blonde poker forum

Poker Forums => The Rail => Topic started by: ariston on March 07, 2007, 03:27:10 AM



Title: morality in poker
Post by: ariston on March 07, 2007, 03:27:10 AM
Following on from the thread on cheating (and after reading some of the responses I say forget the flushy for mod campaign I think he's going for a sainthood) heres a moral dilema for you.

 Say tomorrow you logged in to stars/crypto/betfair or whichever site is your poison and found when you sat at any cash table due to a glitch in the software you could see all your opponents hole cards. How many of you would log out and send an email to the site or how many of you would go and sit on the biggest table you could buy into and sit with a bunch of scandies?

You don't know how long this glitch will last or if you have ever been done by somebody else who has had the power to see your cards so would you log out or play?


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: thetank on March 07, 2007, 03:32:50 AM
If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

40% Paranoia 30% morality for a total of 70% beats the 30% greed in me.
I think I'm being scammed, and cash out.



Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: ariston on March 07, 2007, 03:35:55 AM
I'd be cashing out as well but would it be before or after you've raked a few pots on the river when you know for certain your hand is good.

Would you not at least try a few games tank and run your roll up before withdrawing and leaving a bit in to keep playing? Mabe withdrawing every hour or two just in case anyone else has the same glitch.


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: KingPoker on March 07, 2007, 03:39:20 AM
I dont care what you say you would play!
Its so obvious that there is no point lying, which you definately are if you say you wouldnt play a single hand.



Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: thetank on March 07, 2007, 03:42:52 AM
No, I'd be feart playing any hands.

If I do win, they may suspend my cashout pending investigation or something.

Also, with thousands playing online, the phonomenom would not be there for just me surely. Some other mug will be milking it for all its worth.
The site is on to it very soon, decides to keep all monies till they sort it out, might never get it back, I dunno.

Every penny I have there is requested to be refunded the same minute I see this.


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: KingPoker on March 07, 2007, 03:45:16 AM
yeh that would concern me too but what about x-ray specs then in a live game. If it were possible would you?


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: ariston on March 07, 2007, 03:45:50 AM
I just cant wait to see what saint flushy of brighton would do.

 If you would play a single hand in this scenario you should be ashamed of giving the other guy a hard time in the other thread. Just because its online there is no difference whatsover- its still poker for money and somebody is still getting greased up because you know his hand (for a lot more money online btw).

 Of course myself and Tikay would still probably manage to have a losing session even if we knew everyones hole cards ;)


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: ariston on March 07, 2007, 03:48:55 AM
Ok tank will change the parameters. There is no comeback from the site as this is a one off for 24hrs and untraceable. Your account isn't going to be frozen and no investigation its up to you wether you take advantage or not. You still not playing?


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: KingPoker on March 07, 2007, 03:52:35 AM
Exactly but it really would depend on who more than where for me. I would never ever rip off my friends, friendly locals or newbies but if there is some rich arrogant bazza or some young (er) showoff i would bleed them dry!
But again let me clarify i am in the group of tell them once about it and after that they are fair game!

Ok tank will change the parameters. There is no comeback from the site as this is a one off for 24hrs and untraceable. Your account isn't going to be frozen and no investigation its up to you wether you take advantage or not. You still not playing?

He's too paranoid as already mentioned! He's like mel gibson in that conspiracy film!


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: thetank on March 07, 2007, 03:52:45 AM

Just because its online there is no difference whatsover


I don't buy into this.

Two different beasts.

I play online for a job, money making is off the upmost importance for a good night.

I play live for a laff, good craic at the table is of the upmost importance for a good night.


I can wire my moral compass any way I choose for each one seperately.


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: thetank on March 07, 2007, 03:54:12 AM
Ok tank will change the parameters. There is no comeback from the site as this is a one off for 24hrs and untraceable. Your account isn't going to be frozen and no investigation its up to you wether you take advantage or not. You still not playing?

How do I know all this?

If I can foretell the future like that, I'm cashing out and going to the dog track.


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: KingPoker on March 07, 2007, 03:56:22 AM
what if you had a mate who worked for stars technical support and he had a way of programming your software to show the cards face up whcih would be untracable..............


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: thetank on March 07, 2007, 03:57:27 AM
The example you're looking for, is the next door neighbour is playing in his garden.

On his deckchair, with his wireless laptop, you can see his holecards through your window all day.

He suddenly joins the same single table tourney as you, it begins before you realise it's him......


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: KingPoker on March 07, 2007, 03:59:50 AM
The example you're looking for, is the next door neighbour is playing in his garden.

you can see his holecards through your window all day.

