Reactions to negative comments in a casino
by
, 08-27-2012 at 06:44 PM (70944 Views)
I have seen hundreds of posts over the years expressing negative reactions to other players and unpleasant dealers. Including those that say they will leave a casino in an unpleasant situation. I’m sorry, but, to me, this sounds a bit like; I went hiking and saw a priceless, ancient arrowhead laying on the ground; but it was raining so I went home instead of picking it up.
OK, that’s an exaggeration. And yes, it is absolutely allowed, and can even be therapeutic, to vent about the nonsense that we all experience in casinos on a forum. And please do not let me stop anyone from venting. Blackjack card counting can be a lonely avocation; and venting publically has a value in reducing the personal toll of your “in-casino” interactions.
BUT, APs have a very slim advantage. I think that one should look at any reactions that they have to the, obviously, unpleasant parts of this enterprise, to make certain that they do not reduce one’s advantage. That is, getting pissed off can harm your bottom line.
Apparently I have been misunderstood on this question a few times. When you are in a casino, you must have a thick skin. That’s not even right. You must have the ability to think of insults as humorous, but sometimes act otherwise. Depends on your act. There must be a disconnect betwixt what you feel and how you act. If you’re not a trained actor, this can be difficult. Actually, even trained actors have famously had difficulties in separating roles from life.
Some people in casinos are there for diversion from their boring lives. Some are degenerate gamblers. Some (most, I hope) are just having fun. (Still allowed.) Some of these people are not pleasant company. Many are likely nice people. All of these people can appear to be “in the way” of our goals. (Or, on occasion, used for advantage.) This is why I say that you should act as if the casino is a video game. There exist characters in a video game that may or may not be helpful. It is your job to figure out which are which. But, having emotional feelings about them is ridiculous as they are fictional. If you can use this mindset about other players and dealers in a casino; you can reduce the energy-sapping effects of dealing with unpleasant people – at least to a degree.
Now, just as important: In my mind, you should avoid letting your in-casino experiences define your “real” life. Yes, don’t let “extras” on a movie set get in the way of your goals. But, don’t let the cynicism leak into how you feel about the other humans with which we share existence. I’ve seen too many advantage players succumb to cynicism. Oscar Wilde said: “A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing.” When you are in a casino, you are playing a game; and everyone else is part of the game – not just the cards. When you are out of the casino, regain your humanity. Don’t lose sight of real “value.”
At least that’s my way of dealing with the situation – when I have the strength to follow my own advice.