Ghost, this may be one of the best posts I've read here in 5 years! Well said, sir! Greenie to you!
Brian in VA
Thanks very much for the compliment, i very much enjoy thinking/discussing these kind of ideas with others and learning from them also.
Billiards is such a unique game on a personal level, especially in the development of the game at player must go through to master all sorts of knowledge, physical skill, and mental fortitude to mention a few key elements.
Since we all play on the same field basically, we have a tendency to compare our games to the likes of others...and when i say compared, i mean very loosely compared. The only thing that I can see being the cause of this is pride and vanity.
No one wants to be judged especially judged to be inferior in some way, much less feel that way. So players pull sort of that "Fake it till you make it attitude" which in certain ways can be useful to your development as its better to feel/think well about what you can do as opposed to being negative and beating yourself up.
Most players are mostly self taught, while many got some info from knowledgable people you still have to put the puzzle together yourself....
So its honestly completely understandable that we can have a tendency to overrate our skills, I liken it to how women compare themselves to each other constantly.
After all thats why I was completely genuine in my comment complimenting the OP on his epiphany....its a big step when someone can look at themselves and just be honest especially public honesty.
You don't have to be honest in the form of looking in the mirror and saying OK I REALLY DO SUCK AT THIS GAME....don't judge yourself in a good or bad way, just simply know your strengths and more importantly know the areas that you need to develop.
Its an equal game and it doesn't matter if what your speed is, or how you compare to others....the beauty of it is that every one of us could go as far as we want in the game IF we put in the work.
If you can't put in the work to be a champ then thats ok, not everyone can shoot pool for a living...just be as best as you can and be happy with the accomplishments you have made for many players probably even got as far as you did.
I like to think of the game as having more camaraderie, players should help each other out more instead of woofing. The more people that learn to play properly the bigger the industry gets and the better the chances of some of us being able to live a life playing the game that we all enjoy and dream about.
thanks again,
Grey Ghost