Name a profession...

[outragous76]

To be a professional, a tradesman or to claim you have a job you need to provide something that is of value to other people, ie contribute something to society. A poker dealer, prostitute, or artist falls within this definition, as does a paid sportsman and possibly also a drug dealer. I cannot see how a poker player does.

A lot of wishful thinking ITT imo.

So what's the difference between a rugby league player and a poker player in terms of the rugby player having a 'profession' and the poker player not?

People like watching rugby league, hence something has been contributed to society?

Exactly. They have provided entertainment for other people.

poker players ensure poker dealers have jobs (the point I tried to make above)

[MintTrav]

To be a professional, a tradesman or to claim you have a job you need to provide something that is of value to other people, ie contribute something to society. A poker dealer, prostitute, or artist falls within this definition, as does a paid sportsman and possibly also a drug dealer. I cannot see how a poker player does.

A lot of wishful thinking ITT imo.

So what's the difference between a rugby league player and a poker player in terms of the rugby player having a 'profession' and the poker player not?

People like watching rugby league, hence something has been contributed to society?

Exactly. They have provided entertainment for other people.

poker players ensure poker dealers have jobs (the point I tried to make above)

So they are consumers. I agree.

That doesn't make them professionals - or do you think you are a professional shopper when you go to buy your groceries?

[outragous76]

oh no, I agree they aren't professionals, I was commenting on the fact you said they add nothing to society

[kinboshi]

To be a professional, a tradesman or to claim you have a job you need to provide something that is of value to other people, ie contribute something to society. A poker dealer, prostitute, or artist falls within this definition, as does a paid sportsman and possibly also a drug dealer. I cannot see how a poker player does.

A lot of wishful thinking ITT imo.

So what's the difference between a rugby league player and a poker player in terms of the rugby player having a 'profession' and the poker player not?

People like watching rugby league, hence something has been contributed to society?

Exactly. They have provided entertainment for other people.

Poker players can do that as well.

As for contributing to society or the economy, where does all the money go that poker players spend?  Some of it goes to businesses, some of it goes to the government in tax in the form of VAT, duties, etc.

[Tal]

An old, now departed Law lecturer at Uni said he was banned from being allowed to do admissions interviews when it was discovered he asked a girl "an alien has landed on Earth. He approaches you and says 'I've been studying your people for some time and believe I have all-but mastered your language. There is one word I don't understand, though: book. What is a book?"

For every answer the poor candidate gave, he would parry with a counterexample.

"Er, it's a collection of papers"
"Like a folder"
"No. It is bound at one side"
"Like a filofax"
"No...it has written words in it"
"What about a picture book?"
"It doesn't have to tell a story"
"That's no help to me in understanding what it IS"


Reminds me of Thomas Gradgrind, the horrible teacher in Dickens's Hard Times, who asks a girl to 'define a horse'.

[smurf]

There is one word I don't understand, though: book. What is a book?"



...the same as a dollar...watch the smart arse come back from that one!!!

[outragous76]

There is one word I don't understand, though: book. What is a book?"

Its the word people without a profession use for "cool"

[Tal]

I have a joyous image of smurf doing the Eric Morecambe "get out of that! You can't, can yer?!" to that fellow.

He was a staggeringly clever, insightful and perceptive man. He was also a cantankerous, rude and contemptible arse. Being in a room with him was simultaneously an honour and torture.

[DungBeetle]

"As for contributing to society or the economy, where does all the money go that poker players spend?  Some of it goes to businesses, some of it goes to the government in tax in the form of VAT, duties, etc."

But he's just taking spending power from someone else so it's a zero sum game.  About the only thing you can say a professional poker player adds to society is the fact he doesn't claim benefits (although I don't see why a poker player can't claim dole so maybe they do).

The only argument that they contribute to society apart from that is if they allow games to run which otherwise would not run due to lack of players.   And even then a recreational player would rather play with other recreational players given the choice.

[DungBeetle]

By the way I'm not having a go at people who play full time, as it is I imagine a stressful and skilled way to earn your way in the world.  Just don't think we can log it as some kind of noble profession!

[rfgqqabc]

Honestly who the fuck cares whether one guy or a million guys wouldn't define playing poker as a profession?

[Jon MW]

To be a professional, a tradesman or to claim you have a job you need to provide something that is of value to other people, ie contribute something to society. A poker dealer, prostitute, or artist falls within this definition, as does a paid sportsman and possibly also a drug dealer. I cannot see how a poker player does.

A lot of wishful thinking ITT imo.

Surely to have a job you just need to be doing something that earns you enough money to live on - what has contributing to society got to do with it?

[aaron1867]

Honestly who the fuck cares whether one guy or a million guys wouldn't define playing poker as a profession?

I care!

Although I'm sure others would be who are in actual professions that are high skilled.

[gouty]

I agree. Dumbest derail ever.

[Junior Senior]

Clicked to see why this thread could possibly have reached 14 pages then saw Aaron posted early on. .... Explained!