It's no wonder pool doesn't go anywhere.

[Sweet Marissa]

People fighting, flaming, demeaning, baiting, attacking, belittling, cheating, stealing... Bickering over a difference of opinion from anything to aiming techniques to bad grammar... Hatrid over another's political stance... And that's just on the forums! The forums are supposed to be a social network to promote pool and meet others who shared passion for it.

There is so much animosity in the pool world, and not just on the forums. It seems we will continue to be bad representatives for something we claim to love until it becomes a crushed butterfly.

 

[derekdisco]

 

[Da Bank]

sweet sweet marissa you make a good point.

Although, I must say this isn't just a pool problem, this is a people problem... this is an American problem. Our country is in a bad place right now, people in general are angry, and there is always going to be someone looking to cut corners and cheat someone.

I've been posting on a variety of forums for over 10 years (mainly car forums before here) and I can tell you definitively that pretty much all internet forums that develop a good following and a culture have all those problems you have stated. There will always be internet thugs who talk a big talk and say things they'd never say to someone's face.

Perhaps the pool culture makes it, at times, even worse here on the forums because with gambling and alcohol and competition comes ugly things like cheating, fighting, disagreements, insults, etc. It's no secret that there is an ugly side to pool and it will always be there. My suggestion and my practice is to try to ignore those ugly sides as much as possible and do what you can do to recognize and promote the GREAT parts of pool that we all love.

Certainly there is a great draw and merit to the dark sides of pool (gambling/hustling, drinking), but I truly believe that hustling should be a side show to making pool the sport that it IS. Sport and fair competition under proper refereeing and regulation will promote a safe and inviting sport for people who may be turned off by the "dark side" of the game.

I also believe that we should be allowed to clone Jasmin Ouschan and place one clone in each major city's best pool hall as a representative for the sport. :wub:

 

[Drew]

sweet sweet marissa you make a good point.

Although, I must say this isn't just a pool problem, this is a people problem... this is an American problem. Our country is in a bad place right now, people in general are angry, and there is always going to be someone looking to cut corners and cheat someone.

I've been posting on a variety of forums for over 10 years (mainly car forums before here) and I can tell you definitively that pretty much all internet forums that develop a good following and a culture have all those problems you have stated. There will always be internet thugs who talk a big talk and say things they'd never say to someone's face.

Perhaps the pool culture makes it, at times, even worse here on the forums because with gambling and alcohol and competition comes ugly things like cheating, fighting, disagreements, insults, etc. It's no secret that there is an ugly side to pool and it will always be there. My suggestion and my practice is to try to ignore those ugly sides as much as possible and do what you can do to recognize and promote the GREAT parts of pool that we all love.

Certainly there is a great draw and merit to the dark sides of pool (gambling/hustling, drinking), but I truly believe that hustling should be a side show to making pool the sport that it IS. Sport and fair competition under proper refereeing and regulation will promote a safe and inviting sport for people who may be turned off by the "dark side" of the game.

I also believe that we should be allowed to clone Jasmin Ouschan and place one clone in each major city's best pool hall as a representative for the sport. :wub:

I don't know...I've never seen the same level of competitiveness in another activity. I'm a serious Frisbee player too and it's a huge difference. Not too many pool players are willing to help a beginner without a fee. Knocking the balls around with a lesser player is considered a chore. Playing without a bet is a waste of time. These are things specific to pool players. I can only imagine what outsiders think of us. We never seem happy in the pool room...yet we proclaim to love this game. Sure as hell doesn't look like a fun activity.

 

[Da Bank]

I don't know...I've never seen the same level of competitiveness in another activity. I'm a serious Frisbee player too and it's a huge difference. Not too many pool players are willing to help a beginner without a fee. Knocking the balls around with a lesser player is considered a chore. Playing without a bet is a waste of time. These are things specific to pool players. I can only imagine what outsiders think of us. We never seem happy in the pool room...yet we proclaim to love this game. Sure as hell doesn't look like a fun activity.

this is true for many players, but it is not universal at all. You can find similar culture in dart playing or poker rooms.

