Stupidly Gambling For Millions Is Admirable?

[David Sklansky]

Normally I would post this on SMP but my other thread makes it relevant here.

It seems like a lot of people think it is admirable, or romantic or exciting to risk millions of dollars on gambling games with little or no edge. They somehow equate that with other entrepreneurs who pursue their dreams with little thought of the downside.

But don't you think there is a difference? I'm all for betting big money with an edge that justifies it. And I have no problem if people want to gamble big money without this edge. But to call this second category "admirable" seems totally wrong. Not when the world is in the state it is in. One well known hi roller professes strong religious conviction and goes on to lose half a million in a golf game he has little chance in. The loss doesn't affect him much, meaning he could have done some good with it. Fine. That's his right. But to ADMIRE the fact that he has gamble? Cmon. He wasn't risking his money in the hopes of starting a company that would turn apples into fuel. He was betting a half a million dolllars on a GOLF GAME. With the worst of it. You might admire that kind of activity. Forgive me if I don't.

[Yuv]

I doubt many admires it. We're just entertained.

It's like watching the nosebleed games on ft, especially when a new comer is making a run that will almost certainly end in his bustoness. We basically treat this like reality TV.

[Arnold_O]

yeah but a lot of these guys score good snapper and i admire that

unless they is really ugly then they dont score anything

[crancspanc]

[ QUOTE ]

unless they is really ugly then they dont score anything

[/ QUOTE ]

Not true, even the mouth gets some snapper.

[gilbert]

[ QUOTE ]
yeah but a lot of these guys score good snapper and i admire that

unless they is really ugly then they dont score anything

[/ QUOTE ]

QFMFT

[Mike Gallo]

One well known hi roller professes strong religious conviction and goes on to lose half a million in a golf game he has little chance in.

=

[shaniac]

I agree with this sentiment.

Poker players today are in a unique place in time and space, and if they really want to be part of the larger world, they should try to connect in more real ways with things that aren't always related to gambling lots of money. The contest for Biggest Degenerate will never be won, so it would be far more enlightened to take that money and do something useful with it. (Edit: At least in the case of someone trying to pursue some version of religious enlightenment with or without poker).

I also think it's crazy that we have the unique opportunity to travel to lots of amazing places in the world, in near first-class style and with relative ease, and the only thing most poker players could tell you about those locations is how good the cash games were or how much they flipped for over dinner.

[Yuv]

I def agree with that, shaniac. I'm no where near being a successful poker player, but I did get to travel a bit over the last two years. Getting poker players to do something that isn't gambling related is nearly an impossible task, and it really bugged me.

[shaniac]

Yeah, sorry we never made it to Louis XV, Yuv. Next year, for sure!

[moving shapes]

I find the ups and downs of gambling for large amounts of money fascinating - with or without an edge.

I admire someone with good bankroll management.