He suddenly joins the same single table tourney as you, it begins before you realise it's him......

But in that scenario you can only see one of you opponents hands not all the others


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: ariston on March 07, 2007, 04:00:02 AM
Many people play live for a living and its important to them to make money live so that argument doesn't wash with me either tank. Its good to see peoples morality can be different online to live and how people can chose to turn their morality on or off whenever it suits them.

Its a hypothetical scenario tank ffs stop being so paranoid about getting your account frozen lol


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: thetank on March 07, 2007, 04:05:15 AM

Many people play live for a living and its important to them to make money live so that argument doesn't wash with me either tank.


True, and that's why I try not to be too indignant and judgemental.

Lots of things are black and white, but many more can be seen from various perspectives.


Reminds me of one of my favourite quotes....

"Before you criticize a man, you should walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you is dissing him you'll be a mile away and you'll have his sneakers"


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: action man on March 07, 2007, 05:32:25 AM
i wouldn' sleep for days if this happened, in fact i may dream of it tonight


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: thetank on March 07, 2007, 06:40:10 AM
The example you're looking for, is the next door neighbour is playing in his garden.

you can see his holecards through your window all day.

He suddenly joins the same single table tourney as you, it begins before you realise it's him......

But in that scenario you can only see one of you opponents hands not all the others

So more like the live poker scenario in the other thread then?

How much edge are you looking for before you just rob a bank  :D


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: taximan007 on March 07, 2007, 07:25:33 AM
I beleive in the "scenario" Ariston describes, "one off 24 hour no comeback, untracable", very few players can say "hand on heart" they wouldnt sit at a table and cream it for all its worth. "easy money" can be a very tempting thing.

just my opinion


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: M3boy on March 07, 2007, 09:35:28 AM
Nice post Ariston.

Interesting one indeed!


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: iceman on March 07, 2007, 09:54:53 AM
as the question is hypothetical and the parameters changed then what if this table contained 2,3 or 4 peple you are aquainted with is it still ok or is it just ok to take money from people you dont know?


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: M3boy on March 07, 2007, 09:56:34 AM
as the question is hypothetical and the parameters changed then what if this table contained 2,3 or 4 peple you are aquainted with is it still ok or is it just ok to take money from people you dont know?

I do not think this is relavent, as at a poker table, you play the same against someone who know as to someone you dont know.


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: iceman on March 07, 2007, 09:59:31 AM
the relevance is that you arent playing,this ceases to be a game given the scenario,its a license to take peoples money


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: Ginger on March 07, 2007, 10:01:30 AM
as the question is hypothetical and the parameters changed then what if this table contained 2,3 or 4 peple you are aquainted with is it still ok or is it just ok to take money from people you dont know?

I do not think this is relavent, as at a poker table, you play the same against someone who know as to someone you dont know.

Hmmm, I agree that it makes no difference if they are your friend at the table, but it could be argued that you aren't actually playing poker at all in this scenario.


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: M3boy on March 07, 2007, 10:03:05 AM
Ok , point taken..


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: AndrewT on March 07, 2007, 10:41:39 AM
I beleive in the "scenario" Ariston describes, "one off 24 hour no comeback, untracable", very few players can say "hand on heart" they wouldnt sit at a table and cream it for all its worth. "easy money" can be a very tempting thing.

just my opinion

Some of us know that there really isn't any such thing as 'easy money' which has no catch - if it's too good to be true then it probably is.

For anyone who would jump at the chance for such obviously risk-free easy money I've got a great idea for making tons via the first goalscorer market on Betfair...


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: thetank on March 07, 2007, 10:55:21 AM
I'm with Batman.

All cons, from Nigeria to Battersea work on exploiting out natural greed. Supressing that impulse to jump in without thinking and make a "killing" is not a bad thing.


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: bolt pp on March 07, 2007, 11:31:32 AM
Ok tank will change the parameters. There is no comeback from the site as this is a one off for 24hrs and untraceable. Your account isn't going to be frozen and no investigation its up to you wether you take advantage or not. You still not playing?

How do I know all this?

If I can foretell the future like that, I'm cashing out and going to the dog track.

good old cashing out and going to the dog track, it's what it's all about ;D

Like Tank i have trouble getting past the example used in answering the question, i'd be thinking that theres a coup going on and that i was about to be turned over, that coupled with the ramifications of being found out i'd have to decline.

