I've had a similar experience in a regular tourney group that I joined about three years ago. They're not a bunch of stoners, but a very casual group that has played a weekly tourney for years. I knew nothing when I first started playing with them, so I had no clue how procedurally sloppy the game was, but as I did my time on 2p2 and started to play in other games, I saw a lot of ways to tighten things up.

I put my foot in my mouth a couple of times with the "this is the way you're SUPPOSED to do it" approach, but I've also made several suggestions which have improved the game and helped out with a handful of tough rulings. Nowadays, many players (including the regular host) look to me for answers when a rules question comes up. It's a little strange, but a little cool too.

How could I forget that opening line?

So my question is still valid, but should have been addressed to the kitten-that-shall-not-be-named.

you can be a rules nit or you can hang with your friends and play cards. I went thru this back in the day and decided to just play cards with my friends and make money at the casino.

only you, op, can decide

For the quads thing, just type on Google to show them. many times we have an issue and people disagree, Google does a fine job for refereeing the situation.
Here's the results i got, first link, you don't even need to click it it's written in little text under the link. Also, if you start doing this, you can lead them progressively to RRoP and have them learning few stuff each time. and if you lucky enough to have a nerdy friend, one of them might start reading it on it's own and back you up on technicality.

http://www.google.ie/search?sourceid...n+board+a+chop

Yeah, you're right. I was thinking something along the lines of "despite my absence, I deeply value my friendship with you all" rather than "yo, bitches! I can't handle you donkeys donking around anymore, so peace!"

If f I were in a home game and one of my good friends just randomly stopped showing up with no explanation, I would take it personally. I guess OP could lie and say it's too expensive or something.

The quads situation reminds me of something that happened at a B&M card-room I was at several years ago. $4 - $8 limit Holdem, I was at the table but not in the hand.

Heads up on the river, 4 card straight on the board 5,6,7,8 blank, both parties turn up a 9. Dealer starts to split the pot and the female member of the heads-up duo goes ballistic because she feels her A-9 out ranks her opponents J-9.

No amount of explanation by the dealer or other members of the table would placate her. Finally the floor was called. After about 8 minutes the game proceeded but I know she felt in her heart she had been screwed because she had the better hand.