Teaching our children to gamble/hussle

A

AimingVoodoo

Banned
This topic was inspired by a recent post of someone who was gambling with his son on UFC fights.

In 2011, I think this type of activity is looked down upon by society in general. You might even get your kid taken away for "abuse" I am afraid to say.

But I hold the opposite viewpoint, and I have thought about this for a long while. I am convinced that pool is the best gambling activity to teach to children.

Kids can learn the art of setting the rules so that they could possibly have an advantage. They will learn to watch for people that are just out to hustle them. They will become expert communicators, and not get intimidated by "louder" counterparts.

They will learn to stand up for themselves when someone tries to cheat. They will learn valuable lessons about money.

They can use these tools in their lives every day. I know that when I was 18 and I went to get my car inspected, I didn't know enough to question what the mechanic said was wrong. Now that I have a pool hall education, I'll have a 2 hour discussion with the mechanic to try and get a better price, and knock off a few things that aren't really needed.

This type of stuff isn't covered in public schools. You don't learn much in schools.

Think about the advantage that a child has growing up if he knows how to manipulate people around him. He won't get ripped off by anyone.

I think this is a very important topic. Especially in today's world, when I think our children are way too soft, and easily manipulated.
 
Children do not have the social skills to engage in adult activities.

Gambling, sex, work, driving... All bad ideas for children.

Bad idea: I am putting a note in your file.
 
I SOOO wanted to bite my tongue on this subject but I just can't. Here is the problem: I have been around pool all of my life. I have known a ton of very expert gamblers. They all fell in love early in life with chasing the easy money. And they all die broke and we take up collections here to bury them. NONE of them have ever retired to a life of comfort and ease. Hell, they can't retire at all. No 401 K, no Social Security, nothing. They scrape their whole lives just to get by.

Teaching kids to love the easy money brought by gambling is just stupid. Teach them that when they mow the lawn they get $5 and when they wash the car they get $2 and when they dust the house they get $1. Teach them that there are rewards for honest work that allow them to purchase the things they want in life and that when they do not work they cannot purchase those things. Teach them to love the work-reward ratios, how to discover the best ones and how a great education can ease them into a life above the fray and free from economic worry. Teach them that some day they will be 60 years old and that they need to prepare for that moment from the time they are very young. Teach them that life is not an unconnected series of sporadic events but a process that can be planned and that even lofty goals can be achieved if properly set and followed.

Teach them that easy money is small money with no sticking power. Tell them to be the house, not the sucker at the tables.
 
Jerry Forsyth said:
I SOOO wanted to bite my tongue on this subject but I just can't. Here is the problem: I have been around pool all of my life. I have known a ton of very expert gamblers. They all fell in love early in life with chasing the easy money. And they all die broke and we take up collections here to bury them. NONE of them have ever retired to a life of comfort and ease. Hell, they can't retire at all. No 401 K, no Social Security, nothing. They scrape their whole lives just to get by.

Teaching kids to love the easy money brought by gambling is just stupid. Teach them that when they mow the lawn they get $5 and when they wash the car they get $2 and when they dust the house they get $1. Teach them that there are rewards for honest work that allow them to purchase the things they want in life and that when they do not work they cannot purchase those things. Teach them to love the work-reward ratios, how to discover the best ones and how a great education can ease them into a life above the fray and free from economic worry. Teach them that some day they will be 60 years old and that they need to prepare for that moment from the time they are very young. Teach them that life is not an unconnected series of sporadic events but a process that can be planned and that even lofty goals can be achieved if properly set and followed.

Teach them that easy money is small money with no sticking power. Tell them to be the house, not the sucker at the tables.
Click to expand...

Jerry the same can be said for being a "professional" pool player. So by your logic, you should turn all children off to becoming good at pool. I just don't agree.
 
Very well put!!!

Jerry Forsyth said:
I SOOO wanted to bite my tongue on this subject but I just can't. Here is the problem: I have been around pool all of my life. I have known a ton of very expert gamblers. They all fell in love early in life with chasing the easy money. And they all die broke and we take up collections here to bury them. NONE of them have ever retired to a life of comfort and ease. Hell, they can't retire at all. No 401 K, no Social Security, nothing. They scrape their whole lives just to get by.

Teaching kids to love the easy money brought by gambling is just stupid. Teach them that when they mow the lawn they get $5 and when they wash the car they get $2 and when they dust the house they get $1. Teach them that there are rewards for honest work that allow them to purchase the things they want in life and that when they do not work they cannot purchase those things. Teach them to love the work-reward ratios, how to discover the best ones and how a great education can ease them into a life above the fray and free from economic worry. Teach them that some day they will be 60 years old and that they need to prepare for that moment from the time they are very young. Teach them that life is not an unconnected series of sporadic events but a process that can be planned and that even lofty goals can be achieved if properly set and followed.

Teach them that easy money is small money with no sticking power. Tell them to be the house, not the sucker at the tables.
Click to expand...

Well said...crispy french fries for you with lots of black pepper and chocolate turtles for lunch!!!
 
