[Mitch Evans]

What the hell is there to debate? Of course it doesn't contribute to society, but who cares? If you feel the need to contribute, go do volunteer work at a local hospital or something. If not, dont. What you do for a living does not define who you are as a person, nor should you care what others’ perceptions of you are based solely on your means of livelihood.

People who bag on poker players for not contributing to society, by playing for a living, probably have a job they hate and wish they could sit on their ass, collect money, and not contribute, too. People who play for a living that get defensive and rationalize ways their play actually contributes, are only offended because they realize the people bagging on them are correct.