blonde poker forum
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
July 10, 2025, 09:15:10 AM

Login with username, password and session length
Search:     Advanced search
2262168 Posts in 66599 Topics by 16765 Members
Latest Member: Jengajenga921
* Home Help Arcade Search Calendar Guidelines Login Register
+  blonde poker forum
|-+  Community Forums
| |-+  Betting Tips and Sport Discussion
| | |-+  Do gamblers / poker players need a huge ego to succeed?
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. « previous next »
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 Go Down Print
Author Topic: Do gamblers / poker players need a huge ego to succeed?  (Read 8982 times)
The Camel
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 17074


Under my tree, being a troll.


View Profile
« on: August 10, 2015, 11:43:21 AM »

Seems to me that many gamblers have a huge ego.

The fallouts on TFT are usually caused when the biggest egos clash.

Is this a by-product of being successful, or is it a prerequisit to achieving success?

And why are the two linked? After all, compared to other, more noble ways of making a living, we haven't got a great deal to brag about.

All we do is exploit people who have less understanding of the true odds of participants in various sports.

It's hardly finding the cure for cancer.
Logged

Congratulations to the 2012 League Champion - Stapleton Atheists

"Keith The Camel, a true champion!" - Brent Horner 30th December 2012

"I dont think you're a wanker Keith" David Nicholson 4th March 2013
DungBeetle
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 4147


View Profile
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2015, 11:56:24 AM »

On the poker side, I think the ego players tend to be those that haven't had any work experience outside poker.  They also tend to me middle ranked players, not the ones who have had huge scores.

I think it stems from the fact that if they aren't successful at poker then their lives (in their own eyes) amount to nothing.   The ego in these scenarios is simply insecurity for their lack of any other achievements in other areas of life.
Logged
celtic
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 19168



View Profile
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2015, 12:12:17 PM »

Off the top of my head, deadman and jake don't have an ego and seem to be v successful.

Toby too.

Could prob think of others and some that do have an ego.

Don't think it is essential to have one tho to be successful.

Logged

Keefy is back Smiley But for how long?
celtic
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 19168



View Profile
« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2015, 12:13:59 PM »

Probably more important to have a competitive edge than an ego.

Chompy has a ridic competitive edge, oh, he has a massive ego too 😀😀
Logged

Keefy is back Smiley But for how long?
DMorgan
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 4440



View Profile
« Reply #4 on: August 10, 2015, 12:24:00 PM »

Success has to come first, without at least a modest amount of success an egotist is just delusional. That success only has to be perceived of course.

I wouldn't imagine that if you compared people with regular jobs and pro poker players/sports bettors with the same take home ££ that you'd see a much greater incidence of egotism from the gamblers, but thats just my perception, not really based on anything.



Logged

Tal
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 24288


"He's always at it!"


View Profile
« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2015, 12:25:57 PM »

Thread really is whether successful people need huge egos to succeed.

Poker and gambling are fundamentally results driven. Walking the walk is what it's all about, when all is said and done.

The most important asset a poker player or gambler can have is confidence in their decision making. Without that, they can never be truly successful. That comes from talent, hard work and strong analysis but it's there in everyone from Johnny Moss to Douglas Polk.

Inevitably, that means many at the top have very high opinions of themselves and the ego mob are over-represented in the elite. I can't imagine there's a single area where people compete where this principle doesn't extend. It's true in business, sport, journalism, art, internet fora...
Logged

"You must take your opponent into a deep, dark forest, where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one"
TightEnd
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: I am a geek!!



View Profile
« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2015, 12:44:29 PM »

a fine line between self-confidence and egotism in any walk of life

in gambling you tend to hear from winners more than losers, and a fair share of winners confuse stochastics with their own skill, and that feeds the ego

lot of respect for the "get it quietly" people, who resist the natural urge in many characters to shout it from the rooftops...
Logged

My eyes are open wide
By the way,I made it through the day
I watch the world outside
By the way, I'm leaving out today
The Camel
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 17074


Under my tree, being a troll.


View Profile
« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2015, 12:45:58 PM »

Thread really is whether successful people need huge egos to succeed.

Poker and gambling are fundamentally results driven. Walking the walk is what it's all about, when all is said and done.

The most important asset a poker player or gambler can have is confidence in their decision making. Without that, they can never be truly successful. That comes from talent, hard work and strong analysis but it's there in everyone from Johnny Moss to Douglas Polk.

Inevitably, that means many at the top have very high opinions of themselves and the ego mob are over-represented in the elite. I can't imagine there's a single area where people compete where this principle doesn't extend. It's true in business, sport, journalism, art, internet fora...

Yes, I worded that way, but possibly more interest is WHY do so many successful gamblers have big egos?

I don't have much knowledge of any other industry, is it the same in all walks of life?

Are the best bus drivers cocky and arrogant? Do posties who finish their round an hour earlier than most belittle their dilligent but less speedy colleagues?
Logged

Congratulations to the 2012 League Champion - Stapleton Atheists

"Keith The Camel, a true champion!" - Brent Horner 30th December 2012

"I dont think you're a wanker Keith" David Nicholson 4th March 2013
The Camel
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 17074


Under my tree, being a troll.


