I've used this example before and most people understand it intellectually, but I think are still too risk to believe it to be true. I've actually offered this bet to people trying to explain the point but they wouldn't because 'They might lose.'

+1

It is absolutely shocking to me how many people can't comprehend the simplest thing. I've tried explaining it in these terms and people still don't get it.

Haha wow, nvm then i guess im just fortunate enough to not have to deal with people that dumb. fwiw im jewish, everyone in my fam and many of my friends have college degrees so my sample isnt representative of the general population. Edit: humans are hopeless haha, proceed with the awesome stories of people asking "but how much did you lose?"

So she asks why you aren't gambling, you explain, and she still doesn't get it. No point in explaining then.

I use the coinflip scenario only I usually say $1 for loss and $1.50 for win, but same principle. Everyone says they would take that deal. I explain I look for spots like that where, although I don't win them all the time, when I do I will win more money than I will lose long term. If they don't get it, screw them.

I tried explaining it to my mother, she didn't get it. Until I showed her my graphs and excel programs and whatnot. She doesn't understand the odds, but she now understands that I don't 'win' money playing, I 'make' money playing.

When I told my mom that I make money in poker.
Her: Theres no money to be made in poker, you will only lose money.
Me: Ok.
Next day ill show up with a new Ferrari saying theres no money to be made in poker? **** bitch
heh that would be funny

That doesn't really work unless you show up with a new ferrari though.

Me: "I'm not addicted to poker, I just like making money."
Other people: "But no one makes money in the long run, it always evens out."
Me: "You don't understand."
Other people: "That's what all addicts say."

Girl asks me "how's poker going?"

Tell her I'm down 10 BI this month

"But weren't you up alot earlier?"

"yeah"

"Why didn't you quit while you were ahead"

mfw

There are just too many stupid people in the world. And not everyone's life revolves around poker. I'm sure there are pedophiles who you run into every day at the super market that don't tell you they are sick demented fu xxx

I've also tried breaking it down into the simplest terms with the following questions (letting them answer):

1) Why do casinos make money? How do casinos make money? (usually people are competent enough to tell you that they set up things so you can't win - i.e. blackjack rules and payouts, etc.)

2) When a casino makes money, does somebody lose money?

3) When a hand of poker happens, who makes money? Who loses money? What is the presence of the "house"? (this is when they start to notice that the variables involved in "gambling" - i.e. the player and the house - aren't present in poker)

4) If there is no house to regulate my actions, can I control when I am betting and what I am betting to maximize how much I make and minimize how much I lose?

5) If I can do that, consistently, how is there no money to be made in poker?

FYI, typical conversation goes like this:

1) Answer: casinos have the odds in their favor in every game you play

2) Answer: yes, the person playing loses because the odds are not in their favor

3) Answer: one player wins, one player loses, the casino...uh...hmm....I donno

4) Answer: i guess so....

5) Answer: because the house always wins. you'll lose in the long run.

ugh **** me.

"If the house doesn't always win, how to the poker sites stay in business?"
"They take a percentage of each pot no matter who wins."
"Yeah, so the house always wins." (smug grin)

Worst part was when I began playing everyone thought poker gifts were the best idea.

Why would anyone want to fall asleep on poker sheets, pillow cases, blanket, stuffed ace of spades, and poker boxers?

Never received any gifts like that from friends and family...bed sheets wtf? I did go over to a buddies house one time and my friend and his girl gave me a hold em beer koozie though. I was like gee thanks. Till this day it just sits and collects dust, I've never once used it.

Why on earth would anyone want poker sheets geez.

Annoying but correct in a way.

I don't use beer holders, they are quite the thing in Australia but my view is if you are drinking beer properly it doesn't require insulation since you have finished it before it goes warm.

Ask my gf.

Try fishing on a boat without a bimini in 100 degree weather. Unless you want to funnel every beer, a holder comes in handy. With that said, I don't use them either.

I told this kid I hadn't seen since high school I played and then I was stuck listening to him rambling about his scratch off lottery ticket addiction he had just overcame.

A+ first post. Welcome.

My folks would at least get me books, but it would be whatever random crap they found, like Phil Hellmuth's book, lol. "Um...thanks Ma. I'll read this and play like the pros!"

I can relate to that. At one time I was very active in the Republican Party. Now my granddaughters have lots of elephants to play with when they come over.

A friend told me that this was the case, and I didn't believe him:

Go to just random people you know (co-workers, non-poker playing friends, etc.) and give them this hypothetical: flip a coin - if they lose, they give you $10. If they win, they get $15.

A lot of people won't take the deal. "I don't want to lose $10!"

There's a pretty strong natural aversion to risk that seems to be the root of a lot of these stories. The fact that basic math and logic is overridden by this aversion is pretty interesting IMO.

I've done this with some randoms in a bar before. It's not a stone cold lock that no one takes the deal (fun to pick people out and bet on how low the payout has to be for them to stop), but it is definitely the majority that won't do it at $15. Even had some people quit after losing 2/3. Donkeys.

You run this in most poker rooms and the whole room will take you at 10:11.

I'll take you at 10:10 because flipping is fun