JAM said: I never stated that Blackjack was referring to Keith. In fact, I never mentioned Keith's name or Blackjack's name.
No you didn't, but people can read between the lines quite easily.
JAM: The post was in defense of pool players who get ridiculed on this forum time and time again because of their chosen profession. You recently sucker-punched these same pool players in recent times, and I responded to your post. I wasn't defending Keith at that time either. I thought the comment you made at that time was demeaning, and I still do.
I wasn't sucker-punching Keith or anyone else in the post you refer to. In fact, I said I was joking (if you had continued to read the thread). You just read things (like Dave's parable for example) and immediately become hyper-defensive (lately) as if someone is out to attack pro pool players, or Keith and reply rather aggressively. Like in your response to mine where you call me a nit. You said that the 'wiseman' (we all *felt* - but could have been wrong - you were referring to Dave) couldn't play a lick. Sit back, take a break, and realize you're in safe place. No one on here that I've ever seen is out to badmouth YOU or KEITH. I've enjoyed your posts for many years now. The last thing I want to do is argue with anyone on here, particularly you. It isn't my style - BUT I will happily and respectfully discuss anything you like.
JAM: It is how you wanted to read the thread because it was me who responded.
Again, I wasn't attacking you. I was singleing out your post because it did appear rather aggressive and disrespectful towards Dave. I didn't feel it was appropriate and I said something. It happens.
JAM: I am disgusted to read post after post from members of this forum who act as if they live in an ivory tower and continue to take pot shots at pool players as if they are targets on a shooting range.
What pot shots? From what I read we all share stories of pool players, and write about our admiration for their talents and abilities (including countless posts about Keiths talents on the green felt/legendary adventures. If there are genuine potshots towards particular pool players, then I'm sure those posts are in the minority versus the majority. Again, I apologize to the Board as a whole if I've ever said anything that was construed as an insult to professional pool. Everyone makes mistakes though, right?
JAM: They're people who desired to pursue their dream to play competitively. Because I mention the financial burden of competing on a professional level, this then gives rise to a school of thought that pool players are dumb and/or fools because they didn't initiate a 401(k) or a retirement plan or collect the damn blessed seeds.
I respect the grit it takes to be a pro pool player. Believe me. But don't discount the pros who did play professionally and also "plant" some seeds for the future. You come across as if there is something wrong with that, although I don't think that is what you mean. People who work for a living and whose only contributions to pool are by buying the products (cues/cases/tables/etc), attending pro events as spectators, take lessons, play league are JUST as valuable to the world of pocket billiards as the pros are (I would think). Perhaps even more? Without the fans, where would the pros be?
JAM: I'm not speaking for Keith. I am speaking for the collective body of professional pool players as a whole. You may want to turn this into a Blackjack versus JAM thread, but that was not the intent of my reply.
Well, I'll honestly take your word for it. As I said in my other post - I apologize if I was incorrect, but that is how it came across to me and apparently everyone else.
JAM: Those who collect the seeds may be wise, but pool players have wisdom as well. Who is to say which one is more valuable than the other?!
You are absolutely correct. But the parable was based upon the subject of preparing for the future. Perhaps in horseshoe throwing or golf the "fool" in this particular parable would have been the wiseman in another - but in this particular one he wasn't. As Dave said, he wasn't referring to professional pool players when writing this. Simply sharing a story.
No you didn't, but people can read between the lines quite easily.
JAM: The post was in defense of pool players who get ridiculed on this forum time and time again because of their chosen profession. You recently sucker-punched these same pool players in recent times, and I responded to your post. I wasn't defending Keith at that time either. I thought the comment you made at that time was demeaning, and I still do.
I wasn't sucker-punching Keith or anyone else in the post you refer to. In fact, I said I was joking (if you had continued to read the thread). You just read things (like Dave's parable for example) and immediately become hyper-defensive (lately) as if someone is out to attack pro pool players, or Keith and reply rather aggressively. Like in your response to mine where you call me a nit. You said that the 'wiseman' (we all *felt* - but could have been wrong - you were referring to Dave) couldn't play a lick. Sit back, take a break, and realize you're in safe place. No one on here that I've ever seen is out to badmouth YOU or KEITH. I've enjoyed your posts for many years now. The last thing I want to do is argue with anyone on here, particularly you. It isn't my style - BUT I will happily and respectfully discuss anything you like.
JAM: It is how you wanted to read the thread because it was me who responded.
Again, I wasn't attacking you. I was singleing out your post because it did appear rather aggressive and disrespectful towards Dave. I didn't feel it was appropriate and I said something. It happens.
JAM: I am disgusted to read post after post from members of this forum who act as if they live in an ivory tower and continue to take pot shots at pool players as if they are targets on a shooting range.
What pot shots? From what I read we all share stories of pool players, and write about our admiration for their talents and abilities (including countless posts about Keiths talents on the green felt/legendary adventures. If there are genuine potshots towards particular pool players, then I'm sure those posts are in the minority versus the majority. Again, I apologize to the Board as a whole if I've ever said anything that was construed as an insult to professional pool. Everyone makes mistakes though, right?
JAM: They're people who desired to pursue their dream to play competitively. Because I mention the financial burden of competing on a professional level, this then gives rise to a school of thought that pool players are dumb and/or fools because they didn't initiate a 401(k) or a retirement plan or collect the damn blessed seeds.
I respect the grit it takes to be a pro pool player. Believe me. But don't discount the pros who did play professionally and also "plant" some seeds for the future. You come across as if there is something wrong with that, although I don't think that is what you mean. People who work for a living and whose only contributions to pool are by buying the products (cues/cases/tables/etc), attending pro events as spectators, take lessons, play league are JUST as valuable to the world of pocket billiards as the pros are (I would think). Perhaps even more? Without the fans, where would the pros be?
JAM: I'm not speaking for Keith. I am speaking for the collective body of professional pool players as a whole. You may want to turn this into a Blackjack versus JAM thread, but that was not the intent of my reply.
Well, I'll honestly take your word for it. As I said in my other post - I apologize if I was incorrect, but that is how it came across to me and apparently everyone else.
JAM: Those who collect the seeds may be wise, but pool players have wisdom as well. Who is to say which one is more valuable than the other?!
You are absolutely correct. But the parable was based upon the subject of preparing for the future. Perhaps in horseshoe throwing or golf the "fool" in this particular parable would have been the wiseman in another - but in this particular one he wasn't. As Dave said, he wasn't referring to professional pool players when writing this. Simply sharing a story.