View Profile
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2015, 12:50:28 PM »

a fine line between self-confidence and egotism in any walk of life

in gambling you tend to hear from winners more than losers, and a fair share of winners confuse stochastics with their own skill, and that feeds the ego

lot of respect for the "get it quietly" people, who resist the natural urge in many characters to shout it from the rooftops...

After timing is the most annoying outlet for people to show their ego.

What exactly does posting a winning bet on Facebook prove?

Unless you have plans to sell your tips in the future, why would you want to boast about winning a bet?

Anyone who followed you in is happy anyway, but if someone chose not to (or even worse backed something else in the same heat!) they are just going to be riled up by your boasting.
Logged

Congratulations to the 2012 League Champion - Stapleton Atheists

"Keith The Camel, a true champion!" - Brent Horner 30th December 2012

"I dont think you're a wanker Keith" David Nicholson 4th March 2013
Jamier-Host
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 1831



View Profile WWW
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2015, 01:38:54 PM »

What exactly does posting a winning bet on Facebook prove?

Unless you have plans to sell your tips in the future, why would you want to boast about winning a bet?


It's nothing to do with the bet, it's just something else to boast about generally. Same reason people post pictures of holidays, or some awesome event they're at. Our weird social "life" these days mainly seems to revolve around projecting an image of success greater than reality to a loosely connected circle of "friends".
Logged

Side Project - making games for Amazon Alexa devices

pressthe8.com
RED-DOG
International Lover World Wide Playboy
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 47372



View Profile WWW
« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2015, 01:48:50 PM »

I'm far too good to have to rely on ego.
Logged

The older I get, the better I was.
DungBeetle
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 4147


View Profile
« Reply #11 on: August 10, 2015, 01:49:52 PM »

What exactly does posting a winning bet on Facebook prove?

Unless you have plans to sell your tips in the future, why would you want to boast about winning a bet?


It's nothing to do with the bet, it's just something else to boast about generally. Same reason people post pictures of holidays, or some awesome event they're at. Our weird social "life" these days mainly seems to revolve around projecting an image of success greater than reality to a loosely connected circle of "friends".

Yep.  Seems to me these days someone would rather spend most of a concert filming it on their iPhone so they can put it on facebook and get some attention than actually spend time enjoying the concert with their own eyes.  People are weirdos.
Logged
Tal
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 24288


"He's always at it!"


View Profile
« Reply #12 on: August 10, 2015, 01:54:51 PM »

Thread really is whether successful people need huge egos to succeed.

Poker and gambling are fundamentally results driven. Walking the walk is what it's all about, when all is said and done.

The most important asset a poker player or gambler can have is confidence in their decision making. Without that, they can never be truly successful. That comes from talent, hard work and strong analysis but it's there in everyone from Johnny Moss to Douglas Polk.

Inevitably, that means many at the top have very high opinions of themselves and the ego mob are over-represented in the elite. I can't imagine there's a single area where people compete where this principle doesn't extend. It's true in business, sport, journalism, art, internet fora...

Yes, I worded that way, but possibly more interest is WHY do so many successful gamblers have big egos?

I don't have much knowledge of any other industry, is it the same in all walks of life?

Are the best bus drivers cocky and arrogant? Do posties who finish their round an hour earlier than most belittle their dilligent but less speedy colleagues?

It's definitely more obvious in competitive environments. That's just basic sociology.
Logged

"You must take your opponent into a deep, dark forest, where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one"
nellberg
Sr. Member
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 765


View Profile
« Reply #13 on: August 10, 2015, 01:59:19 PM »

When you're punting, you're essentially thinking my knowledge is better than that of the bookmakers, I know the true odds of an outcome, I can seek out value etc etc. So I think there has to be a certain amount of ego in there, if you're thinking the bookies have it sewn up and they've got no ricks in their books then you shouldn't be having a punt eh!

So I'd say as a starting point you need a bit of ego, and being a competitive person must surely help, but it can't just be all about that. If a punter is too ego-driven then they may struggle to have sound bankroll management for example.

As to why successful punters may have bigger ego's than in other walks of life, I would say it's down to the standard belief that the bookmaker always wins. If you grow up hearing that time and time again and then you find a method to beat the bookies then a by-product of that may well be the ego being swelled.
Logged
AlunB
Hero Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 1712


View Profile WWW
« Reply #14 on: August 10, 2015, 02:19:57 PM »

I would posit one reason being the loneliness of gambling and poker and the lack of praise or positive feedback from peers or authority figures.

Why post a winning bet? So somebody recognises you and validates you. That's a perfectly normal human need.

It's noticeable, although obviously lol sample size, that the newer generation of UK pros who have big circles of poker pro mates tend to be less ego-driven than most.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 Go Up Print 
« previous next »
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
Page created in 0.104 seconds with 19 queries.