Back in 2009, this thread would have had a thousand replies by now. Make of that what you will.

Thats more indicative of where 2+2 is than whether David was revered.

RIP David. Was first introduced to David in Super system when I started in 2005. that was the first poker book I read and it taught me something other than Holdem. Pokerstars was the site to play for games other than holdem back then.

Check post 39. Mike Haven put a mod note in there that explains what they're going for.

Edit- here ya go

Fair enough. I will create a separate thread out of respect for this thread then

RIP. Reading The Biggest Game In Town in 1984 in my mom's New Yorker's was certainly life changing. I wish I'd stopped drinking on the spot and REALLY studied his books.

No need to create a new one. There is already a generic "Sklansky Thread" for those who wish to keep dragging him.

Some negative posts about David have been deleted, some have been allowed to stand. IMO the two most insulting posts to David’s memory have been allowed to stand itt, those being the two made by Mason.

My sincerest condolences to anyone who is grieving the loss of David, and that includes Mason if he actually is. Only posting “we worked together 40 years” and a “story about David” that’s actually not at all about David are a sad way to memorialize someone who completely changed your life. It seems doubtful anyone knows who Mason is without David’s impact on him personally. I think that is the simplest summary of what many are feeling reading this.

I have poked fun of Mason many times on here(most of the time in good natured fun and debate), but my request for a favorite memory or story from him was to honestly see if he would take the opportunity of someone giving him a chance to recover from his initial response and come across more human and caring.

MEb:

What a terrible person you must be. And that goes triple for the poster StoppedRainingMen.

There are many reasons why I have been reluctant to talk about David and his passing. And this includes promises that I made to others.

But let the following be known. In addition to bad health the last few years, David was also suffering from mental health issues, and this got especially bad at the end. In fact, I believe the mental health issues had more to do with his passing than his actual issues with heart failure.

There were a lot of things I and another friend did for him in his last year, and there were also a couple of other friends who were trying to help him.

Now go away and attack someone else.

Mason

Mason,

I’ll admit when I was wrong and apologize. Best wishes and sorry for your loss. If anything, I hope I indirectly did you a small favor by helping you to address what many were perceiving as strange posts in here and how many were reading them.

My sincere condolences.

Your apology is accepted.

However, in the future, I suggest you keep your mouth shut instead of commenting and making accusations about things you know nothing about. And again this advice goes triple for the poster StoppedRainingMen.

Everyone has flaws. Flawed people can still contribute to society in significantly positive ways.

David obviously had a huge impact on the game of poker for many decades, through his books and posts on this forum.

Not everyone has a front row seat to see the flaws of others.

I recommend the following:

Kumbaya.

David seems to have had a rough time in the end. Mason and Mat tried their best. I think Mason's initial response was appropriate for a grieving friend in shock. The legendary pair is split - forever.

"Grieving friend in shock"

I doubt he was in shock as David was 78 and in bad health.

You mean he should have prepared a lengthy obituary in advance, just hitting send? That would have felt colder, IMHO.

No, I don't mean that

The man is dead. He wasn't perfect but none of us are. People should show a little compassion.

David was so controversial, anything Mason posted would have been attacked. Post too little and he gets what he got. Post too much and he would have been accused of glossing over David's flaws.

It really was a no-win situation for Mason on what to post and I think his short post was probably the right thing to do.

Mason doesn't owe anyone here a long drawn out post. Let him grieve his own way.

Everyone grieves differently. Not everyone is going to write a long, emotional eulogy, and they’re not obligated to. Especially not in a public forum full of people who have spent years criticizing, mocking, or second-guessing both him and David.

Expecting some kind of performative, deeply personal tribute on demand for a hostile audience of strangers is unreasonable. And then attacking him when he doesn’t deliver it proves why he didn't feel like obliging in the first place. Why would anyone open up more in that environment?

He said what he was comfortable saying. Let it be

Mason, thank you very much for these clarifying comments during what must a very difficult time.

When a famous (and controversial) person dies, it is only natural for people to be curious, inquisitive, and even emotional & suspicious themselves, and tact, sensitivity, and common sense can be lost.

Thank you again for all you & David have done for poker players & this website over the past four plus decades.

I'm not sure why so many people are so angry and aggressive about someone dying a natural death after a long life

There is a certain level of narcissism and audacity you have to have to post something like this...he doesnt owe you a thing.

The mainstream nvm social media as well as Hollywood & the funeral/bereavement/healing industrial complex have done enormous damage for with their standardization of grieving norms & stages. There is at least one case of someone very likely being wrongly convicted and in fact executed in part due to testimony from officers on the scene that he did not seem particularly upset.

RIP David.

Let's face it if it weren't for David none of us would be here today. I rememeber way back when. In the early days of the internet David was hounding people to come visit his new 2+2 forum on the rec.gambling.poker newsgroup. That's why I came here!

My favorite memory was back in 1999/2000ish playing 3/6 at the Mirage. A group of 3 college "bros" were in the game raising and reraising against each other. Some nitty old lady told them they were playing (ie raising) improperly. And one of the guys said "Hey Lady! This is 3/6, we don't have to play according to Sklansky!".

I have never, and never will forget that moment

OK I’m all for a generous, platitude filled RIP thread, but let’s not go overboard! LOL

Huh? David created this place and if not for his promotion of it 10 years before you showed up it wouldn't be here and we wouldn't have "you".