Mike

1) go to GA every day
2) get a sponsor
3) get a job, any job. If you can't get a job volunteer then look for a job
4) work the GA program
5) do not gamble today. No matter what do not gamble today.
6) repeat step 5)25000 times in a row.

He can't do any one of those things let alone all 6. Give him a break.

Exit82, I haven't seen this type of unhealthy obsession with someone since my friends ex-GF tried to blackmail him with a fake pregnancy after he broke up with her. We get it, you don't like Mike. We get it, you think he won't make it. We get it, he ****ed up. Heaven forbid you make a mistake and you won't have some hater all over you every second of the day telling you what a loser you are and you will never amount to anything in life.

You want to know why some people have sympathy for Mike? Because of how you act in this thread.

Someone stake this guy in the main event. With a story like this he's bound to ship the whole tournament for 10 mil. Just make sure you give him the money at the cage or else he'll obviously put it all on one hand of Pai Gow!

Im sure you would still gamble if you weren't feeling great…if u really want to not gamble then you'd go to the same length to stop as you have to play pay gow.

If he does not gamble and goes to a meeting tomorrow, how is that bad?

That would be the longest odds parlay in the history of civilized gambling.

Something tells me, and maybe I'm wrong, but people with sympathy don't have it because of a single hater.

Lol

No job no girlfriend nothing goin on; you gotta go to a meeting every day. Get a sponsor.

The impulse to gamble is diminished after a meeting. Maybe not a lot, but still ...

No nice way to say it.

Step up game, Mike.

play paigow on your phone for play chips.

Finally got though all of this thread. A lot of it is close to home for me too. Best of luck, Mike. Go tomorrow, obv.

This guy isn't gusto again yet?

Maybe I've missed the update, but how much that 5k is left?

Pm me your info. If this is true ill make sure Mike pays you back in full.

Double Joker it's 100% true. I'm pretty sure mike will recall me. In fact, he has my business card. What's your relationship with him?

What Mike saw:

Best of luck in your recovery, Mike.

I've been captivated by this thread. You know you've done wrong and you're trying to make amends for your mistakes. The best thing you can do is work hard every single day to overcome your urges and become a better person. From attaining your degree and successfully scamming, you're obviously smart and engaging - so use these abilities to improve and benefit both yourself and those around you.

Mostly, I wish you well because I know it can be done. My father is an addict and it took control of his life to the point of homelessness. We never gave up on him, but he had to do the heavy lifting to get his life back in order -- and he did! After years of meetings, relapses and uncertainty, he has built a stable life with a new family and has a great job. It took time, but it can be done and we're very proud of him.

I'm hoping you can do the same.

http://youtu.be/8iIvATpV358

Will exit82 please just stfu - we got it buddy, you are loving the fact that PSUMike makes you feel better about yourself but can't you just jack yourself off in private?

Caddyshack doesn't have PM privileges yet, as a new member of 2+2.

There's the rub. Kudos to Mike for knowing that he has a gambling addiction and knowing he needs help. However, it seems that he is still just remorseful that he can't control his gambling. I don't really see remorse from him for the things he has done to others as a result, nor expressed desire to take responsibility for those actions and make amends. Hopefully he will reach that stage through his participation in GA, or otherwise. Only then will he advance from victim to taking responsibility.

We are all addicted to one thing or another. I'm addicted to table tennis; I'm addicted to poker; I'm addicted to certain people and activities. The difference is that whereas I participate in and control my "addictions" in a healthy manner, addicts like Mike compulsively participate in their addiction to the point of doing harm to themselves and/or others. Taking control of the compulsive behavior means not only refraining from the compulsive behavior, but also making up for the harm done and refraining from further harm.

I'm rooting for Mike. I hope he turns his life around. It's a tough row to hoe, but he arrived there from his own actions, whatever the reasons. Unlike other posters, I don't think a person has to hit rock bottom to then turn things around. The personal choice can be made at any time.

The best part of this thread for me so far has to be this video. Lol! Nice pull!

How?
Why?
Everyone or just the folks who PM you on 2+2?

Great post in general. The bolded part is why I don't particularly feel any sympathy for Mike, even if I do hope he gets better. Right now, he's a pathetic character but not yet a sympathetic one — at least that's what I see from my seat.

Doublejoker is Allen Kessler, who Mike listed as a reference in a staking thread:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/18...-3-mu-1349984/

What most on here don't understand it takes time for Mike to get to that point where he will fully understands who he has harmed and how badly he harmed them. As I mentioned before, when I first started with AA all I cared about was getting sober. I knew I ****ed up in many situations but never understood how badly until I was able to get my head straighten out which took several months. The first few months was making sure I was not drinking, hitting meeting and getting a sponsor to guide me in the right direction. Hell, the first 3-4 weeks getting sober I was so out of control with emotions I started to cry at work for no apparent reason and had to leave and hit an AA meeting just to figure out why.

Mike hasn't gambled since last Friday which is pretty awesome. If he can get thru one more day he will have an entire week which is a big milestone. He has to take his addiction one day at a time and tackle his issues one small step at a time. He has a log road ahead but he has started on the right path.