Quote:
Originally Posted by burden2
I'm not saying they make a living being shills- that would not be reasonable. I am just saying their motivation to post in this thread goes beyond what I have ever seen as far as internet debating on the same subject with new people posting the same arguments against them. Believe me I have wasted huge amounts of time debating politics or whatever on the web. I find it enjoyable and I find it a much more informed debate than discussing things with friends since your friends tend to agree with you anyway and on the internet people have more time to think about their posts (too bad only some people take advantage of that). I've just never seen the same small group of people constantly defend the same topic against a rotating group on the other side.
Different people chat about different things for different reasons. I linked a 9/11 debate thread a few days ago, and if you think the opinions here are unusual just check that one out in the NVG forum. That's just the nature of online discussion threads, nothing more.
This one is not really that much different except the conspiracy guys are a bit dumber than the equivalent conspiracy 9/11 guys, but that makes sense as poker conspiracy guys tend to not get basic math and cannot beat a relatively simple game while 9/11 "truthers" tend to be eccentric in their thinking but on the more smart but nuts side of the spectrum. Ok, the guy who talked about bloodlines was pretty dumb, so it is more a macro observation.
You indicate that you like talking about politics and no doubt many of those discussions gets heated or sarcastic at times. When that happens if someone in the chat starts theorizing that those who do not agree with him is secretly a government spy/shill how exactly are they treated?
I suspect "umm, huh?" with a confused chuckle is the response.
Dude, you one of those guys creating that response here.
All huge threads on any topic will have regulars/semi regulars/casual observers etc. This thread is no different - the fact that routine, mundane behavior in this thread baffles you is a bit odd if you are familiar with the whole internets thing. You are not that oldmoose guy (assuming he is genuine) who is still living in the days where punch cards are used for programming.
Quote:
Originally Posted by burden2
Maybe they are paid to do it, maybe they work for online poker companies in some way, maybe they make a living playing online and are overly paranoid about fish thinking it is rigged. Whatever their motivation is it is clearly more than just intellectual engagement, especially when you consider they seem to have zero respect for anyone thinking anything other than that those who run quasi legal offshore unregulated gaming establishments are 100% trustworthy.
If you want respect for your opinions then back your claims with evidence. This thread is a collection of people who have hundreds of different rigged and other paranoid beliefs but have yet to prove a single thing.
How do you handle political debates when posters claim that Obama is the anti-christ or that Bush is the anti-christ because they know it is true and they know other people believe it is true?
A debate about the future of online poker and the ideal state of regulation is welcome, but how can it be based on a premise that every site uses secret ninja style superbots to rig games against people here when they lose $5.
Quote:
Originally Posted by burden2
I mean we are not talking about an emotional issue here like does god exist? or is abortion wrong? are gun laws unconstitutional. These are issues people care deeply about on an emotional level and intellectual level. But to just tirelessly talk in circles about this issue for months (years?) doesn't ring true to me unless there was some other extra motivation.
That's you creating a conspiracy out of something you cannot understand (ie: other people's behavior), and your beliefs as to what issues should and should not be important or emotional is totally subjective.
The world does not share your view of it on all things, your inability to realize that different people are motivated by different things for different reasons confuses you when confronted by it, and instead of just realizing it is what it is (ie: people are different), you need to create a creative theory as to why these people are different (ie: they must be secretly paid shills).
In the end you can believe whatever you like, and I do not expect this post to change your thinking one bit. In fact, it likely will make you believe whatever shill conspiracy you have in mind even more.
Perhaps that was the point all along though...
All the best.