Poker as Philanthropy

[Tomatoes]

Poker as Philanthropy:

Government and media propagandists would like the public to believe that poker is harmful to individuals and even to society in general. However, the truth of the matter is that poker can be an enjoyable pastime and even a doorway to moral and spiritual growth.
People play poker because it is fun, this is true for amateurs and professionals alike. In order for you to play you need at least one opponent. If I agree to play in a game with you, my participation in the game allows you to play and therefore have fun. That's my gift to you, I permit you to have fun by playing with you. But I also benefit; because my gift to you makes you happy and because I am an inherently social and gregarious creature, your happiness therefore makes me happy. And from your point of view; by accepting my gift to you and seeing the resulting happiness that I inadvertently gain from your happiness, you too are now a happier and more spiritually fulfilled social creature. It's a win/win situation! And as it turns out (and as an unexpected bonus for me), I like poker too! So I'm a double winner! No, wait... I'm a triple winner! Because if I hadn't made you aware of the philanthropic aspect of poker you would only be playing at what we philosophers call "first level delectation". Now you have achieved second level delectation! And by enlightening you I have of course attained the much coveted third level! Is there a fourth level? I'll leave that for you to discover, but for now, call me Mahatma or call crazy... shuffle the cards and deal me a double shot of "A" for Altruism!

(Take that Bill Frist!)

I think my next post will be titled: The exclamation point as an indicator of high intelligence and deep spirituality!

[yukoncpa]

This sort of post hugely interests me. Is it possible that any game of skill could be detrimental overall to the participants? I suppose if you were playing the Mayan game of Pitz where the losing team was killed, than perhaps so. At some point, extreme stakes are so detrimental to bad players, that the net results are negative. But in more moderate settings, one would think that the overall logic and decision making involved in a game of skill, would be, at least overall, beneficial to the participants.

[Tomatoes]

[ QUOTE ]
...Mayan game of Pitz...

[/ QUOTE ]
This reminds me of an Aztec game (don't recall the name) where the captain of the winning team is sacrificed and achieves immortality or something... in any case it's something pretty darn neat and he (supposedly) goes to his death willingly and even joyfully! This must create an interesting ambivalence in the mind of the captain in his effort to "win" the game... and what about his thoughts on being elected captain by the other players?

[hmkpoker]

[ QUOTE ]
However, the truth of the matter is that poker can be an enjoyable pastime and even a doorway to moral and spiritual growth.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't agree with this at all. In fact, I don't think I can think of a single activity I've ever engaged in that was less "spiritual" than playing poker. Go to any poker room in a big casino, pick any table, and look at the faces of the players. Chances are, they don't look happy. They look tweaked, burnt, intense and miserable. Lots of them are there because their impaired judgement makes them think they can win, and frankly any person there is hoping that they'll go on a winning streak and leave with all the cash at everyone's expense. Bad players are frequently invited to home poker games because, well, they're bad and other players want to exploit that.

While I think what Bill Frist did was absolutely dispicable, I think this world would be happier if fewer people played poker.