September Low-Content Thread

[surfdoc]

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right but it's like telling an alcoholic "hey, dont drink".

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it's not like that at all, but that is neither here nor there. i hope the kid finishes school.

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In real non-poker life I have a fairly significant amount of experience dealing with addiction behavior. I don't really care to debate the merits of the above statement. I will say however that the odds of Sean finishing school and having it be a large mistake are small and the odds of Sean not finishing school and having it be a large mistake are significant. Life is a series of choices and some are difficult. Although going back to school is always an option, it actually happens so rarely that the decision to quit carries with it a degree of finality. Leaving yourself options for when you make the wrong decision is pretty important especially when you are in your early 20's and don't have the experience to sort some of these things out.

Hearing about this and talking to mike made me so concerned that I did what I do when any difficult decision arises.. I consulted the family. My wife has all the usual arguments that aren't worth sharing but my six year old looks up from her afternoon snack and says, "daddy, why doesn't he just finish school AND play poker." Simple yes, but seems like the best line by a long shot.

Mike, I realize that this all sounds somewhat hypocritical coming from a guy who spent so many years in school and then would really rather just play poker. If Sean wasn't so close to being done then this would be a tougher decision. I have no doubt in Sean's talent as a player but things like this test discipline and focus that will be essential to succeed no matter what path is chosen. Poker will probably always be there but if it doesn't work out getting a job without a degree these days is pretty tough. My sister owns a staffing company and basically places candidates in appropriate jobs. With no degree there are basically no good options.

I feel amazingly old posting this but for some reason I have been troubled by this one and seeing what is going on with sean for a while now.

Sean, I am sorry your personal business got posted in the forum and I want you to know that I wouldn't have chimed in publically unless it was already out there. I am happy to talk to you in person if you like and I plan on being in LA tomorrow if you are around. I'll PM you my cell or you can get it from mike.

[ssmallz]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
right but it's like telling an alcoholic "hey, dont drink".

[/ QUOTE ]

it's not like that at all, but that is neither here nor there. i hope the kid finishes school.

[/ QUOTE ]


In real non-poker life I have a fairly significant amount of experience dealing with addiction behavior. I don't really care to debate the merits of the above statement. I will say however that the odds of Sean finishing school and having it be a large mistake are small and the odds of Sean not finishing school and having it be a large mistake are significant. Life is a series of choices and some are difficult. Although going back to school is always an option, it actually happens so rarely that the decision to quit carries with it a degree of finality. Leaving yourself options for when you make the wrong decision is pretty important especially when you are in your early 20's and don't have the experience to sort some of these things out.

Hearing about this and talking to mike made me so concerned that I did what I do when any difficult decision arises.. I consulted the family. My wife has all the usual arguments that aren't worth sharing but my six year old looks up from her afternoon snack and says, "daddy, why doesn't he just finish school AND play poker." Simple yes, but seems like the best line by a long shot.

Mike, I realize that this all sounds somewhat hypocritical coming from a guy who spent so many years in school and then would really rather just play poker. If Sean wasn't so close to being done then this would be a tougher decision. I have no doubt in Sean's talent as a player but things like this test discipline and focus that will be essential to succeed no matter what path is chosen. Poker will probably always be there but if it doesn't work out getting a job without a degree these days is pretty tough. My sister owns a staffing company and basically places candidates in appropriate jobs. With no degree there are basically no good options.

I feel amazingly old posting this but for some reason I have been troubled by this one and seeing what is going on with sean for a while now.

Sean, I am sorry your personal business got posted in the forum and I want you to know that I wouldn't have chimed in publically unless it was already out there. I am happy to talk to you in person if you like and I plan on being in LA tomorrow if you are around. I'll PM you my cell or you can get it from mike.

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I whole heartedly agree with surfdoc's advice above. Poker is a great hobby and 2nd income but to do it as a primary job is just tough. Dealing with expenses and the day to day life is tough enough w/a steady paycheck. Poker, no matter how good you are, is not a steady paycheck. When you lose 20k in a month, you've still gotta pay the rent, bills, food, etc. Stay in school keep your options open, don't put your life into a position where your drawing to 1 out. Having a degree = having many outs to win.

