Is there a more frustrating and soul destroying pastime than poker?

[bwadbwoy]

These strike me as professions rather than pastimes.

[SlowStroke]

Poker can work against the good player's self-esteem and happiness no matter how much money he wins since the source of self-esteem and happiness lies in being productive, and poker is a nonproductive activity. Also, in the long run, a person will almost always earn more money by pursuing productive routes rather than nonproductive or destructive routes.

Furthermore, in poker, the good player must strive to surround himself with losers--with people who are constantly defaulting on the use of their minds--the opposite kind of people whom the good player could respect and enjoy. That poker is not a very satisfying or rewarding way for him to consume large, irreplaceable portions of his life.... The good player, therefore, may be the biggest loser in the game.

Frank R. Wallace's POKER, A GUARANTEED INCOME FOR LIFE