I think it's a fine line. I'm not advocating that you try to influence your children to become gamblers for a living, I am advocating that you expose your children to the gambling aspect of pool.

And I think it will help them later in life, when they are exposed to bigger, and more subtle con-artists.
 
Get your popcorn ready...this is going to be a classic thread.

Personally, I agree with Jerry and the poster after as well. I do agree, if taught properly, gambling is an important lesson for everyone to learn. Unfortunately, we are a society of degenerate gamblers with lotteries and casinos in just about every state in the nation now. Sad and gambling is possibly one the downfall of the this country.
 
Jerry Forsyth said:
I SOOO wanted to bite my tongue on this subject but I just can't. Here is the problem: I have been around pool all of my life. I have known a ton of very expert gamblers. They all fell in love early in life with chasing the easy money. And they all die broke and we take up collections here to bury them. NONE of them have ever retired to a life of comfort and ease. Hell, they can't retire at all. No 401 K, no Social Security, nothing. They scrape their whole lives just to get by.

Teaching kids to love the easy money brought by gambling is just stupid. Teach them that when they mow the lawn they get $5 and when they wash the car they get $2 and when they dust the house they get $1. Teach them that there are rewards for honest work that allow them to purchase the things they want in life and that when they do not work they cannot purchase those things. Teach them to love the work-reward ratios, how to discover the best ones and how a great education can ease them into a life above the fray and free from economic worry. Teach them that some day they will be 60 years old and that they need to prepare for that moment from the time they are very young. Teach them that life is not an unconnected series of sporadic events but a process that can be planned and that even lofty goals can be achieved if properly set and followed.

Teach them that easy money is small money with no sticking power. Tell them to be the house, not the sucker at the tables.
Click to expand...

There are stupid parents everywhere in life, teaching their kids stupid stuff Every day, and lawyers defend them in later life, rolling the problems down the trail of society. Stupid is, stupid does. As lame as this subject is, Fatty was taught in early life by his father (merchant marine) and traveled overseas with him twice as a VERY young boy. I can't imagine what he did learn from his dad, but he did say in life, by doing the opposite of idiots you can learn allot. Keep in mind, this kid tho, may be COMPLETELY steered away from drugs and alcohol, like Fatty, and that alone is a huge thing to bypass for youth today. This kids father I'm sure may have some other good attributes to pass on. So from our periscope perspective, it may not be THAT bad.
 
I actually do think there is a lot to be said about learning to gamble. Teaches you a different way to look at things and you learn 'street smarts' a whole lot faster that way. I want to teach her to play pool and if she becomes a gambler, more power to her... but its not really something I want to teach her. Its the same as drinking. Someday, she can drink if she wants to, but its not my job to give it to her... just teach her to be responsible with it when the time comes.

I think gambling gets a bad wrap because people have problems with it... but a lot of people don't have a problem with it. I enjoy casinos, poker, pool, sports betting... but I've never and would never over step my limits and lose more than I can afford to lose. Gambling will never effect my family or life.
 
The world has evolved around repetition; you learn a skill and do it for the rest of your life. One cannot survive in the world today defined by repetition. There must be change.

Success in the coming years will be defined by change. Those who are change-makers will be successful at whatever level of skill they possess.

In today's Age Wave, every 8 seconds, an American turns 65 years old. Those who live a long life are those who can embrace change.

Gone are the days of the mighty road warrior. Today's youth will be taught competitive skills, good sportsmanship, and how to play the game proficiently. There's the change. Gambling won't be attractive to next-generation children. Their interests will reach heights beyond our gaze.
 
There is a difference between teaching your kids to gamble and teaching your kids about gambling.

The story about the kid and the UFC fights was funny and i think it was a special moment between a father and son. As long as the kid sees the down side to what could happen (hopefully not firsthand) I think he will be fine.

I don't let my kids gamble, but they know all about it and what to look out for.
 
JAM said:
The world has evolved around repetition; you learn a skill and do it for the rest of your life. One cannot survive in the world today defined by repetition. There must be change.

Success in the coming years will be defined by change. Those who are change-makers will be successful at whatever level of skill they possess.

In today's Age Wave, every 8 seconds, an American turns 65 years old. Those who live a long life are those who can embrace change.

Gone are the days of the mighty road warrior. Today's youth will be taught competitive skills, good sportsmanship, and how to play the game proficiently. There's the change. Gambling won't be attractive to next-generation children. Their interests will reach heights beyond our gaze.
Click to expand...

JAM,

That's where I see the problem. When you go through life with "good sportmanship" in all your dealings, you are blatantly advertising yourself as a sucker. And there's more people waiting to rip you off now than ever before.

Children need to learn what to do when things don't go as planned. I think that's important. Proficiency is great, unless there is someone ready to sabotage you. Then, proficiency is of no value.
 
cleary said:
Jerry the same can be said for being a "professional" pool player. So by your logic, you should turn all children off to becoming good at pool. I just don't agree.
Click to expand...

