Article in the LA Times speaking to why people gamble, and have done so through recorded history, despite knowing that the odds are against them. Many, certainly not all, people. Fits with my belief that the majority of players are not degenerate gamblers.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed...nap-story.html
"I don't think outside the box; I think of what I can do with the box." - Henri Matisse
Nearly all casino patrons are overwhelmingly innumerate.
That is no different from the vast majority of humankind.
A very interesting take on pathological gambling can
be found in a book that I heartily endorse, entitled ...
"Addiction by Design"
Having been a degenerate gambler (in my youth) and
a psychologist (in adulthood), I have always had a deep
interest in this area.
Depending on the degree of psychopathology exhibited I
have surmised that between 4 and 8 percent of (regular)
casino habitués are worthy of diagnosis.
In the early 1970's the late BJ Pioneer Lance Humble
wanted to chair my doctoral dissertation committee if
I would do my Ph.D. under his tutelage. He loved my
ideas about this subject as a nascent valid research area,
during an era when "Pathological Gambling" had been
diagnostically subsumed under the rubric of "Disorders
of Impulse Control" I had disagreed. At that time he was
a tenured professor of Psychology at York University, in
Downsview, Ontario, Canada. Later absorbed into Toronto.
He was Igor Kusyszyn, Ph.D. Unfortunately, my very young
wife, at that time, balked at the idea of leaving the U.S.A.
At that time, 40 yrs ago, neither Dr. K nor I were yet into BJ.
Had I accepted his generous offer and stayed in Ontario for
a while, I would have been "in on the ground floor" of Hi-Opt I
and Hi-Opt II; and, maybe even would have worked alongside
a true BJ pioneer, the first to accurately simulate BJ, Julian Braun.
Now, where did I park my Time Machine.
Last edited by ZenMaster_Flash; 07-12-2016 at 05:34 PM.
Maybe the majority. Not AP's.
I just get disgusted by seeing complete ignoramuses sit down and try to "get lucky".
All I see is a fool. I grew up near Reno, knew what a casino was since I was a kid, no allure to me.
Once I studied BJ, starting as just a book to read from the local library, I eventually started playing. But only once I was sure I had a viable plan.
The only socializing I will do in a casino is after I've stopped playing. Then it has nothing to do with the games there.
I actually have distain for all those there with no plan. (Always have had low tolerance for stupidity)
Camo art form has me socializing a lot. Of course, I have no issues maintains an accurate count. Don't disdain the inept ploppy - they keep you in business. I don't mind other players stupidity - I just mind it when they have. Big yap and tell me how to play.Originally Posted by fjrider
I realize where the money comes from, just don't want to be around them. Prefer to play one on one, and practice patience to do it.
I avoid the bolded above and also the peanut heads that won't sit at an empty table until I do, so they have some company and free advice. I don't openly disdain them, but sometimes I have to bite my tongue.
Last time I was at a table, a guy sat down and in 5 minutes asked "what is that that you guys are doing?(doubling down). I really wanted to reply, "Playing Blackjack, what are you doing?" But after the dealer explained it to him, and he asked the dealer to let him know when he should do it, I just said, "you can double on any two cards", resisted pushing him into doubling something dumb, and got up two hands later.
They irritate me so I avoid them.
I must ask a question of those who look down on others. Why do you think that gambling for entertainment makes someone stupid? Do you not have any hobbies that cost money? Does everyone see the value in your hobby/chosen entertainment? Some people like to spend money on camera equipment, some like to eat at fancy restaurants, some like to go to see live entertainment, some like amusement parks, etc. Anything you like to spend your money on other than clothing and shelter can be looked at as a waste by someone else. Now I will agree that someone who spends his/her mortgage money on gambling has a problem. If they decide to spend money that would otherwise be spent at the bar or on the golf course...who am I to judge? If you adopt that attitude, your life at the table will be more pleasant. I know you are there for the money, being miserable is not a prerequisite.
I've arbitrarily created a second paragraph to seperate your good comments. First paragraph is nothing wrong for the ploppy - simply a form of entertainment - though a lack f patience by AP's may negatively shine through displaying unwarranted impatience. Second paragraph may develop some ploppies into addicts - and finally, we are there for the money which does not mean that we gphave to be unpleasant.
One, I'm not miserable, and avoiding unpleasantness is one way to avoid it.
Two, I don't like stupidity, never have, know that about myself, so avoid that too, I don't try and fix it, far too much of it for that.
And three, I sure don't bring any negative attention to myself at a casino by letting some people know what I think of them.
Like I said, if I socialize in a casino, it has nothing to do with "gambling".
And Flash, in a previous post, I said I know where the money comes from. Hope you don't think you don't cause plenty of "inward smiles" on here.
I just opened this by saying AP's are not in casinos for some universal, commiserating, bs, human condition bonding experience. The majority, maybe.
I can actually enjoy a good casino, good restaurants, people to talk to, or watch, a good beer special. The only "gambling" I do is BJ, because I know it's the only thing I know well enough to do.
I use quotes on "gambling", because if I thought for a second that what I was doing was gambling, I wouldn't be there.
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