them. I once was siting at Foxwoods and a guy came in dressed in McDonalds type garb and dropped several bills in fifteen minutes and left. I am pretty sure it was his weeks pay. While I hope he gets some help I would not boycott Foxwoods because of it.

If you are concerned about the morality of the game obviously you can quit. I know alot of REALLY good poker players who have gone pro and have had fights with the nagging though: Does Poker contribute anything to society, and am I anything but a leech. Everyone works out these questions there own way.