[SinCityGuy]

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In the few years that I've been playing, it's been very clear to me that along w/ a lot of really great people, the poker world also contains many of the sleaziest, scuzziest characters around.

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I have found the same to be true, which is one of several reasons that I don’t play live anymore. As El D pointed out, you often end up sitting with the lowest common denominators of society -- be it ethics, courtesy, personal hygiene, or whatever. Even many of the “good” players are miserable table-coaching nits, including a couple of writers (not you, Ed). Guys like Andy Fox, Tommy Angelo, Clarkmeister, etc. – true ambassadors of the game, are becoming a rare commodity.

Online, I can turn off the chat and reduce everyone to tendencies and betting patterns. If congressional legislation passes and kills the quality of the online games, I’m back to the 8 to 5 corporate world with no regrets.