You really ought to read this.......

[kinboshi]

For lots of noobrecs, it just emphasises that their knowledge is far below that of others.

They might decide they're better off not bothering with poker (they have no interest in studying the game, it's a hobby ffs and they hated school and don't want to feel like they're back there) and instead do some sports betting and play some golf.

[MANTIS01]

Of course their knowledge will be far below others, but people are more than prepared for that eventuality when they go do something new. If they decide to go and take up golf instead they will be shit at first. They will hack at the ball and miss the ball and face the embarrassment of it in front of much better players. If they want to get better at golf they will persevere and practice and they will get better. Who decided that new poker players don't have tenacity and perseverance?

[kinboshi]

Some certainly do. Some certainly don't.

Survivor bias leaves behind the ones that do. How many gave up long ago and decided they'd rather burn their money on irons and woods rather than with the sharks at their local poker room?

[Tal]

I don't see the downside of saying 'let's do what we can to ensure people have a good time when they play with us'.

You don't have to be a redcoat, but it's nice to be nice.

[wazz]

I was playing £1/2 at the hippodrome last night and there were two very drunk guys at my table. One of the regs was getting annoyed at the drunk guys for slowing the game up, complaining to the dealer, asking for the floor, and abusing the drunk guy verbally. I was shocked and berated/took the piss out of him massively for it. Idiotic behaviour. The idea that you would come to play poker on a friday night, in Leicester Square, and not have to deal with casual poker players who were also drinking? WTF.

[SuuPRlim]

It really is solely due to ego, because it's quite faceless poker any superstar player could sit down and you wouldn't know what he's won and how good he is, some people just can't handle the fact that they've sat down and aren''t immediately revered as a superstar when they've won so much money "Man, I won the BIG 162, SCOOP #17 HIGH and came third in the sunday 500 in the last 2 weeks, taking my online "winnings" to over $2,000,000 and this fucking window salesman from cleveland doesn't know or care - WHAT IS WITH THAT"

I was playing in monte carlo and was on a table with a couple of US mtt hotshots, they were talking and being pretty cringe, no interest in anyone else - a guy sat down who I'd been playing cash games with all week (v nice guy) I chatted with him a bit and when he bust he asked me if I wanted to help him start a 25/50 OMaha game when the day was over, I said sure, he went off. Now the american kids say to me, in front of everyone "wow, nice life you got the fish chasing YOU for games" I looked around the table at 3 or 4 guys in their mid-40's who it seems unlikely play poker as a living and just wanna have a punt in this tournament... was pretty speechless tbh.

[Tal]

Did you venture to respond "Have you ever thought of...y'know...being less of a dick?" ?

[Honeybadger]

I was playing in monte carlo and was on a table with a couple of US mtt hotshots, they were talking and being pretty cringe, no interest in anyone else - a guy sat down who I'd been playing cash games with all week (v nice guy) I chatted with him a bit and when he bust he asked me if I wanted to help him start a 25/50 OMaha game when the day was over, I said sure, he went off. Now the american kids say to me, in front of everyone "wow, nice life you got the fish chasing YOU for games" I looked around the table at 3 or 4 guys in their mid-40's who it seems unlikely play poker as a living and just wanna have a punt in this tournament... was pretty speechless tbh.

Dave, did you say anything to these hotshots about this? Either during the game, or in private afterwards?

I strongly believe that it is crucial that we challenge this sort of behaviour whenever we see it. It does not necessarily have to be done across the table, and it can be done nicely. But we should aim to always say something to these guys when we see them behaving in such ways.

Most of these players are not bad people, and neither are they stupid. They just don't 'get it' yet. IMO it is our duty to speak to them and try to explain how it works. In the hope that the penny will drop. Even if you just make things click for one in ten people you speak to, then it is worth it. And it is HUGE for the long-term health of poker.

We need to lead by example obviously. But that is not enough in itself. Pulling players to one side and discussing how to behave (and explaining why) is something that just has to be done. If someone is a dick about it and refuses to even listen... well unlucky, you were drawing dead with that one. But I tend to have faith in human nature, and believe that most of these guys can be shown the right way of acting, and the right way of thinking about how poker really works.

[MANTIS01]

We should challenge Americans when they behave like idiots? Good luck with that.

Do we know for sure the nice guy or the mid-40's guys were truly offended by this remark? Or are we just assuming that? I would say people in their 40's have enough life experience to take such remarks in their stride. Maybe these guys enjoy seeing misplaced arrogance and deduce it as weakness. Maybe it gives them extra motivation to bust the loud-mouthed ignorant yanks? I'm kinda intrigued by the argument that everybody should be nice but want to see evidence and stats that things like 'remarks' really do damage poker. Think we take offence on behalf of others in all aspects of life these days. As it is I enjoy seeing the different and diverse characters at a poker table, good and bad.

[wazz]

want to see evidence and stats that things like 'remarks' really do damage poker. Think we take offence on behalf of others in all aspects of life these days.

Not gonna be possible to find evidence or stats for this sort of thing.

[luther101]

The death knell venue for players 'what fink they are better than everyone else' has to be Luton.

Many a time 'the sophisticated operators' have left in tears, with laughter ringing in their ears, and just to confim their fears,  this has been going on for years, as Vinny steps up the gears, or 'runs into' Edna       .....     that 'old dear'.

Poker should be enjoyable, and @ Luton the entertainment is pretty consistent - they mercilessly rib everyone: the good, the bad, the young, the old     ....      and themselves!

You might not make the money, but most go home with a 'fun, banter filled, night' to remember (unless they've had to sit next to Tom Myland longer than 10 minutes   ....   but that's why The Samaritans' Helpline operates 24/7).

Smile, joke, converse with your fellow players - you might find you even like them (Tom Myland excepted)    ....     afterall, its only a game of bloody cards!