Really? That's it? That's the best you could come up with?
Lou Figueroa
(sigh)
not even a yo' mama
Dress Code for Gold Crown Billiards, Erie, PA
- Thread starter Paul Schofield
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Really? That's it? That's the best you could come up with?
Lou Figueroa
(sigh)
not even a yo' mama
I guess instead we should all aspire to your sartorial sense of "style," lol.
Lou Figueroa
get that call
from GQ yet?
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Criminals, low lifes, and bums aren't appealing to very many people either. They never have been, won't be in the foreseeable future, and probably (and hopefully) never will be (although rap culture, and one of our political parties, sure are trying to make them acceptable, and I do unfortunately have to admit both have made a bit of progress in that regard).
Yes pool attracted some more of the same type of people that were already in it for a short time with a couple of movies, but it didn't get any more mainstream acceptance. We are in our worst position ever as far as attracting fans and getting mainstream acceptance. Yes we can easily attract a few more low lifes and bums by appealing to that sector, but the problem is that is a small market (and one with no money on top of that). Having any significant growth in the American fan base will require attracting mainstream Americans, not just a few more bummy Americans.
Here is the bottom line. ALL the facts oppose your belief. The only time pool did even half respectively, was when it was presented half respectively. On the flip side we also have decades upon decades of trying it your way, making no large scale attempt to clean up the image of pool and instead letting it be perceived as being full of the criminal, low life, and bummy element (and largely living up to that for that matter), and everyone knows exactly where that has gotten us--just further buried, that's where. Things have only gotten worse for us, not better. All the evidence we have is clear and all points in one and only one direction, even if we don't like it.
I'm sure you know that old cliche definition of insanity, where insanity is defined as doing the same thing but expecting different results. Our sport is the epitome and poster child for that definition.
As I already said, I think pool is a lost cause and for a number of reasons it will never be popular in America no matter what we do, but hopefully I am wrong. But I'm certain it has ZERO chance of any significant mainstream acceptance and popularity as long as it is perceived as being full of criminals, low lifes and bums. Decades of history that supports and substantiates that. Zero evidence substantiates anything different. To think that even further embracing our low life perception, which we have already essentially been doing for decades, is going to somehow get us different results and make us popular is absolutely nothing less asinine given what the decades of evidence tells. We aren't going to get different results until we actually do something differently. History has proven that the "criminals, low lifes, and bums" perception = no mainstream acceptance or popularity.
True statements.
The pool hall that this thread is about is even further evidence of what I am saying. He is promoting the cleaner side of pool and working hard to change pool's perception with his place and he has grown to be an extremely large place filled with many hundreds of people a night and it is obvious he is making REALLY, REALLY good money.
Where are all the pool halls catering to the seedy people and the seedy side of pool that have grown to be this large and always filled with lots of people and that are raking in the gobs of money hand over fist? I can't think of any either. Sure there are places around that cater to the seedy side and they survive, but they aren't the ones that thrive like this. All the ones I know of that have grown to be this large and this busy and making this kind of money are all ones that are trying to be respectable places catering to a "normal" and respectable crowd and side of pool and are not catering to and are typically even discouraging the seedy side of pool and seedy people. Just further goes to show what can attract the mainstream masses and what doesn't.
Where are all the pool halls catering to the seedy people and the seedy side of pool that have grown to be this large and always filled with lots of people and that are raking in the gobs of money hand over fist? I can't think of any either. Sure there are places around that cater to the seedy side and they survive, but they aren't the ones that thrive like this. All the ones I know of that have grown to be this large and this busy and making this kind of money are all ones that are trying to be respectable places catering to a "normal" and respectable crowd and side of pool and are not catering to and are typically even discouraging the seedy side of pool and seedy people. Just further goes to show what can attract the mainstream masses and what doesn't.
Maybe i read this wrong, but you are saying poker never had a certain negative perception surrounding it?
Prim and proper thoughts and actions are lost in today's world.
:crying:
Read this article about the decline of Pool since the 1920's.
http://punchdrink.com/articles/the-life-and-death-of-the-american-pool-hall/
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No. What I said was that before they got popular, no other sport had the perception from the public as a sport filled largely with criminals and people of the lowest morals and poorest character (as pool is largely seen) and then subsequently became popular.
In the case of poker I don't think most of the general public had much of an opinion about it before it became popular as they mostly weren't aware it was even a thing outside of it being a game that some people played at get togethers and parties. Most weren't aware of the underworld that existed or thought that underworld was only a small part. There may have been a portion that may not have had the greatest opinions about poker or poker players, but certainly nothing close to the same level and extent as with pool but maybe more along the lines of how surfers are often seen as slackers. In the average person's mind pool is largely filled with criminals, scammers and "pool sharks" out to take advantage of people and maliciously take their money, drunks, bums, low lifes, people that won't work or hold a job, basically the lowest levels of class, morals, and integrity. No other game or sport in America that has a perception anywhere close to what pool had before they got popular (or even after they got popular for that matter).
lol as a matter of fact... GQ made a post the other day on Instagram with Aziz Ansari wearing a jacket I wore last summer.. so... lmao
But yes, that's a picture of me mocking the dress code... Funny part is, if a golfer wears that he becomes famous. If a pool player wears that, it's a joke. hmmm
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And yet somehow every single night you can find poker on tv. A bunch of gambling bums with their backwards caps on... But yea, you know what's best.
You're seriously on a different planet. wtf lol
Please for the love of all that is holy will you please please please refrain from posting five pictures in every other post? Maybe it is just me but in my opinion...
The ones you post add nothing of value to the discussion, ever.
They make threads difficult to read due to the need to scroll because of all the room they take up.
They make you think the person has to age be 16 or younger.
They make pages take longer to load.
They are mostly dumb.
They make people not take you serious.
Etc.
I could go on and on. It just seems exceptionally discourteous to all the other posters. Maybe it is just me but I kind of doubt it. I can tell you this though. After over a decade of being a member here you are very close to being the very first person I ever put on ignore so that their posts no longer show up for me, and trust me, there have been some really horrible and obnoxious posters here over the years so that should really tell you something.
It got on tv because it offers a whole bunch of things that pool doesn't, and because it was never seen as consisting largely of criminals and people of the lowest morals and character the way and extent that pool is.
No pictures were used or harmed in the making of this post.
Plus........ it's satire.
Come on. I can't be worse then the guy in the hockey mask!
:ignore:
Stop Free Speech Now!
Ever? Images match the point(s) I'm making.
Yes. Sorry about that. I wish I knew how to resize images before downloading.
Only 16 year olds use illustrations?
See large image apology, above.
In your opinion. I have positive reputations stating the opposite.
No one takes anyone serious anymore. Especially in online blogs.
Plus........ it's satire.
Come on. I can't be worse then the guy in the hockey mask!
:ignore:
Stop Free Speech Now!
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hmmm. Not sure you won the "who wore it best" contest on that one.
Here's a bit more your speed.
Lou Figueroa
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The movie Rounders was popular before the big poker boom in the US. It displyed underground poker rooms and gambling dens and pimps, prostitutes and other criminals.
To this day, it is still played in illegal poker rooms in cities with and without gaming regulations.
How many times have you seen it portrayed on TV with someone cheating with a card up their sleave and the other person gets shot over it.
Tell me again how poker looks better then pool?