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

[DrSpitzvogel]

Quote:
Well I guess you are some kind of entertainer for amateur players who want to play some cards. You offer them the action they want.
They pay you with the money they lose



They could play without professionals and have just as much fun, maybe more, without live pro nits at the table.



What about Andy Beal?

[justscott]

I didn't sign the social contract.

[RiverPlay]

[ QUOTE ]
Well I guess you are some kind of entertainer for amateur players who want to play some cards. You offer them the action they want.
They pay you with the money they lose

[/ QUOTE ]

[king_of_drafts]

[ QUOTE ]
How does Wall Street contribute to society?

How does the President of the United States contribute to society?

[/ QUOTE ]

don't answer a question with a question you societal leech

[Tien]

If you live in America don't you pay a hefty amount of taxes?

Don't taxes contribute to society?


Contributing to society is so relative it cannot be argued. Thousands of job descriptions out there don't "contribute" to society but there are no social stigmas attached to it.

If you were a VP for a tabacco / alcohol company people wouldn't say anything about "contribution".

If you owned a casino no one would really cough down your neck about "contribution".

If you are a salesman for some useless medical drug / pill that doesn't help people do anything would people give you grief about not "contributing"?

No.

Next time someone asks you that question, just say you pay a lot in taxes and that you are helping paying their kids to go to elementary / highschool as well as helping build roads and pay salaries for civil servants and if they don't think that is contribution they can go screw themselves.

[SlowHabit]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How does Wall Street contribute to society?

How does the President of the United States contribute to society?

[/ QUOTE ]

1. Wall Street helps us buy and sell companies.
2. The president helps us bomb the brown people. Duh

[/ QUOTE ]
I hope you're leveling regarding #1.

[Lyric]

[ QUOTE ]
If you live in America don't you pay a hefty amount of taxes?

Don't taxes contribute to society?


Contributing to society is so relative it cannot be argued. Thousands of job descriptions out there don't "contribute" to society but there are no social stigmas attached to it.

If you were a VP for a tabacco / alcohol company people wouldn't say anything about "contribution".

If you owned a casino no one would really cough down your neck about "contribution".

If you are a salesman for some useless medical drug / pill that doesn't help people do anything would people give you grief about not "contributing"?

No.

Next time someone asks you that question, just say you pay a lot in taxes and that you are helping paying their kids to go to elementary / highschool as well as helping build roads and pay salaries for civil servants and if they don't think that is contribution they can go screw themselves.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good point. What about countries where professional poker players don't pay taxes?

[slickss]

Unless it is televised, poker is just an isolated event inside some room. Nobody not at that table benefit from the game taking place.

Televised poker could be considered entertainment, in the same way as football games, and has a purpose in society.

The society needs leaders (e.g. The President).
The society needs lawyers.
The society needs doctors.
The society needs bank clerks.

I have problems finding any profession that is comparable to poker players in terms of society uselessness.

Edit: Taxes do contribute to society. I'm looking past that right now.

[Willy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Professionals entertain recreational players so i consider them entertainers like actors ball players etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

What about Andy Beal?

[/ QUOTE ]
What about him??

[Lyric]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How does Wall Street contribute to society?

How does the President of the United States contribute to society?

[/ QUOTE ]

1. Wall Street helps us buy and sell companies.
2. The president helps us bomb the brown people. Duh

[/ QUOTE ]
I hope you're leveling regarding #1.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, no. The actual stock markets help us buy and sell companies. The talking heads at least think they are helping us in some way... but do we really think we're helping anyone?