[stinkypete]

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I will say however that the odds of Sean finishing school and having it be a large mistake are small

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i agree with you for the most part, but this part isn't necessarily true.

i don't know how far howmany is in school, but if he has 3+ years to go and he knows that he wants poker to be his career and he has the results and the bankroll to show that he can make a good living at it even if the games get tougher over the next 5-10 years, he should go for it.

wasting 3 years in school can be a big mistake. it's expensive and it's time consuming. he could be spending that time becoming a better player and taking advantage of the "golden years" of poker. i know i would be a much better player if i spent half the time i spend on school studying poker.

but if he's a slacker at heart like i am, and quitting school wouldn't help his poker game much, there's no reason to quit. i spent the last year out of school, playing poker for the most part. the plan was to make money and get good at poker, but i don't think i made any more money or improved my game any more than the previous year.

howmany, if you're considering quitting school, ask yourself if you're motivated enough to really benefit from that decision. i think most people are not.

[emerson]

With the time he spends in casinos, playing on line, and discussing poker here, how would it be even remotely possible for him to go to school and study? It will not be possible. His mind is always on poker. The only hope would be him going broke, getting disgusted with poker, and taking lots of time away from the game.

[surfdoc]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I will say however that the odds of Sean finishing school and having it be a large mistake are small

[/ QUOTE ]

i agree with you for the most part, but this part isn't necessarily true.

i don't know how far howmany is in school, but if he has 3+ years to go and he knows that he wants poker to be his career and he has the results and the bankroll to show that he can make a good living at it even if the games get tougher over the next 5-10 years, he should go for it.

wasting 3 years in school can be a big mistake. it's expensive and it's time consuming. he could be spending that time becoming a better player and taking advantage of the "golden years" of poker. i know i would be a much better player if i spent half the time i spend on school studying poker.

but if he's a slacker at heart like i am, and quitting school wouldn't help his poker game much, there's no reason to quit. i spent the last year out of school, playing poker for the most part. the plan was to make money and get good at poker, but i don't think i made any more money or improved my game any more than the previous year.

howmany, if you're considering quitting school, ask yourself if you're motivated enough to really benefit from that decision. i think most people are not.

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Well, he is 21 years old and legal to play live so I am pretty sure he is in his 4th year. I am not sure if he will need 5 or not to get through.

[HOWMANY]

I am 4th year and will be able to graduate easily this year if I majored in history but will need 5 to graduate in anything even remotely nonretarded.

I am not dropping out or even thinking about it. If I had been running golden for the past 98320071235823 hours I probably wouldn't entertain the idea, when I get bloodbathed every session it makes even less sense.

As for poker, 17 hour session of 60 to 40 to 60 because the 60 broke for a few hours. Start out +5k in 60 in the first couple hours, get stuck a rack and be +1500 when game breaks. Lose like 2600 in 40 because winning pots is not my specialty. Win a rack in 60 and end the session at a depressing +1k. One day I'll fly. Maybe one day I will be the guy with KK against TT on the KT4r flop too against an over aggro guy that has lost every hand the past 600 hours and mistakenly thinks he might finally win after flopping the second nuts. I won't get my hopes up though. Or maybe one day when a retard caps A4s on the button vs my AQ bb 3bet the board won't come 43TAX.

[gameoverjc]

just a quick question... how did howmany grind his way up so fast at age of 21?

online primarily?

[Sailboats]

On some other news... who comes up to you at a poker table and says "OMG ARE U THE GUY FROM 2+2 THAT POSTS IN THE MONSTER THREAD!!" Haha happed to PJ not me though.

Oh and on to other news, that article about me playing poker was published on my schools newspaper.

Here's the cover with my quote:
http://lbunion.com/blog/wp-content/u...e-01-cover.pdf

and here is the me in the featured page:
http://lbunion.com/blog/wp-content/u...08-feature.pdf

yep i can cross out make it into school newspaper off of my life list.

[private joker]

nh Sailboats

[jkamowitz]

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just a quick question... how did howmany grind his way up so fast at age of 21?

online primarily?

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Like many 21 year olds, he clearly studied hard, worked hard and decided a long time ago to put in the mental effort. I was playing 40/80 a few weeks ago asking myself the same question.