What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

I am 74 years old, mentally alert and very slightly disabled. I love playing holdem and spend at least 4 hours a day doing so. I am a pretty good player, playing low limit tournaments and I do not gamble. I have played poker all my life with a gap of 20 years between the age of 40 to 60.
My family are not in the least bit interested in the game and maintain that I am wasting my time. According to them, I am obsessed and could best be using my time by birdwatching or doing charitable work.
What can I say to them that will help them understand what it is that I am doing and why I'm doing it? In fact I would like to understand the why's and wherefor's of what I am doing.
Apart from any advice anyone can give me, perhaps I can be referred to a book or two that would help.
There is a certain degree of desperation in this plea for help.

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

Mentally stimulating your brain which will help ward off alzheimers and senility.

Your 74, tell them to mind their own damn business.

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

I think only you can answer "Why" you're doing it? I would imagine
- The enjoyment
- Keeping one's mind active (that one of the reasons I play- I'm 37 and I need it!)
- The social aspect
- The challenge?
- Culture (ie you always been surrounded by poker- the people you've socialised with all play)
- etc
- etc.

Much respect to you for playing at your age. This is one of the main things I love about poker, you don't have to give it up as you get older- thus making all the time and effort invested, worthwhile.

All the best.

Ian

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

Ask your family if they don't want you to be happy...

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Ask your family why they don't want you to be happy...

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

Hay man.
All i can say keep playing. Enjoy what U R having,your mind is sharp, U have people to talk to about Poker (2+2 forrum).
And U R my inspiration at the moment after having bead hand i been thinking of giving up (being 53 old and see young kids winning and playing), but not now. Would love to get to play Poker when i am you age if i can.
Bottom line.
Enjoy and play.

Regards

John - Grasshopper of Poker Holdem

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

What?

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

WHAT? - there is somebody OLDER then me playing online? Congrats man!!!

Look at it from their side. To them what you are doing is exactly like playing a video game.

If you are winning you must share the wealth, treat them to something and make sure you say it is from poker winnings.

Personally I took my wife to the Virgin Islands and it was all on poker Winnings. This sort of won her over! you don't have to go THAT far but they must see results of your "play time".

It's called a family tax.

What you are doing stimulates the brain cells, keeps the brain active and THAT is very important.

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

Tell them when they are older than you then they can tell you what to do.

Bird watching??? Pleeeeeeze.

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

My poker dong is bigger than yours.

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

Ï worked in a high-tech company and the people working with complex technology at a higher seemed to stay much sharper than the average person at that age, also in every way seemed younger (also physically). Tell them you do it to stay young longer. [end polite version]

What I would say [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]: "STFU, I have worked my whole life, I am 74, I spend my free time as I want and it is none of your [censored] business."

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

Dont listen to them, you are an adult. I know my grandma is always bored, so if you found something you enjoy, then do it ! (as long as your not hurting yourself or others of course)

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

[ QUOTE ]
My poker dong is bigger than yours.

[/ QUOTE ]

ROTFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

Tell them you enjoy what you do, and at your age you have earned that right.

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

[ QUOTE ]
My family are not in the least bit interested in the game and maintain that I am wasting my time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well you're retired (I assume), and correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the point of retirement to enjoy yourself? How is playing poker any more of a "waste of time" than any of these family-approved activities? You earned the right to enjoy your retirement however you choose to through decades of work.

By the way, if my family were to act like this toward me, I'd be quite offended. It's both condescending and rude of them to behave like that IMHO.

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

EDIT: Too mean. Couldn't follow through with it...

Re: What is poker dong for my well-being?
 

I would hope that by the age of 74 you would no longer have to justify your actions for the things you enjoy, assuming ofcourse they do not have a detrimental effect on your or others' lives. The fact that you are asking this question on a forum composed of mostly 20-somethings is just shocking.