I was criticized a few months ago for not speaking up on the internet bill. I replied that I didn't feel like my field of expertise justified my taking a stance on the legalities or technicalities surrounding it. But that I was planning to write something describing many of the things about poker that would indicate it could be a very good thing to learn and sometimes play. I wanted to go well past the simple idea that it required more skill than other gambling" games. I wanted to show that learning poker is actually good for you. If I wrote something that could persuade non players of this fact, it should have an effect on their outlook toward legislation.
So I got ahold of my friend Dr. Alan Schoonmaker and together we came up with some, but not all of the valuable attributes that people can more easily acquire if they learn to play poker. And then elaborated on them. Most of these ideas have been written about before one place or another. But never all at the same time. And never by a recognized authority on poker or a psychologist who has extensively written about poker, including the pitfalls that can be associated with an obsession with it.
ANYONE has permission to reprint all or part of it ANYWHERE. As long as the 2+2 magazine or its authors are noted. The article is pretty long so most venues might prefer only excerpts or a summary. The simplest summary is just a list of the section headings. 24 I believe. I would love to see someone write out these 24 headings Ten Commandment style and offer it to all cardrooms to put on their wall. But the main reason for the article is to get out the word to lawmakers and the general public that POKER IS GOOD FOR YOU.
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Edit/MH: Discussion is
here.
