Hostile Conditions

gsxr750rr said:
Just looking for some advice from some that have been there and may want to shed some light on the situation. How do you guy's handle being in a room where everybody in the room is looking to see you fail or lose. They may tag team you, shark you while you play others, dog your game, etc. I've been playing in a new room and the "regular's" don't seem to like that I'm in the room. I light up the tables more than anyone else in the room and pay my dues practicing to improve my game. I'm seeing good results and now it seems like the room has decided to put a target on my back. Seems like a stupid problem and I can usually tolerate it or avoid drama but after about a year it seems like I have to admit its starting to get to the point where its getting to me. Any advice?
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This seems to me to be the old ''Why is it me who is getting bullied? Of all the kids on the school yard?'' question.

And honestly, I have never had an answer. At least not one that I would completely understand.

So dear gsxr750rr, I cannot say anything else but keep hanging in there.

Maybe you could ask yourself the question what do you want to be, the peoples champion or the villain of the room? Maybe neither, but if you do make a choice, you might find some enjoyment out of it. I know I have.
 
I have run into situations where people auto-hated on me. It is always immaturity. You cant make people magically be nicer, so you have to deal with the environment you have chosen to place yourself in. Which means being the odd-ball. Can be dangerous, is always stressful, and will remain a state of conflict until you change the circumstances of the environment.

Find allies, mitigate the avenues of attack against you (headphones, no eye contact, unshakable positive attitude, etc.) and it will become apparent that you belong there by your own force of will.

In short... screw'm

Lesh
 
If the spot is worth the aggravation, I'd go in a couple times knowing that I'm just not going to play, have a couple of drinks and be cordial. I keep a few talking points to share with the right players like..."I don't mind throwing a little money away, but if I can't have fun doing it, I'll just drink" or "When this starts feeling like work, I'm just not interested".
When you go in under strenuous circumstances, you are handicapping anyone you play. You have to reset the atmosphere that you can find your calm. It's worth a couple of blank trips if the action is good. Don't let your opponent set the stage.
 
Find another place to play if possible. Life is too short to waste hanging around a bunch of A holes.. Pool is supposed to be an enjoyable event, when it is not it's time to find another pastime..
 
I have never, ever been to a pool room where the regulars decided to dislike somebody for no reason whatsoever.
 
OP, do you think maybe you are just being a bit too sensitive? Everyone wants to see you fail? You have a target on your back? Maybe you need to lighten up a little bit and just have fun. If you're NOT having fun, stop going there.
 
Huh, it DOES sound like you're not doing anything to bring it on, not being cocky anyway.

The only thing I can think of is... a guy practicing for 8 hours alone is fairly unusual, at least in my area.
I've seen 3, 4, 5 hours, but 8 hours is insane. Maybe they're thinking "what, this guy thinks he's a pro?"

I have no idea though if that's it or not. It isn't really fair and if the room is truly hostile then
I'd just find another. In fact if your gameplan is 8 hours a day of solitary practice,
maybe you're a good candidate for a home table?
 
You should buy them a beer with the money you won from them. Yeah, its your money now, but never a bad idea to soften the pain with alcohol.
 
put a $100.00 bill on the corner of the table and see if one of the sharks bite if not, shine as bright as you like and let them talk because till they bite it's all that it will ever be just talk!
 
Thepip said:
put a $100.00 bill on the corner of the table and see if one of the sharks bite if not, shine as bright as you like and let them talk because till they bite it's all that it will ever be just talk!
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You don't play much pool, do you ??
Cuz what you wrote is the worst advise you can give to anyone who is trying to fit in with regulars in a pool room.
 
gsxr750rr said:
Just looking for some advice from some that have been there and may want to shed some light on the situation. How do you guy's handle being in a room where everybody in the room is looking to see you fail or lose. They may tag team you, shark you while you play others, dog your game, etc. I've been playing in a new room and the "regular's" don't seem to like that I'm in the room. I light up the tables more than anyone else in the room and pay my dues practicing to improve my game. I'm seeing good results and now it seems like the room has decided to put a target on my back. Seems like a stupid problem and I can usually tolerate it or avoid drama but after about a year it seems like I have to admit its starting to get to the point where its getting to me. Any advice?
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My advice would be to shut up, shoot straighter, and make more balls....and beat everyone there...on the pool table. As for the rest of it, its life around a pool table in a pool room. You have to earn respect from those around you, as it's not given just because you play pool.

Glen
 
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Why are you asking people you don't know on an internet forum instead of asking the people you say are sharking you?

I have no idea why this is happening to you. Sorry.
 
Get them into a 3 or 10 ball ring game for cheap stakes,it's good for laughs and also a good ice breaker..
 
most of the time when people try to shark me it helps me focus that much more, the only guy that could get me would swing his cue like a pendulum when i was facing him but over time i would angle my hat/head to just be able to see the end rail, u might try this out it would take away most visual sharking and if noises shark u get an ipod
 
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