What's The Point Of It? Seriously . . . Brutal Honesty Required . . .

I play because I like the competition, it costs far less money and can take way less time than racing, or more time if you choose, but either way its your choice. If you decide to race you have no choice but to invest the time in the car. Plus its a better workout than watching tv.
 
Because I love it! I know you requested that we don’t answer your question that simply but that is really what it all boils down to. All the rest is just fluff.

I suppose I can try to answer why it is that I love it? I really don’t know anymore.

Well, this might sound a bit hooky, but I feel like the game has a spark of divinity in it, just the way all the spheres collide on the green cloth, sort of like an epic cosmological battle is being played out. When it’s played well, the game is just so perfect!

I think if we could rewind all of human history again and start over, many things would turn out differently. For instance, there would be no curling. That game is so obviously arbitrary. I’m pretty sure about that. What there would be is pool. It’s just so completely satisfying. When you are playing good, you are like a god controlling a universe. Commanding the balls to collide into each other however you dictate.

Okay….that’s a bit much. But in a world that can seem so out of control at times, there’s something mesmerizing about being in total control of something. Even if it’s just a game being played out on a table with holes in it.

I love it!
 
Why do I mow the lawn? Why do the laundry?? Why do the dishes? Why wash my car??? Are any of these "productive"?
My grass is just going to grow so I have to cut it again! The dishes, clothes and car will just get dirty!!! Right???
Why go to work??? Is anyone going to remember what I did in 100 yrs???
See my point??? Do you enjoy playing pool???? Then you should do it, better be doing what you enjoy... because you only live once and more than likely noone will remember what you did 100 yrs from now. If you aren't having a good time playing pool then you probably should quit and find something you enjoy..... Life is too short
 
peteypooldude said:
I do think your full of sh1t
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lol, but Petey, how do you really feel about his reply...I hate it when you hold back!? I beat a pro once, and then threw down that PS3 controller on the ground and said what, you want to go double or nothing?
 
for me its the challenge of mastery
the ability to get in "the zone "of me and the pool balls
its a a way to escape from everyday problems for a period of time
you cant concentrate on pool and be thinking about issues at work for example
although you didnt want this reaon but its for the love of the game
:)
 
Complete honesty??? Hard to find...

I started playing in high school as something to do after school (and when we skipped school). Lived in a suburb of Vancouver, BC and it took forever to get downtown by bus so we mostly just bummed around locally. Not much else to do really.

Why do I play now? Well... I don't want the pool lovers to hate this response but really it's because I just need something to do in the winter indoors. I'm more of a golf fanatic and play as much as I can during the summer but when there's 4' of snow on the ground... have to find something else to do. I'm decent at it, not going to ever enter any tournaments, probably will never play league but good enough at it that my friends don't get frustrated with me... Some similarity to golf as well (sticks, balls, holes) <---- don't take that the wrong way ;-)

If you've never seen Robin Williams on golf http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcnFbCCgTo4
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
"It" being what pretty much all of us here on az do, namely, play pool.

Did you ever think about just how much of our time is wasted chasing 2 1/4" plastic balls into pockets.

And we know that the absolute vast majority of us will never go any further than being a shortstop level player, and even that, if we're lucky.

Added to this fact is another even more troubling fact, which is let's say you are one of the very few who possesses incredible natural talent and you decide you're gonna do whatever it takes (huge sacrifices) to get to the top. What's waiting for you should you arrive? Post dated checks, broken promises, air barrels, dumps, a $10k check if you can beat Shane or Alex, etc., etc., and etc...?

I know of some very talented pool players who have decided to pursue pool as a career and it turned out to be a colossal waste of their time. Sure they can do *okay* at some local or even regional tourneys but they're not really posing any real threats on a national level, and certainly not globally.

Couldn't this time be much better spent doing something productive?

And what about the rest of us?

I want to know from you all exactly why it is you play pool. Please be totally honest about why.

