Is it OK to berate anyone?
How about you should be nice because you're nice to everyone?
If you're in line at the taco stand and such a personality is standing in front of you, what do you do? If he's intimidating the minimum wage person at the counter who makes a living from tips, what do you do? Is that different at the casino?
As a pro, totally see that this would be the rule of the day. However, when I see him saying "berate" I wonder if it really on some level comes from wanting to tell a guy how much of an idiot he is for playing badly.

Nice feedback DougL. I agree with you. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Be nice because that's what decent people do.

Some of the games I play in are mostly shorthanded and full of regulars. I can deal with bad beats and such. In fact we usually rib each other about that. That's fine.

There are some people, however, who always looks angry because they appear to be on their last time OR play an incredibly passive style because they fear bad beat coming. I'd much rather play a rec or semi-pro even who can win lose a few buyins then go for dinner and drinks like nothing happened than the last dime type of player. Just wondering how others feel.

Those types of players aren't super fun to have at the table, but picking fights with them is much worse for the atmosphere. If somebody's in a bad mood just leave them be.

Only time it's okay to start going after another player is if they're actively being a jerk to other rec players. Even then, you shouldn't be talking about how people play, whether someone's a winner or loser, or how intelligent someone is. Those are no go zones

Whenever someone is getting berated, you should try and channel all the hate at the table into yourself.

And then shrug it off.

By extension, you shouldn't ever berate anyone yourself. But if people are being dicks, there are plenty of ways to do it nicely. Your correction should be proportional to their offense.

You should always play with euros and Canadians. They're nice people. Never play with people who are trying to make a living in smaller stakes games (say 4/8 or 10/20), because the ones you know are pros have been emotionally damaged by the prospect... with a few exceptions.

There must be a strong correlation between how much poker talk there is at the table and how horrible a given game is to play. If a game is full of talk about some Seinfeld episode and the Royals pitching prospects, that's a good game. Proper 3 betting frequencies and how loose a given limper? WOAT.

Horrible cultural references, but basically, this

if you're giving fish special treatment in spots like this but telling the regs to **** off and keep their money in, you're an *******.

wait, so you're supposed to be actually friendly with the fish rather than blatantly kissing their butts? groundbreaking material here...

Yes, terrible/silly discussions = good game.

Played in a game where two plumbers were having an in depth discussion of the Iliad -- best game, ever. Also, these guys knew their Homer. Graduate level Greek Lit had nothing on them. The K and the 7 of different suit? Not folded.

I want the games to run. It takes all kinds to make that happen. I don't disagree with your preference, but its closer to my view to say I appreciate the action, regardless of how they deliver it.

My view of poker/poker players is skewed by playing here, where people are mostly friendly. If I had to go to Commerce every day, hating people would be easier and more natural. Even Vegas (outside of a few regs) has been a reasonably friendly place to play poker.

in the game i play in, that's the unwritten rule. me, and 2 other players are winning players and we all know to never ask to take action back and don't, i mean if anyone of us tried, it's not like we'd object, but wouldn't defend them. and i've seen plenty of fish ass kissing and it makes me sick. they even do it on tv.

that's the dumbest "unwritten rule" i've ever heard. i don't understand why you'd specifically want to be a dick to the winners but not the losers? why not just be nice to everyone?

if someone gave me the special treatment of being a dick to me and forcing my action to stand when they're known to let others take it back, i'd likely make sure it would be a very -EV decision for them in the end. things like making sure all bets stay in from all players in similar spots (including from the fish) except when it would directly benefit the jackazz would likely happen.

i'm not forcing anything. i defend fish, and don't defend winners against fish. and the other winners do the same. if it's a hu pot with a winner, i let let them do what they intend. if it's 3way with 2 other winners i'd defend whichever one's intentions. if it's a 3way pot with a fish and winner, it's a basic understanding between both winners that it's up to the fish. if it's maybe unwritten rule was a dumb term to use. maybe just, "understanding"?

well ****, maybe this is wrong. so should i start defending winner's intentions when fish want to make the action stand?

that seems reasonable. you made it sound like you don't let winners take their action back against you.

Well first time at the bellagio yesterday, should went sooner and not the last day of my trip.
Was imo the best place to play poker, saw mason at 20/40.
Was fun, unfortunately no 10/20 when i was there ( no bankroll on me to play 20/40).
I sure will go back if i return to vegas .
Btw thx doug, you were right pretty much about everything over there !

Fish hasn't folded preflop in about 6 orbits, busts out in BB, goes to ATM to reload. Comes back in hijack after dealer change, says gimme a hand. Are you gonna tell the dealer he has to post the SB? Of course not, he's playing every hand, he gets special treatment because he doesn't give a **** about $$$

If you tell me you haven't eaten candy since 1989 I would not be surprised that your last piece was a Twizzlers, that disgusting rubbery gunk.

False. Twizzlers are the pinnacle of licorice candy

That's like saying that my penis is the biggest of all micropenises.

We'll need proof.

small victories are still victories

I'm headed back west on another crosscountry poker roadtrip. Currently in Idaho. I now understand why Elo is so anti-social. I'll be at Canterbury park tonight if anyone wants to say hi (I'll be the new guy playing as big as they'll let me) Lurkers accepted.

Elo is not from Idaho. And even though geography isn't my strong point I'm pretty sure Idaho to Minnesota isn't normally considered going west

Good catch Elo. Maybe he confused Idaho with Illinois or Indiana, or even possibly Iowa.