QUESTION TO THE PROS?...... food for thought

[Mack Truck]

no one would argue against tobacco and alcohol being addictive, and that
even a person who smokes daily, lives a productive life, and dies a
natural death was an addict ... the same goes for alcohol ... using an
addictive drug/x regularly leads to addiction regardless of weather or not
it affects you in a negative way...
most would also aggree that one drug/addiction can easily lead to another

so my question is: if gambling can be addictive, (assuming of course poker
and other skill/chance games would be classified under gambling) and
practicing something addictive daily/reguarly will inevitably cause an
addiction, are poker pros/everyday players addicts regardless of there
bankroll? ... And better yet ... must they concern themselves with opening
the door to other addictions?

_________________________________________________________________
Posted using RecPoker.com - http://www.recpoker.com

[WannaBe]

Not a pro but, while some people do seem to be addicted to gambling. To say
that just because you participate in something daily makes you an addict is
like saying I am addicted to drving my car or working.

In fact, for the pros poker is working. Why are they any more addicted to
poker than you are to your job.

I also don't completely buy into the whole behavioral addiction scheme.
Behavioral addiction is different than physical addiction. Some are prone
to obsessive behaviors and those people are more likely to become addicted
to any behavior. Golf, Sex, Gambling, Sailing, etc. It's a person problem
not a poker problem.

Why we have to make excuses for a lack of self-control I'll never
understand.




"Mack Truck" <CarvedOutOfwood@aol.com> wrote in message
news:3f3a9e10$0$63757$9a6e19ea@news.newshosting.com...
> no one would argue against tobacco and alcohol being addictive, and that
> even a person who smokes daily, lives a productive life, and dies a
> natural death was an addict ... the same goes for alcohol ... using an
> addictive drug/x regularly leads to addiction regardless of weather or not
> it affects you in a negative way...
> most would also aggree that one drug/addiction can easily lead to another
>
> so my question is: if gambling can be addictive, (assuming of course poker
> and other skill/chance games would be classified under gambling) and
> practicing something addictive daily/reguarly will inevitably cause an
> addiction, are poker pros/everyday players addicts regardless of there
> bankroll? ... And better yet ... must they concern themselves with opening
> the door to other addictions?
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Posted using RecPoker.com - http://www.recpoker.com
>
>

[steve]

as someone who goes to the casino between 2 and 4 times a week to play
poker, i have to say no to your theory. I have NEVER played anything in
the casino other than poker not a hand of blackjack not a pull on the
slot machine NOTHING. it doesn't interest me in the least and the
strange thing is i know how to play blackjack and craps very well i know
when to split, double down, increase my bet when the deck becomes
favorable(i have some card counting ability) so i have to say no to
poker leading to other gambling, i'm sure some people have this problem
but it is more likely a personality disorder than the addictiveness of
poker

-- Posted via RGP ACCESS at http://www.LiveActionPoker.com

$50 Deposit Bonus at Pacific Poker - http://www.LiveActionPoker.com/pp

[patrick]

"Mack Truck" <CarvedOutOfwood@aol.com> wrote in message
news:3f3a9e10$0$63757$9a6e19ea@news.newshosting.com...
> no one would argue against tobacco and alcohol being addictive, and that
> even a person who smokes daily, lives a productive life, and dies a
> natural death was an addict ... the same goes for alcohol ... using an
> addictive drug/x regularly leads to addiction regardless of weather or not
> it affects you in a negative way...
> most would also aggree that one drug/addiction can easily lead to another
>
> so my question is: if gambling can be addictive, (assuming of course poker
> and other skill/chance games would be classified under gambling) and
> practicing something addictive daily/reguarly will inevitably cause an
> addiction, are poker pros/everyday players addicts regardless of there
> bankroll? ...

yes. so is any sport addictive if u like it enough like golf for
example.

And better yet ... must they concern themselves with opening
> the door to other addictions?

No. (Besides...there's no time for other addictions)

e.g. smoking doesnt lead to drinking

patrick

>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Posted using RecPoker.com - http://www.recpoker.com
>
>

[J12325]

Anything done to an unhealthy excess is an addiction or an obsession (take your
pick)..... In moderation and within limits it's simply a part of our lives
which brings us enjoyment. I enjoy playing poker and I'm reasonably successful
at it but there are days I don't feel like playing. Poker is associated with
gambling in general, money is bet, won and lost by the spin of the wheel, roll
of the dice or the draw of the cards. Is everyone in a casino an obsessed
addict? Hardly, but a few I have to admit play more then is healthy or prudent.
Overweight? In McDonalds? Ordering a supesized BigMac Meal? Are you an obsessed
addicted glutton? Could be, but not everyone in McDonalds is. Next week I'm
going to Vegas and yes I'll probably play poker 8 to 10 hrs a day, when I feel
like it.... what am I?

[Jeff Porten]

Check out the 20 questions at Gamblers Anonymous; of those, only 1
question (not spending bankroll on other things) would necessarily be
answered yes by all pros. The rest, I'm sure many of them would also
agree to, but it's not inherent to the life of the pro.

Secondly, there's a presumption that the word "gambling" there means
"gambling with -EV". Many pros don't consider +EV activities to be
gambling, so they'd answer no straight down the board.

Finally, for the guy who said that compulsive gambling is just "poor
self control", go out and get a clue. There are testable genetic
conditions that can predispose you to addictions, and gambling is one of
them; cf. the earlier post on the Parkinson's drug that induced
compulsive gambling in some of its trial subjects. Yes, *some* people
gamble too much because they lack self-control, but *some* people are
sick and need help. Attitudes like yours just make their situations all
the worse.