[SIZE="3"]If this thread goes to 25 responses, I will explain why I play and I'm going to warn you, it's going to be brutally candid. Totally honest, no candy coating at all.[/SIZE]This thread is not meant to be negative, but rather, it's intended to try to better understand why it is that we, a collection of bangers to A players, dedicate so much of our time playing this game.

So, why do we?

And please don't respond with 'because I love it'. You'll have to do better than that. :p

I'm gonna be real candid and so should you!

best,
brian kc
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brian we are past 25 responces
inquiring minds want to know your answer:D
 
I dunno why you act like the answer will require deep soul searching and cause controversy :)
Every one of us is playing because it entertains us.

It's "fun" though that word might be too lighthearted for some guys to use.

Of course my time could be better spent. I could be working in the peace corps 20 hours a day for the rest of my life or busting ass at med school to save lives and get rich in the process. But it wouldn't be fun.
 
It's just a past time , time killer for me.

After 30-40 years of knocking around that little white ball , I'm content to just maintain my skill level. I'm certainly no world beater but I'm not afraid of anyone either.

I'm involved in a ton of charity work , pretty much weekly so I figure my time spent is pretty well balanced.

No big harsh truths for me , sorry. :)
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
"It" being what pretty much all of us here on az do, namely, play pool.

Did you ever think about just how much of our time is wasted chasing 2 1/4" plastic balls into pockets.

And we know that the absolute vast majority of us will never go any further than being a shortstop level player, and even that, if we're lucky.

Added to this fact is another even more troubling fact, which is let's say you are one of the very few who possesses incredible natural talent and you decide you're gonna do whatever it takes (huge sacrifices) to get to the top. What's waiting for you should you arrive? Post dated checks, broken promises, air barrels, dumps, a $10k check if you can beat Shane or Alex, etc., etc., and etc...?

I know of some very talented pool players who have decided to pursue pool as a career and it turned out to be a colossal waste of their time. Sure they can do *okay* at some local or even regional tourneys but they're not really posing any real threats on a national level, and certainly not globally.

Couldn't this time be much better spent doing something productive?

And what about the rest of us?

I want to know from you all exactly why it is you play pool. Please be totally honest about why.

If this thread goes to 25 responses, I will explain why I play and I'm going to warn you, it's going to be brutally candid. Totally honest, no candy coating at all.

This thread is not meant to be negative, but rather, it's intended to try to better understand why it is that we, a collection of bangers to A players, dedicate so much of our time playing this game.

So, why do we?

And please don't respond with 'because I love it'. You'll have to do better than that. :p

I'm gonna be real candid and so should you!

best,
brian kc
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Pool is a great game.The possibilities are endless and you never play the same game twice. It has the strategy of chess and the hand eye coordination of golf.

You don't need to be a world beater to enjoy the game. You don't need to reach professional status. I personally enjoy the challenge of find an out. Or playing the best shot I can. I like manipulating the physics (i.e. moving the cue ball in unexpected ways).

Now that I think about it I know very few people that dislike pool. Some people play it not more than a couple times a year but when they see a table there eyes light up like a Xmas tree. Watch little kids when they see a pool table. You can tell them want to be an adult right then and there so they can play the game.
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
"It" being what pretty much all of us here on az do, namely, play pool.

Did you ever think about just how much of our time is wasted chasing 2 1/4" plastic balls into pockets.

And we know that the absolute vast majority of us will never go any further than being a shortstop level player, and even that, if we're lucky.

Added to this fact is another even more troubling fact, which is let's say you are one of the very few who possesses incredible natural talent and you decide you're gonna do whatever it takes (huge sacrifices) to get to the top. What's waiting for you should you arrive? Post dated checks, broken promises, air barrels, dumps, a $10k check if you can beat Shane or Alex, etc., etc., and etc...?

