Hi,
Ive played some poker for 9 years then decided to quit.
I dont have nothing against poker players in general and Im not arguing its unethical but what worries me is this

Theres a lot of people, especially young people, that are struggling with gambling addiction and they start to play poker. Also lot of people that just dont have what it takes to be succesful poker player. It takes tremendous amount of discipline, talent and brain power to beat the games these days..

Lot of money that the top players earn come from people that are in difficult situation, in debt because of their gambling addiction and or too stupid to realize that maybe poker is not for them.

Im just pointing out the facts.

To beginners, I want to say that it is really tough and rocky road to be succesful poker player unless you are really really talented. And if you are struggling with addictions, you totally shouldnt play at all as long as your addictions are in control. I cant think of anything that stupid to fight addictions, than to start poker. Its just gasoline for your destructive behaviour.

Theres a lot of other ways to make money that you maybe havent thought of, that needs clear thinking and is a lot of fun.

Then you can do poker as a hobby, and dont have to worry about losing money.

Id like to hear poker players opinions about this, am I wrong or right ?

you are right that there are gambling addicts for whom poker is their downfall, I think you are just overestimating the magnitude of that phenomenon. Most people play poker as a benign hobby, they might be slightly delusional about their ability to beat the games, but they wont bet their livelyhoods on it.

Hard to say if you'r right or wrong. What's your point? What's your definition of a gambling addict? It takes a level of addiction or obsession to be successfully in a lot fields or hobbies that are worth pursuing.

"especially young people"

sample size problem imo.

also

I doubt VERY seriously that "lots of people" means over 10%.....maybe not even 5% have a true gambling addiction and risk losing their house payment on a regular basis.

I put out a thread on the psychology section with the original title"degenerate gamblers ".
Disappointingly, failed to reach any satisfactory consensus.
Sort of got derailed by two, let's say, degenerates.
Maybe was my bad writing style?
Anyways.
I think you're shooting for the wrong target audience.
There are gamblers who dabble in poker, but they're not really poker players.
They're just gamblers who dabble in poker!
Most people on this site, and I'm guessing, I can only truly speak for myself, aren't gamblers at all.
It's like warning against the evils of Chess.
Some chess players play for money too!
Besides, most people on this site aren't even professionals, but rather hobbyists.
I personally don't hardly ever play slots or other gambling games.
Heck, it's been years since I bought a lottery ticket.
Anyone know the jackpot?

I would disagree. I think OP takes a mindset that most people who don't play poker have. They think it's a game thats 90% luck and that most people who play it often are just gambling addicted degens. Yes there is an element of poker players who are just gambling addicted degens (just as much are there addicted degens who spend thousands on video game lootboxes, just nobody talks about it in this manner) but I think most people are logical in their approach, and recognize they need to study to improve and get better and be winning players.

Also have to consider there are the people who lose a hundred bucks a few times a year at the poker tables to blow off steam and have fun, but aren't addicted. There is nothing wrong with spending money on a hobby as long as it is not excessive. People don't criticize that people spend thousands on hunting, fishing, golf, car mods, etc etc yet there is virtually no chance you will be profitable unlike in poker. Imo if playing poker provides the same enjoyment for you as does golf for someone else, then play poker and take it seriously and make some small cash.

Your argument rests on the assumption that it is somehow wrong to take gambling addicts money. It isn't.

It is just as in nature, the precence of predators makes the overall heard stronger. People that can't control themselves have no business having money.