We use the term "rec player" quite a bit on 2+2. I find it disingenuous.

When one describes other (usually less skilled) players as "Rec" it implies that the speaker is a Pro. And 99% of us using the term are not pros.

I think "casual player" is a better, more accurate term as it distinguishes between casual and serious players.

We take the game seriously, they take the game casually.

It sounds like your issue is more with the term “Pro” than with “Rec.”

Rec player sounds like someone about to go play squash or a pick up basketball game at the ymca

Are the recs offended?

Meh, pol correctness is lame, simpler to say what you really think

/makeamericagreatagain

I always wonder what the difference is between pro and non-pro. Unless you are putting out a tax return that has poker wins and deductions, I think the term pro reflects a pc notion that pros are superior in some way to others. Yet how do we judge such a designation?

I use this term; I'm a "reg"; I'm not a pro. Here's why:

A true "rec", by definition, is participating in poker as an "activity done for enjoyment when one is not working".

The key inference from this definition is that recs are not expecting to make money from poker. Occasionally they will turn a profit, but over the long-run they expect to lose money and accept this as the cost for their enjoyment.

A serious part-time player such a myself, however, does it for both enjoyment and profit. I dedicate some of my "working time" to poker, not just my leisure time. By definition, therefore, I'm not a rec, but not a pro either (since most of my income comes from part-time professional engineering consulting).

I'm happy to be termed a "reg" rather than a "pro".

And I see nothing wrong with defining "recs" for what they are, as many themselves will admit to being so (i.e. losing players).

Have to say I kind of agree with OP.

It kind of reminds of the many Thread Titles we'd see back in the Internet poker heyday such as:

"Thinking of turning Pro"

"I decided to turn Pro this week!"

"Should I turn Pro?"

I always LOL'd hard at these.

pretty simple, imo

Pro attempts to make their income from poker. it is their only or primary job

A Rec makes their income from something other than poker.

Their are winning Pros and losing pros

Their are winning Recs and losing Recs.

designation has nothing to with skill or win rate. simply statement of profession.

I am a lawyer

I am a plumber

I am pro poker player

Pro, Bad Reg, Fish, Whale

No inbetween

Yea but there are no Plumbers or Lawyers making negative income for their work.

If you are a confirmed losing "Pro" Poker Player, the "Pro" title is self-designated only.

lets just go back to the old days of fish and donkey and ******.

i don't care about other peoples feelings.

For the sake of being a smart-ass: When you're self-employed, you can absolutely have losing months or go bankrupt as a plumber or lawyer.

People say rec because it is considered more polite than fish, it does not mean to imply anything about "non-recs" other than that they are somewhat better than "recs".

Think you missed my point. You're considering outside expenses, overhead, etc.

When a Plumber goes to work he doesn't say "OK looks like I owe you $500 for fixing your toilet, and I'll pay you $300 more to fix that leaking faucet if you want".

Losing "Pro" Poker Players can go to "work" and lose $500 every day, solely from their "work". Not considering outside living and lifestyle expenses.

So all pro players are winning players ? is a guy that leaves his job and plays full time for a year, has no other source of income but is negative over first 12 months a pro player?


IF you answer no then you must believe that when one says , "I am thinking of turning pro", it means "I am thinking of becoming a winning player?

also LOL Semantics.

ya lets call them fish instead

I thought it means that they are planning on having poker be their main/sole income source.

I’ll admit I’m confused by your post.

I'm with George Carlin on this one.
The less syllables the better.

Fish or rec > casual

shell shock > Post tramautic Stress Disorder

Can we stop trying to take things that are not even offensive and trying to make them so? Wasting time on solutions to imaginary problems. Reminds me of the Tipper Gore movement against gangsta rap. Saying it makes kids violent and other bs like that.

well really two things going ITT

#1 Is it OK to call losing player recs, or should they be called something else. I really dont care. call em whatever you want. just be nice to them at the tables.

#2 TheFly asserts thats you cannot be a pro player if you are losing players. I disagre. plenty of pro players that are losing players (eventually they stop being pro players cuz the monies. ) and get some other job.

limptards, largtards, regs, pros, whales, agtards, nits, rb pros, losing pros, sponsored pros, superusers, call em whatever you like, just be nice.

Not sure we have to be nice to superusers and nits.

you're totally right. They're not "recs", they're "wrecks" such as degenerate, non showering, miserable players.

If you're not playing professionally then "recreational player" or "rec" is accurate. Maybe there is some sort of semi pro middle ground where you are playing with the intention of going pro or maybe poker makes up a small portion of your time/income and rec may not be accurate.

"Casual player" is often not an accurate description, there are plenty of players who are not pro but take the game very seriously. There are also those who have a gambling problem, and poker is anything but casual to them.

With that said the only term I regularly see people not like to be called is "fun player" obviously excluding insults like fish/donkey.

These terms are and will always be part of my poker lexicon. They also may be used interchangeably with "rec." I like to be balanced, so i use an RNG to decide the frequency which I use/assign each.

Like they're playing recreationally.