Quote:
Originally Posted by BackhandLob
Many don't - obviously, e.g. marketing, PR, advertising etc.
Those three things(are all kinda the same) produce ideas and/or messages that aid the client.
Just because there is competition in poker doesn't mean poker is the equivalent to business. Sure, cellphone manufacturers compete but their primary activity is to produce and sell cellphones. The public wants cellphones and the company sells to them.
Poker players like to say they are producing entertainment for the loser but the loser doesn't want to lose . It's ridiculous to claim that he is buying what he doesn't want. We are selling him the opportunity to win. No, because a bunch of bad losing poker players can get together and be more likely to win without the good winning player present. The activities of the good winning player are not really appreciated or desired. Some like to gamble but that doesn't mean they want to lose so this idea of poker being a productive activity is false but neither is it destructive.
Consider a guy who has a log which is pretty much useless, he applies his labor and skill and tools to the log and turns it into finished lumber that can be used for building a house, he sells the lumber and makes a profit whereas poker is a zero sum game.
I would say that there is a moral defense for poker which is that it's voluntary. I guess you could make an argument that losing at poker is immoral but you aren't losing.