I know of some very talented pool players who have decided to pursue pool as a career and it turned out to be a colossal waste of their time. Sure they can do *okay* at some local or even regional tourneys but they're not really posing any real threats on a national level, and certainly not globally.

Couldn't this time be much better spent doing something productive?

And what about the rest of us?

I want to know from you all exactly why it is you play pool. Please be totally honest about why.

If this thread goes to 25 responses, I will explain why I play and I'm going to warn you, it's going to be brutally candid. Totally honest, no candy coating at all.

This thread is not meant to be negative, but rather, it's intended to try to better understand why it is that we, a collection of bangers to A players, dedicate so much of our time playing this game.

So, why do we?

And please don't respond with 'because I love it'. You'll have to do better than that. :p

I'm gonna be real candid and so should you!

best,
brian kc
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It's simple, anytime we can completely control life it empowers and enlightens us. Because of this We always want more, kinda like heroin, cept heroin has many ways to help you get off that horse, pool doesn't....
 
There is a huge difference between playing pool and hanging out at the poolroom. Playing pool is a skill and challenge, a quest to conquer and perfect the imperfectable. It is being proud of our skills, the pride of winning and learning to accept the shame of losing.

Hanging out at the poolroom involves adventure, entertainment, and loneliness.

Loneliness is something most of us never discuss. We can be lonely for a sense of brotherhood, lonely in our lives even when stocked with family, friends and co-workers. There is something about me that a pool room fulfills. It is a place stocked with people I understand, an atmosphere I like and understand.

Top boil it down to one statement: We play pool because we are pool players.
 
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I have played all my life, I have quit for periods of time due to work and school but I always come back to pool. There must be something magical about this great game.
 
WardS said:
I have played all my life, I have quit for periods of time due to work and school but I always come back to pool. There must be something magical about this great game.
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Hours playing pool are not hours wasted. :thumbup:
 
WardS said:
I have played all my life, I have quit for periods of time due to work and school but I always come back to pool. There must be something magical about this great game.
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You always hear about the hackers on the golf course talk about their play, but they always bring up those one or two Great shots (it makes their day)they made when they shot a 100, but in pool you get more shots therefore more chances to get everything to go your way a little bit more often than golf and the 5 hrs it takes to only hit the golf ball 100 times. In pool you'll hit waaay more than 100 shots in 5 hrs, but in turn you'll also hit waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more bad shots :grin:
 
As opposed to what?? Once you start thinking about everything there really is no point and everything is transient so stop thinking and keep enjoying.
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
"It" being what pretty much all of us here on az do, namely, play pool.

Did you ever think about just how much of our time is wasted ....



Couldn't this time be much better spent doing something productive?

best,
brian kc
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I never thought that I wasted my time. The time spent in the pool hall Six to seven days a week has been very productive. what is more productive than playing pool?

I did not think of becoming a Champion when I first held the cue stick many years ago. I started it for it`s RECREATIONAL value and after all these years of playing there is no change in my opinion about it. I play pool 6-7 days a week. I WAS a accomplished player but NOT a Champion. For the last few years my game has been on decline and I can`t make long straight in shots anymore. It is possibly due to BURN OUT.

Whem my parents gave me some toys when I was growing up, my parents did not buy those toys with the intention of making me a world champion in sports. They bought the toys for it`s entertainment value.:cool:
 
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So in other words the balls are your *****es?


Cdryden said:
I like problem solving, and to me that is a big part of the game. I like the feeling I get from controlling the balls, getting whitey to do exactly what I want him to do and at the same time I like that anything can happen and realizing that control is just an illusion.
There are so many facets to this game that make it worthwhile.
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I play pool because it has no boundaries, it's not just about playing the game either. It's about the pool life The people The places The action. A regular guy like me can dream of being a pro, own a pool hall, become a master instructor, build cues, become a table mechanic, write a new book, try to make it as a road player, win a tournament, or just beat the devil. I love pool becouse i am a dreamer and i live all of the above and then some.... it a true test of character
 
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