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Steaming players - and I mean steaming
I would like a serious discussion on this.
I want you to imagine, its our dream, you find that one player at the tables who is steaming. Not just tilting but he has lost the plot. Buying on at £40 full stack then calling it all in with ace high. Over and over and over again.
My question is, at which point does someone need to take a responsibility for this?
As players we dream of players like this, he is an adult, capable of making his own decisions and so is fair game right? Or is he?
Or is his head messed up and he has lost control over his emotions, that he is no longer fair game?
What is the right time to tell someone in the chat box to go to bed? Or does that point never come?
For me, I have always taken advantage of these players. But I am getting increasingly uncomfortable with it. The tipping point nearly came tonight, I almost had to say something and the reason I didn't was simply because of the other players at the table.
But I read in the paper about the guy who lost 1 mill and ruined his family. Things things DO make a difference, even if we do hide behind a screen.
Maybe I am a hypocrite? I have taken money off people plenty of times when they are steaming. Yet there was a time when I was forced to ban someone from a poker forum because he was messing his life up so much and wouldn't take advice.
Is there a right or a wrong?
I want you to imagine, its our dream, you find that one player at the tables who is steaming. Not just tilting but he has lost the plot. Buying on at £40 full stack then calling it all in with ace high. Over and over and over again.
My question is, at which point does someone need to take a responsibility for this?
As players we dream of players like this, he is an adult, capable of making his own decisions and so is fair game right? Or is he?
Or is his head messed up and he has lost control over his emotions, that he is no longer fair game?
What is the right time to tell someone in the chat box to go to bed? Or does that point never come?
For me, I have always taken advantage of these players. But I am getting increasingly uncomfortable with it. The tipping point nearly came tonight, I almost had to say something and the reason I didn't was simply because of the other players at the table.
But I read in the paper about the guy who lost 1 mill and ruined his family. Things things DO make a difference, even if we do hide behind a screen.
Maybe I am a hypocrite? I have taken money off people plenty of times when they are steaming. Yet there was a time when I was forced to ban someone from a poker forum because he was messing his life up so much and wouldn't take advice.
Is there a right or a wrong?
Comments
Hi Mrwhite. You're not their Mum, Dad, spouse or teacher. Everyone has tilted off a few buy-ins at some time or another. Plus for all you know he is a high stakes reg to whom the money matters little - come to think of it, this wasn't 2/4 nlo was it?
You have to respect people's right to make bad decisions in life (and in my line of work it sometimes means they die, so be it).
I think the rest of the table would have been furious had you piped up with your helpful and well-meaning advice. Plus if he was that tilted he wouldn't have listened to you anyway.
Not only would said individual ignore your advice, in all likely hood they would be hostile. They wont amend their behaviour/actions until they themselves choose to.
Yes, greghogg is at the table, think he would have gone mad had I said something. I was very tempted when two guys at the table started taking the mickey out of the guy, but that seems to settle him down.
To be honest me saying something is not gonna happen and although I am tired, I am staying at the table whilst he does.
It was more a social/moral dilemma.
the parent/teacher thing doesnt really work for me though. A barman isnt a parent/teacher but they have a social responsibility, if someone is too drunk and not in full control of themselves, to stop serving them.
Gambling addicts are the same, they dont have control.
It is one of the reasons I have always been against having links on the table to the casino, to me its a way to get a few extra quid out of someone who isnt fully in control
Morally most people wouldnt serve someone who was already completely smashed
I don't even remember this! Can you PM me the players name please?
I wouldn't have gone mad, if someone is genuinely in trouble then I would not enjoy taking their money and I would encourage them to get help, but like you say we are all responsible adults and make our own decisions to gamble.
wth was i doing on a 40nl table anyway lolz.
However, if you know them and you can see that they have lost the plot, then a gentle word in the chat box would be a nice touch.
The anonymity of a computer screen makes people act differently though. There are some who will feel that you almost have an obligation to take his cash - what a perverse justification this is!
did i feel sorry for him ~no
did i think he had a problem ~ yes he couldnt play poker
did i feel guilty ~no ,i am sure somebody would do the same to me if they had the chance
you have to be a bit rutheless to be a winner,if he didnt give me his money he would of give it somebody else,he is an adult and his accountable for his actions,isay tough luck mate and thanx for the cash
Someone else has compared this to a stranger in a bar throwing all his money into a bandit. I dont think this is anywhere near the same. Compare it to someone playing you at pool £40 a game and he is clearly in no state to play, are you still feeling comfortable playing this guy after beating him X amount of times at what point do you say to yourself 'im selling my soul here'
Bigbluster I was playing cash live last friday and was doing quite nicely out of someone who felt the need to bluff at me every hand I played. Not once did I feel guilty about it, the anonymity of a computer screen has no impact on how I behave towards someone and I still have good morals imo.
Greg it was prob at 20nl mastercash table where he was buying back in for 200bbs!
pm'd greg the nick though
Free money is the best money i wouldn't say a thing i've done it my self after getting knocked out of a tournament just jumped on a table and spewed by shoving every hand
blowing your BR is more fun though i do this about...... 3 times a week
dropped from 115 to 15 but back up to 50 playing 2/4p now
that was the same table that scotty77 jumped on and stacked me with his runner runner flush.
Its at that time i went to bed lol