Being told "professional poker doesn't contribute to society."

[davmcg]

It is just a game - do any games "contribute to society"? Whether an individual should "contribute to society" is a different question.

[brianpower]

Have some kids and raise them well, there ya go, job done.

[internetdonk]

Selfpleasure doest contribute to society but people do it every day, sometimes several times a day...

[Number36]

I win most of my money from foreigners. Therefore I create wealth in my own country. If some Frenchman donks off a stack to me and I go spend it then at least 'my society' is better off.

[Hock_]

I have no obligation to contribute to society.

[Torello]

The professional gambler occupation is nearly unique in being completely unproductive in the broad economic sense.

What matters is the next philosophical question of whether that's actually important to you. It doesn't matter to me.

[calmasahinducow]

You create jobs for poker dealers

[members_only]

[ QUOTE ]
The professional gambler occupation is nearly unique in being completely unproductive in the broad economic sense.


[/ QUOTE ]

This is really it.

Also, something that no-one seems to have mentioned (although I've only read the first page) is that most poker pros - particularly of the new online breed - are very intelligent and capable people who probably ought to be doing something nobler with themselves.

[bigbb33]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The professional gambler occupation is nearly unique in being completely unproductive in the broad economic sense.


[/ QUOTE ]

This is really it.

Also, something that no-one seems to have mentioned (although I've only read the first page) is that most poker pros - particularly of the new online breed - are very intelligent and capable people who probably ought to be doing something nobler with themselves.

[/ QUOTE ]

Reply:

[ QUOTE ]
Until society wants to give me all the material possessions, food, etc I want for free, I don't give a [censored]. But as long as my computer costs money, rent isn't free, and I have to pay for food, I'm not going to make it a priority to 'contribute to society' in the act of making money. I'm going to make getting money my priority. So personally, I don't give a [censored] what you or anyone else thinks.

Not that you are higher or mightier (if you aren't a poker pro) anyway. You think the trashman does my trash because he wants to contribute to society? [censored] that, he collects the trash because it's highest paying job he could get with his skillset and history. Same for the bank clerks and grocery managers. The reason other people bring up the 'contribution to society' is because they are jealous and can't stand the fact that I/you make so much money 'easily'.

And I don't give a [censored].

[/ QUOTE ]

[censored] your nobility. If I can make the same amount of money/hour doing a more noble and enjoyable thing, I'll do it, but until you present that to me, go [censored] yourself and your 'nobility'.

[curtains]

[ QUOTE ]
Even people who do not object to gambling because of moral or spiritual beliefs often come up with this one. Anyone have a good answer? Shouldn't you quit poker now and run off to become a doctor so that you can "contribute to society?"

Greenstein has obviously decided he doesn't contribute and has decided to give to charity, but I think pro poker contributes by itself -- it's just a little difficult to explain.

Give it a shot.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just do something else in the rest of your time to "contribute to society".