i lolled

I mean for us mortals.

I do.. but wish I hadn't sometimes..

How do u explain to your mother-in-law that a $5K downswing is normal

They ask. I live with my parents so I feel obliged to answer honestly.

I tend to agree here. But in defense of the self-righteous a-holes I'd have to say one does encounter people who are condescending know-it-alls who seem to be quite brainless and have an attitude they are superior. They are 100% certain they are right and are closed minded.

I'd just ask them some questions:

1) How does a casino make their money?
2) Do you know the difference between a casino game and poker?

If they have a reasonable understanding of the above 2 questions then ask:

Do you think it's possible for a poker player to have an edge over the other poker players at the table?

A light bulb should go on above their heads about now if they understand. But if they think it's possible to devise a method to beat roulette, it's no use whatsoever ... you'll never convince them of anything .... game over!

+1

This is both staggeringly hilarious and staggeringly dumb in roughly equal measure

There are jobs out there that pay less than that. Besides, for those of us who started poker at the bottom (in my case, grinding $1 SNG to build a bankroll), being able to make $10 an hour was a fun milestone.

But that's fine - presumably you don't want to talk to them anyway.

cool thing about not living in the states is that it's actually rude to ask someone how much he's making in my country

its rude here too we just have a lot of *******s

lol its the opposite for me. I think it is because in the states and many other countries telling someone that you earn more then them is like saying that you are worth more then them, since they are so materialistic and only measure happiness in money. Why should it be rude to ask about salary? I dont get it. If they are like "wtf luckbox" then just explain that you work very hard for your money, end of discussion.

Yup and they will say that they work as hard as you and dont have such salary. In some big europen corporations you can get your as* kicked out of it, if you tell your co-worker what's your salary.

you gambol for a living?

omg your a GAMBOLER!!

i thought you said you were an investor in positive expectations?

FML

but thats because it might entice them to request the same salary, thus making the company loose money. The fact that people work equally hard and earn different amounts is just capitalism and i dun think people should have a hard time understanding it unless they are commies.

Maybe its just that I am a supernice person, but Im not troubled by the fact that my poker playing (avg $5-6k per month) is crushed by a friend that makes almost three times as much as a fcuking carpenter (he owns his own business). On the other hand, the stories in this thread are so far out there, maybe im just super lucky that has somewhat intelligent friends.

Haha

I met this guy who said this and I was like here we go again...
Then I asked what stakes he played and he told me he played tournaments..
I am just like omg an idiot who plays donkaments..
I start bragging about me beating 200NL and that I've made over 20k

Then I found out that this guy is actually one of the best online tourney guys from Norway, he had won several 100 k..
Man I felt stupid

"WAT DO U DO BECAUSE YOU CANT C THUR FACES!??!?!"

+1

Probably the one I get most often - "how can you tell if they're bluffing, if um, you can't see them. And stuff."

I live in France.

Yeah this is spot on, there is just no other way. Recently I've been drawn into poker conversations on nights out and found myself tilted beyond belief by people I normally get on very well with. Of course you don't want to speak out and tell them they're wrong since you'll just come off as a douche so I guess the best thing is to just not say much/be vague about it and try and move onto something else, that is if you are forced into such a conversation against your will.

Quote:
do any of you guys ever get fans? like ppl who know you from whatever and are like "OMG you're baronzeus?!!?!?"
durrrrrrrrr itt

I got my first ever 'But how much did you lose' the other day from my dad when I was telling him about a check I had in the mail from a poker site. He also warned me against getting addicted.

.

Exactly. It is easy for me not to tell people I play poker because it is a hobby, not a job, for me. Still, it is the only hobby I've ever had that pays me. Getting paid for playing a fun game is cool!

Even as a hobby poker player I've learned to be cautious who I tell. It is bizarre the reactions some people have to poker, especially online poker (as this thread illustrates). I've gotten reactions I did not expect from fellow engineers (i.e. mathematically literate people). Nothing truly bizarre but unexpected moral judgments.

I have never had any problems with talking about poker. Most people are honestly interested in it, particularly men. It's been said a few times in this thread (including by me), but some of you have messed up friends or messed up conversational skills.