The very old poker saying - 'Shut up and deal' - is still in use for a reason.

Maybe bartenders need to be poker dealers when they tend the bar.

Exceptions don't prove rules.

They love him bc he crushed mega high stakes games and gambled a lot in them.

He actually got a lot of **** on here for playing super tight on HSP and some stream while being totally disengaged from the game.

If losing players are your customers it's your job to make sure they have a good time. This isn't rocket science.
Give them something for your money.

Or sit there watching Netflix like so many people who kill games.

That is a horrendous ruling after significant action.

Exact words from the floor “this pot will not be chopped under any circumstances”

what you're saying is very true, there's now a demographic that is very bad for the games.

Another big factor that's hard to decouple is that all the games becoming NL instead of limit. NL is so much worse for table talk and overall vibe

I thought the poker was the entertainment

Ruminating about whatever "ideal environment" is pointless. Almost in every "industry" there will be people ultimately biased by the own subjective thinking of what is best to achieve their "results".

Can take mental healthcare as an example. A certain degree of licensed social workers or psychiatrists would fight to take on multiple simple long term cases to "follow up" showing "activity" while actually no actions have to be taken in order to improve their internal "KPI".

Can take logistics companies that in spite of their SOP and responsible business model will delay shipments to make it cheaper in bulk to same location or sell items out of stock.

Can list examples out of every profession and not even talking about politicians.

People who discover poker for various reasons are ultimately excited about pursuing this route as a source of "quick money" and additionally as a playground to assert their "mental superiority" over "competition. It can be done straight up or through use of cheating. Hence the nature of the game of "incomplete information" most normal human values of decency, integrity etc. can easily be discounted.

In terms of this post's subject discussion some people will revert to actually treating the game as "strict business". There's absolutely nothing that can be done about it apart from adapting to it.

There're only several options to adapt in a live setting, taking in account the values that OP suggests: Quit, increase you your skill level, while keeping the same attitude towards the game or become the game provider, shaping the player pool and integrity accordingly.

Can just give an example from young age. At the age of 19-21 in local New Zealand casinos I was known as a big degen as well as an "ok" poker player. Was invited to play private games with construction managers, plastic surgeons, tv celebrities while just being a student in a uni from other country. The dealers were strippers. Did it affect the game? Yes, was entertaining. Did it refrain other people from colluding for example? No.

Tell everyone youre a moron without telling everyone youre a moron.

This is a bad idea. I want my card dealers to be competent and professional dealers. I don't need them to be my friend or pretend to be on my side or be sociable or what have you beyond simple respect and courtesy that you would expect from anyone else, service industry worker or otherwise. It's a nice bonus if they are funny or entertaining, but I don't expect them to be, nor should anyone else. I've had dealers that just wouldn't STFU and made big mistakes like pushing the pot to the wrong person or killing the board with action left. Let them do their job and do it well.

It's the same with everything else. I wouldn't want my dentist to be my mechanic, accountant, lawyer and therapist all in one.

But without sociable dealers, the game will be boring. What will we do then?

if you dont actually enjoy playing poker play slots i guess.

I don't mind the dealer who talks to all the players. The ones that drive me crazy are the ones who will just chat it up with one person (they "know") and drown out any other conversation at the table.

That practice creates a REALLY poor perception if it extends beyond a greeting/goodbye at the start or end of a down. I think it absolutely kills any appeal to a wider audience of prospective players..

OTOH, I agree that a greeting to everyone at the table at the start of a down is a positive. A greeting is beneficial to have a quick mention of any promos or specific house rules.

A "welcome to the game" for a newly seated player is also a good dealer service, as well as a mention to promote the availability of cocktails whenever the waitress is approaching.

I think it is incumbent upon the players to start and maintain any social interaction among each other.

How ?

Try wearing a Go Gamble hat, or

Talk politics (either side), or

Ask for a deck change as soon as you're seated in a game.

Lol, I expected this fred to be bad, but, lets just say, it has greatly exceeded my expectations...

It all depends upon the circumstances. If it is a serious tournament (say $3500 plus buy in) then they dealers SHOULD be robots whose only words call out action.

If it is a $1/$2 game with a bunch of drinking/casual players who are there to socialize and have a good time, then the dealer should do their best to make sure they have a good time. If this involves telling a dirty joke or talking about sports, so be it.

It is a spectrum and good dealers are effective at either extreme as well as in between.

It requires more talent than you think. Far more.

Besides, most poker players are not willing to pay to attract higher end dealers.