No way do I want my kid to become a professional pool player. There are very few things on earth where you cannot earn a living unless you are one of the top five people on earth.

I will add some stats after I look them up, but I can think of 100 things I can teach my children that might make them millions if they were the top five in their discipline/career. Sadly, pool is not even close.


Shane who is almost without question the best (at least most consistently winning) American pool player has earned an average of $107,839 per year for the last five years. Johnny Archer and Ralf Souqet both earned less than $90,000 per year for the last decade. Now I'm not saying that it is not decent money, but there are over 1,000 people at the plant next door to my facility who make more than this each year. My point is that these people with no special effort whatsoever will retire comfortably and never have to worry about their skills deteriorating and their income dwindling (other than the economy which affects us all).
 
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jason said:
Get your popcorn ready...this is going to be a classic thread.

Personally, I agree with Jerry and the poster after as well. I do agree, if taught properly, gambling is an important lesson for everyone to learn. Unfortunately, we are a society of degenerate gamblers with lotteries and casinos in just about every state in the nation now. Sad and gambling is possibly one the downfall of the this country.
Click to expand...

Coming from an outsider, the US has a disturbing and unhealthy obsession with money. Obviously money is important, but its value in terms of what it can provide seems lost in the pursuit of it for its own sake. It's an illness in your society but academic now considering the financial whirlwind blowing through the world.
 
Isn't it just as easy, and much smarter, to teach your 7 year old the lessons of responsibility, ethics, work, education, health, thrift, love and friendship, rather than gambling?

He'll learn about gambling on his own soon enough, and without the other lessons to give him balance, can easily go adrift. JMHO.

J
 
AimingVoodoo said:
JAM,

That's where I see the problem. When you go through life with "good sportmanship" in all your dealings, you are blatantly advertising yourself as a sucker. And there's more people waiting to rip you off now than ever before.
Click to expand...

That's right, not least because there are so few people willing to stand up and say what's right and what's wrong. You teach your kids to hang around with low class hustlers if you want to - I'll teach mine to be men.

Honestly, no wonder the game of pool is dead with threads like this. :rolleyes:
 
AimingVoodoo said:
JAM,

That's where I see the problem. When you go through life with "good sportmanship" in all your dealings, you are blatantly advertising yourself as a sucker. And there's more people waiting to rip you off now than ever before.

Children need to learn what to do when things don't go as planned. I think that's important. Proficiency is great, unless there is someone ready to sabotage you. Then, proficiency is of no value.
Click to expand...

There used to be a saying that the only people who succeed in business are thieves and con men. I actually believe this to a certain extent. Maybe that's why I'm broke all the time. :D

We are today at a transition point for what defines success. Today's entrepreneurial youth will succeed by being committed to the good of all through change. IOW, a person won't be measured by how deep their pockets are. Money shouldn't be a measuring stick for success.
 
cleary said:
I actually do think there is a lot to be said about learning to gamble. Teaches you a different way to look at things and you learn 'street smarts' a whole lot faster that way. I want to teach her to play pool and if she becomes a gambler, more power to her... but its not really something I want to teach her. Its the same as drinking. Someday, she can drink if she wants to, but its not my job to give it to her... just teach her to be responsible with it when the time comes.

I think gambling gets a bad wrap because people have problems with it... but a lot of people don't have a problem with it. I enjoy casinos, poker, pool, sports betting... but I've never and would never over step my limits and lose more than I can afford to lose. Gambling will never effect my family or life.
Click to expand...

A "poolroom education", IMO, in reality isn't much different than getting an MBA... They both serve a very good purpose in "real" life. Good post sir!

But did you really say "Someday, she can drink if she wants to, but its not my job to give it to her... just teach her to be responsible with it when the time comes."??? Are you going to have someone else teach her drinking??? LOL
 
AimingVoodoo said:
This topic was inspired by a recent post of someone who was gambling with his son on UFC fights.

In 2011, I think this type of activity is looked down upon by society in general. You might even get your kid taken away for "abuse" I am afraid to say.

But I hold the opposite viewpoint, and I have thought about this for a long while. I am convinced that pool is the best gambling activity to teach to children.

Kids can learn the art of setting the rules so that they could possibly have an advantage. They will learn to watch for people that are just out to hustle them. They will become expert communicators, and not get intimidated by "louder" counterparts.

They will learn to stand up for themselves when someone tries to cheat. They will learn valuable lessons about money.

They can use these tools in their lives every day. I know that when I was 18 and I went to get my car inspected, I didn't know enough to question what the mechanic said was wrong. Now that I have a pool hall education, I'll have a 2 hour discussion with the mechanic to try and get a better price, and knock off a few things that aren't really needed.

This type of stuff isn't covered in public schools. You don't learn much in schools.

Think about the advantage that a child has growing up if he knows how to manipulate people around him. He won't get ripped off by anyone.

I think this is a very important topic. Especially in today's world, when I think our children are way too soft, and easily manipulated.
Click to expand...

So you're saying that you should teach your kids how to gamble so that they will know how to manipulate others before they are manipulated by them?

Roger
 
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