I would've liked to say that i was declining this opportunity as a result of some deep rooted moral reluctance to tuck up my fellow man but that wasn't the first thing that occurred to me ::)

I'm sure that if i was to postulate over the idea long enough i'd finally get to the point where it just felt wrong as a professional poker player to act with almost criminal impropriety at the table, though it hasn't happend yet ;)

Is it a question of morality or a question of morality in poker?

I think the two are very different and following on from the last thread a non poker related test of ones morals may have provided a stronger insight into the veracity of blondites, a platform from which you could have draw comparisons.

Such would be the anger and exclusion faced by a cheat in modern day poker that i think it difficult for people to answer the question with out all the time being cautiously mindfull of what their answer implies.



Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: boldie on March 07, 2007, 12:33:37 PM
I'm with Tank on this one..there's no such thing as free money (unless you count that 50k I just found while walking past that bus stop)

I am not saying in this situation it is a morality thing for me (although it clearly would be wrong) but it's a good old fashioned fear thing for me (which some Philosophers have quite elegantly argued is the same thing as fear)


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: doubleup on March 07, 2007, 12:49:32 PM
These scenarios aren't really about poker, they are about theft.  So the question is really whether you you would steal money from other players if there was no chance of detection.  

Sklansky posted a similar question on 2+2 - his scenario was a declining pro whose opponents spent their winnings on hookers and drugs - whereas he spent his winnings supporting his family and educating his children.  (Ignoring the fact that hookers and drug dealers have families to support as well....)

I wouldn't steal from other players and hope that I never get myself in the financial situation where I would be desperate enough to try to justify the theft with excuses like "they can afford to lose the money".







Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: mjrevie on March 07, 2007, 02:28:39 PM
Even if there were no comebacks, I couldnt do this.

If you were at a party of a friend of a friend, you dont know the person, and you see money lying out, would you just take it? Whats the difference between what your proposing and blatant stealing?


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: kinboshi on March 07, 2007, 03:13:20 PM
Anyone know any good sites to download MP3s?  I don't want to pay for them, of course...


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: KingPoker on March 07, 2007, 03:18:02 PM
Limewire.com (apparently)


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: boldie on March 07, 2007, 03:55:50 PM
Anyone know any good sites to download MP3s?  I don't want to pay for them, of course...

lmao!!!!!!


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: mex on March 07, 2007, 04:17:28 PM
the situation so stupidly hypothetical, it will never get a straight answer, simply i do not know what would happen because the situation is so unlikley i cannot know what my reaction will be.


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: Colchester Kev on March 07, 2007, 04:20:48 PM
the situation so stupidly hypothetical, it will never get a straight answer, simply i do not know what would happen because the situation is so unlikley i cannot know what my reaction will be.

I agree, its like asking Ariston how he would react if he ever won a live comp .... ;)


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: TightEnd on March 07, 2007, 04:25:40 PM
Get everyone to form an orderly queue of course....


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: happybhoy on March 07, 2007, 04:38:15 PM
Interesting question, in the live situation I would be scrupulously honest, online I'd be hitting it for every thin dime I could squeek out of it. That would be totally hypocritical if you didn't take into account that it's purely a consequence of the monkeysphere

http://www.pointlesswasteoftime.com/monkeysphere.html (http://www.pointlesswasteoftime.com/monkeysphere.html)


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: Acidmouse on March 07, 2007, 04:38:23 PM
Back to the original point, i wud defo play on and make some cash. I know its wrong but shit who is strong enough to resist the temptation of free $ and no comebacks?

Alot of peeps pretending they would take the moral highground..now now gentleman.


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: Horneris on March 07, 2007, 05:05:12 PM
Back to the original point, i wud defo play on and make some cash. I know its wrong but shit who is strong enough to resist the temptation of free $ and no comebacks?

Alot of peeps pretending they would take the moral highground..now now gentleman.


 :goodpost: ;iagree;

Although i would also look to Tanks post, as being the ultimate pessimist that i am i would consider the fact that somethings wrong and its a con of some sort.


Title: Re: morality in poker
Post by: Royal Flush on March 07, 2007, 05:42:01 PM
as the question is hypothetical and the parameters changed then what if this table contained 2,3 or 4 peple you are aquainted with is it still ok or is it just ok to take money from people you dont know?

I do not think this is relavent, as at a poker table, you play the same against someone who know as to someone you dont know.

I tend to play different against people i know, if i know them to be loose then i change my game, if they are tight again i change my game.


As for the question in hand, it would never happen, but if it did i would be very suspect that something dodgy is going on, however i have to admit that would be what stops me nicking as much as i could, not the sense i am doing something wrong.