54 replies to this topic

[HubDub04]

I am like the only guy in my whole group of friends that actually takes poker seriously and makes money doing it (lies, I know).

A lot of my friends don't really get it. Some think it's straight gambling and that i'm gonna end up being like this degenerate gambler and some think its cool that I don't have a "real job" yet can afford most things that they can't (Trips to Vegas, My house, my car, toys etc). But overall I can tell that there is an underlying tone amongst them of disapproval and IDK why. I don't really talk too much about myself or poker (even though some will say this is a brag post) when i'm amongst others that don't play/don't ask.

I think jealousy might be a part of it (but i'm really not rich or anything but i'm doing ok so IDK if jealousy is the reason) or it could be nothing at all and i'm just reading way to far into this.

Also, whenever I go out with friends to clubs/bars/parties, I meet women and they always ask what I do for a living and I tell them poker player/college student and it's usually a mixed bag of responses. Some chicks kind of open their eyes wide and are totally interested in it because they have seen it on tv and some kind of act like it's a bad thing. Last night I met this chick, totally cool, totally sexy and we hit it off and then when she asked where I worked I told her poker and she kind of backed off a little bit. Luckily I was able to kind of divert the conversation to something different but still, if I do decide to keep playing poker for my living after I finish school next semester then I don't want people looking down on me in social settings just because certain people don't understand that what we do isn't really gambling, while there is a luck factor involved, you can make steady, consistent profits by playing well. That is something they don't understand.


Anyone else with similar experiences?

[simo_8ball]

Anyone else with similar experiences?

>90% of the people on FCP imo.

[HighwayStar]

>90% of the people on FCP imo.

Yep
Not that I ever claim I play for a living....

[onlyme386]

My non-poker friends have NO IDEA that I even play. It's pretty sweet for me, they all figure I'm a broke college kid like them but really I can afford to go do and buy whatever I want.

[/brag]

[HighwayStar]

My non-poker friends have NO IDEA that I even play. It's pretty sweet for me, they all figure I'm a broke college kid like them but really I can afford to go do and buy whatever I want.

[/brag]

I was getting away with it but people tend to notice the obscene hours I kept.
It was bloody annoying when you win something and people want you to buy them stuff so I don't tell people what I play these days.

[rdtedm]

My friends didnt know i played seriously until my big cashes last year. My mom is still hesitant to acknowledge that I make money playing it, my dad loves it though.

[HighwayStar]

My friends didnt know i played seriously until my big cashes last year. My mom is still hesitant to acknowledge that I make money playing it, my dad loves it though.

I have the exact same thing, my dad plays now 'cause I play, my mother avoids talking about it entirely.

[Potomophobia]

Friends, like Pocket Jacks, are over rated.

[El Guapo]

>90% of the people on FCP imo.

Really? I can only think of one or two non-poker playing friends. Even the ones that don't play all the time will play the $20 home tourneys.

I guess I could be different than most, all my friends and I grew up playing poker in high school, instead of partying. And that was way before TV poker became popular. So its like 2nd nature to most of us, I only have one friend though that uses poker for a means of income. He runs a card room at a casino and plays.

I wish he would get a real job, because he does not make that much and he has an engineering degree and he is 30 now. If he decides this lifestyle is not conducive to a stable environment, he is going to have a hard time getting a "real" job.

[silkyjonson]

I really have come to the point where I just don't want to tell anyone what I do. Never leads to anything good, they either think I'm broke a degenerate or whatever, I have put off getting a real job for a year and by the end of the summer I intend to start working and playing both part time. A lot of my friends/family have been on me about getting a job but really I could give two shits, I know they are looking out for me but people really just don't understand the life of a poker player unless tehy have to some degree played poker or something similar seriously.

Its funny because when I meet people for the first time I can say a couple things if tehy ask what I do, I have started to just say Poker player to get their reaction and then maybe later on I tell them I'm a pharmacist after they've made up their mind that I'm a degen.

[Sheiky]

I have my own poker fan club of people who think i'm awesome and want me to train them to be as awesome as I am.

I kid you not.

[PhilBluff]

I am like the only guy in my whole group of friends that actually takes poker seriously and makes money doing it (lies, I know).

A lot of my friends don't really get it. Some think it's straight gambling and that i'm gonna end up being like this degenerate gambler and some think its cool that I don't have a "real job" yet can afford most things that they can't (Trips to Vegas, My house, my car, toys etc). But overall I can tell that there is an underlying tone amongst them of disapproval and IDK why. I don't really talk too much about myself or poker (even though some will say this is a brag post) when i'm amongst others that don't play/don't ask.

I think jealousy might be a part of it (but i'm really not rich or anything but i'm doing ok so IDK if jealousy is the reason) or it could be nothing at all and i'm just reading way to far into this.

Also, whenever I go out with friends to clubs/bars/parties, I meet women and they always ask what I do for a living and I tell them poker player/college student and it's usually a mixed bag of responses. Some chicks kind of open their eyes wide and are totally interested in it because they have seen it on tv and some kind of act like it's a bad thing. Last night I met this chick, totally cool, totally sexy and we hit it off and then when she asked where I worked I told her poker and she kind of backed off a little bit. Luckily I was able to kind of divert the conversation to something different but still, if I do decide to keep playing poker for my living after I finish school next semester then I don't want people looking down on me in social settings just because certain people don't understand that what we do isn't really gambling, while there is a luck factor involved, you can make steady, consistent profits by playing well. That is something they don't understand.
Anyone else with similar experiences?

I believed you till there

[zimmer4141]

My friends really don't get it at all. The few that do play poker recreationally think that I'm just on some massive heater and it has like nothing to do with skill. They also think that we're huge dorks for all sitting in a room together with our laptops and playing online in different games.

[Gallo]

My friends really don't get it at all. The few that do play poker recreationally think that I'm just on some massive heater and it has like nothing to do with skill. They also think that we're huge dorks for all sitting in a room together with our laptops and playing online in different games.

Well, I'll say one thing for you, you're better at playing poker than drinking. Bibs FTW!!

[Balloon guy]

Try blowing up balloons for a living...

[zimmer4141]

Well, I'll say one thing for you, you're better at playing poker than drinking. Bibs FTW!!

LOL, you should've seen me and Zach Wednesday night. If I didn't have to drive at Chicago I would've gotten hammered trust me.

[Flushgarden]

Try blowing up balloons for a living...

Teach me....seriously.

[savagerebel]

Teach me....seriously.

As much as you blow I didn't think you would need a teacher. jk

[xzanos]

Just tell them you're an entrepreneur. If they press it, just say you're in entertainment, or finance, or consulting. No one really knows what consulting means anyways.

[conor_mw]

i just laughed for like 10 minutes straight at HighwayStar's sig pic and if any one else read that thread im sure you did too lol omg thats unreal