I think that introducing someone to the game should be done with great care. There are myriad delusions present in the average “newbie’s” brain. There seems to be this lottery mentality of anyone can win. In Maryland our state lottery has a slogan “It could be you!” Yes, anyone can double their buyin at your typical 1-2 NL HE game, but the myths propagated by WPT and World Series coverage are disgusting. After Moneymaker lucked out and won the main event the notion that anyone can win at this game is absolutely ridiculous. Granted, the chances of a player with minimal poker knowledge lucking out and winning the WSOP main event is more convincing than hitting the Mega Millions Jackpot. But that does not make it easy.
While explaining the reality of poker as a hobby or job is easy to cut through the lies propagated by mass media propaganda about the sport is far more difficult. As I watched reruns of the WSOP tourneys with my girlfriend’s father I was reminded of the “big win” mentality that has been indoctrinated into the American Public. While watching Doyle Brunson win the bracelet with all that cash sitting on the table he turns to me saying “Ya know, I never even thought people could make so much money playing poker, but watching all this money on the table is just…..exciting.”
Poker is fun yes, but poker combined with irresponsibility and the societal emotion projection of WIN WIN WIN is a very difficult delusion for many to overcome. While the analogy of long-term alcoholism being blamed on the person who first bought the guy a beer is plausible. What if that guy gets drunk the first time that night and wrecks his car? Long-term should be evaluated, but what of the short term impact of that first big rush of cards, or that first outdraw on the river, or conversely the devastation of losing sessions with no heat of cards, and being outdrawn on the river when you had the nuts on 4th street? It does all add up.
The statistic that 90% of poker players is shocking. Do you have any statistical information on that?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
It could be you!
Date: 2006-02-27 20:57 (UTC)While explaining the reality of poker as a hobby or job is easy to cut through the lies propagated by mass media propaganda about the sport is far more difficult. As I watched reruns of the WSOP tourneys with my girlfriend’s father I was reminded of the “big win” mentality that has been indoctrinated into the American Public. While watching Doyle Brunson win the bracelet with all that cash sitting on the table he turns to me saying “Ya know, I never even thought people could make so much money playing poker, but watching all this money on the table is just…..exciting.”
Poker is fun yes, but poker combined with irresponsibility and the societal emotion projection of WIN WIN WIN is a very difficult delusion for many to overcome. While the analogy of long-term alcoholism being blamed on the person who first bought the guy a beer is plausible. What if that guy gets drunk the first time that night and wrecks his car? Long-term should be evaluated, but what of the short term impact of that first big rush of cards, or that first outdraw on the river, or conversely the devastation of losing sessions with no heat of cards, and being outdrawn on the river when you had the nuts on 4th street? It does all add up.
The statistic that 90% of poker players is shocking. Do you have any statistical information on that?
Anyway, that’s my 2 cents.
-Erich