Poker Players and The British honours system

[Sark79]

Do you think a poker player will ever be recognised in the honours list?    Is poker too unlike other sports/games and as a result still has a stigma attached to it for this to ever happen?

There are players who spring to mind, one of these is the Devilfish. Doesn't he deserve some kind of award for his services to the British poker scene over the years.

Would you happily receive such an award or would you chose to decline the offer? 

[marcro]

Has the Devilfish been of service to Poker or just looking to increase the size of his bank account?

[Sark79]

I think he has been a large factor in the popularity of poker in this country for many people.  Obviously along with LNP and Rounders in recent times. 

There are many people who I know that hate watching poker. But they all know the Devilfish.  I am sure he has influenced many new players.

[matt674]

Why not? They give them out to any old Tom, Dick and Harry nowadays - the lollipop man near us got one a year or so back for patrolling the same school crossing for what seems like forever and a day.

The fact that the school closed four years ago and hardly anyone uses the crossing doesnt seem to deter him however  

[tikay]

I don't believe OBE's & the like are appropriate for Poker players, & that includes Devilfish.

I prefer "Honours" to go to Lollipop Ladies, Lighthouse Keepers, Nurses, Carers, Single Parents, peeps who have toiled for years, "ordinary" people. I am 100% against such Honours going to Professional Sportsman, or to businessmen or women who have earned a mint from their business.

[Sark79]

I don't believe OBE's & the like are appropriate for Poker players, & that includes Devilfish.

I prefer "Honours" to go to Lollipop Ladies, Lighthouse Keepers, Nurses, Carers, Single Parents, peeps who have toiled for years, "ordinary" people. I am 100% against such Honours going to Professional Sportsman, or to businessmen or women who have earned a mint from their business.

I totally agree tikay. But nowadays they seem to go to pop-stars and other media type people more.  I feel if they are going to be given to people like Elton John for singing a song, they should just as easily go to a poker player.

Like you tikay, I feel they should go to people who help sick animals or that sort of thing.  Not media types.

Tom, Dick and Harry.  I play regular games of RISK with a Tom, Dick and a Harry.  I will have to buy them all a beer and pass on my congratulations 

[patman]

if ever something was of the past it is the honours system...

would it not be better for all those unsung heroes if they have to be given an "honour" it be worth something

say for example not paying council tax or any tax, a cash award or an annual holiday paid for by the government as a reward for their service, charitable behaviour etc .

surely better than a knee bending moment which i personally dont deem to be an "honour"...inbuilt inferiority to someone is not an honour.
and no poker players are not deserving as its on the whole a personal gain thing..even when passing on knowledge or raising pokers profile

[AndrewT]

Do you think a poker player will ever be recognised in the honours list?

What about Lord Wernick of Blue Square?

Or Sir Inder Sunar?

[matt674]

Or Sir Inder Sunar?

<a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZBYYYYYYYYGB" target="_blank">[img width= height= alt=Duh" border="0]http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_19_1.gif[/img][/url]

[AndrewT]

Or Sir Inder Sunar?

<a href="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZBYYYYYYYYGB" target="_blank">[img width= height= alt=Duh" border="0]http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_19_1.gif[/img][/url]

We all have our designated roles on Blonde. Mine happens to be weak puns.

[Sark79]

 

[doubleup]

I don't think honours are given out for simply making money.  There are plenty of city types that make more money than the best poker players and they don't figure. Creating a business and the wealth and jobs that result is different. 

I think players who raise money for charity should get considered and that's probably the way we will see a player getting a minor honour. 

[tikay]

I don't think honours are given out for simply making money.  There are plenty of city types that make more money than the best poker players and they don't figure. Creating a business and the wealth and jobs that result is different. 

I think players who raise money for charity should get considered and that's probably the way we will see a player getting a minor honour. 

But do those businessmen do for the purpose of creating jobs, or is that just incidental to making money?

[doubleup]

I don't think honours are given out for simply making money.  There are plenty of city types that make more money than the best poker players and they don't figure. Creating a business and the wealth and jobs that result is different. 

I think players who raise money for charity should get considered and that's probably the way we will see a player getting a minor honour. 

But do those businessmen do for the purpose of creating jobs, or is that just incidental to making money?

I suppose only they could answer that, but I think there are some entrepreneurs who want to create British success stories, Richard Branson for example appears to be one, and wealth is just a bi-product.

[GURNFISH]

Tikay - A successful businessman who creates employment and pays millions in taxes is less worthy of an honour than a single mother.

Please justify.