fyp

Guilt is for people with a soul.

You trade your soul for the ability to soul read.

Felt this a few times, 2 things justify it for me:

1. They're there to gamble, they'd lose their money to the house and other players if u weren't there.

2. 99% of poker players are c**ts, tf for online

Stellar analysis and argument meathead

I don't feel guilty about beating people risking money they can afford in exchange for having a good time, provided they give informed consent, any more than I think the film industry should feel guilty about taking money without giving customers something tangible in return.

However, I do draw a line at taking money from those who can't afford to lose it or who suffer from pathological addiction. If I knew a certain way to exclude them from games I play in, I would. I don't think they're a very large proportion of live poker players; don't know about online.

haven't read the responses. But if you don't beat this bad player then someone else will. Better to have the money to go to you right?

In theory, securities trading is different because the underlying asset represents productive activity. The company benefits society by turning raw materials into widgets (or marshaling human capital into valuable services) and we share in that wealth as a reward for providing the capital to make it possible. Over time the entire market is supposed to make money, sort of like a reverse rake.

In reality, of course, with day trading and increasingly exotic derivatives, it's just another casino.

Heard at the table on this issue as the really bad compulsive player walks away from the table after their 4th but short $56 buy-in in a $10-$20 LHE, complete with 10's 5's and 1's.

"If they don't care about their money, why should you?"

But my philosphy is: It's healthy to go home feeling guilty and hoping they afford it or recover but it's unhealthy to feel guilty at the table.

Every hand you beat them with, with good solid play, you are setting them an example of how to play. Whether they follow it or not is beyond your responsibility.

Furthermore, there will be days where sick compulsive players will run over you as the deck hits them every hand. They will feel happy, they will feel proud, they may even straighten up and spend some of that money 'cause "nothing sets the mind right like running good" -- but they will not care an iota about you.

I like your answer

If you think it's wrong to take their money don't. It's that simple. If it's against your values then stick to them and give up poker. Playing poker for a living is tough as it is. Don't do it if it makes you hate yourself or question whether you're a good person.

My own personal answer is that it's hard to make a living without ever hurting or deceiving someone. I don't enjoy hurting people but sometimes it's part of the game.

1. Poker is effectively legalized combat, where 2-10 players sit down and attempt to take each other's money under formalized rules of engagement. No one has a mandate to come into a casino and bring a buy-in to the table.

2. The money in play at the table is not going to (insert your worthy charity of choice). Instead, it's being used to "fight" (see above) other human beings.

Maybe I want to win it so I can give it to the worthy charity of choice.

I feel bad sometimes. I think most people do to a certain extent. It can be very hard in a live setting. I try to be friendly and nice to the person and if they say how unlucky they were I nod my head and agree. "Yup, that was really unlucky."

I once whilst playing 100nlHU had a man sit me who proceeded to click buttons (pretty much literally) and over the course of about 3-4 hours lost 1000$ to me.

At the end he said something like "wow I'm fuct now" and I asked him why. He proceeded to say something like "I just kept reloading like it wasn't real money " to which I responded "lol" obviously. He went on about it for a moment and he did not seem to be upset or angry but rather sad and confused.

I somehow asked him what he did for a living. He answered "Janitor". He left shortly after that.

I believed him. He was not being dramatic or asking for some back or even looking for pitty - He was just kind of like "jesus I'm dumb" - I almost sort of felt bad. I kind of felt like I def should have felt bad. Ultimately I did not feel bad at all. Ship the ten buy-ins.

Why? If not me it would be someone else.

ps OPs post had to be a level but it brought up some semi interesting isht.

tbh i have this problem too in live poker you can sense that some people cant afford to lose whats infront of them and when you stack them they are visibly soul crushed i cant even make eye contact and prob give off a douche vibe because i just stare at the chips and stack them i feel awful though =/