Alot of the negative things come about because pool has become about the money, not the competition, for many players. Even I'm guilty of this and I am constantly drawn to the thrill of competing for money. There is nothing like the rush of winning a big pay day off a good player. As we all know, with money comes greed and with greed comes bad things.

But go watch sports on TV, any sport, and you aren't going to find smiles across the faces of players. They are gonna be serious, they are gonna be pissed and fired up when they lose... there is going to be conflict. It's not a pool thing, it's a money and competition thing... it just so happens that pool and gambling are so closely entwined because of the nature of the game that those negative aspects are always gonna be there and be uninviting to outsiders.

Any serious player that plays for money or for pride may have a nasty snarl on their face 100% of the time, but if you asked them they are all gonna tell you that they LOVE this game and that's why they play. Virtually no one who hates pool plays it out of necessity... people may end up hating it because they played so much and it may have ruined their life, but at some point, every good player was in love with the game.

 

[Drew]

this is true for many players, but it is not universal at all. You can find similar culture in dart playing or poker rooms.

Alot of the negative things come about because pool has become about the money, not the competition, for many players. Even I'm guilty of this and I am constantly drawn to the thrill of competing for money. There is nothing like the rush of winning a big pay day off a good player. As we all know, with money comes greed and with greed comes bad things.

But go watch sports on TV, any sport, and you aren't going to find smiles across the faces of players. They are gonna be serious, they are gonna be pissed and fired up when they lose... there is going to be conflict. It's not a pool thing, it's a money and competition thing... it just so happens that pool and gambling are so closely entwined because of the nature of the game that those negative aspects are always gonna be there and be uninviting to outsiders.

Any serious player that plays for money or for pride may have a nasty snarl on their face 100% of the time, but if you asked them they are all gonna tell you that they LOVE this game and that's why they play. Virtually no one who hates pool plays it out of necessity... people may end up hating it because they played so much and it may have ruined their life, but at some point, every good player was in love with the game.

Good posting...unfortunately, pool is very much about the money. How often do you get repeatedly asked to play for money at the gym, or on the basketball court, or even on the golf course. In fact, I have absolutely no problem walking up to the best player around and asking for some pointers...unless it's pool. I think this is the general consensus. Even the waitresses at the pool hall barely talk to the players. It's not even about competitiveness, it's about money.

There's one thing that is always certain to be happening in a pool room...somebody is losing money. I can't say that about the bowling alley.

 

[Sweet Marissa]

I'm a member of three hockey forums, a sport riddled with actual knock-down, drag out, physical fights. I don't recall a single thread escalating to the nth degree of hostility as I see on any pool forum. There are no pictures of females as avatars or cluttering the boards, nude, scantily clad, or otherwise. Guys aren't posting about how they'd bang some Ice Girl. There's playful ribbing, sure, but no threats of violence or even profanity. No one is arguing over politics or religion. How does hockey have a more civilised messageboard than pool???

 

[Drew]

I'm a member of three hockey forums, a sport riddled with actual knock-down, drag out, physical fights. I don't recall a single thread escalating to the nth degree of hostility as I see on any pool forum. There are no pictures of females as avatars or cluttering the boards, nude, scantily clad, or otherwise. Guys aren't posting about how they'd bang some Ice Girl. There's playful ribbing, sure, but no threats of violence or even profanity. No one is arguing over politics or religion. How does hockey have a more civilised messageboard than pool???

There's nude avatars???? WHERE?

I wonder...are hockey guys all gay? I actually think the level of spamming on this board is very acceptable. We may disagree about politics, religion, or otherwise...I generally think that pool players are very intelligent with a wide variety of interests. Even in the pool room, we are closet politicians.

Of all the forums I frequent...I like this one because of the wide range of discussion topics. Movies, politics, religion, gorgeous babes, good food, music, business, even pool...these topics are alive and well here at AZB. I'd hate to be limited to one subject all the time.

 

[Johnnyt]

For the most part here you have people taking pop-shots from behind the safety of their monitors. 90% of them wouldn't say half the things they do to someones face. I know five of them that run their mouths on here , but when I use to see them at the poolroom or bar they were meek little things playing quietly in the corner, not even making eye contact with anyone. Johnnyt

 

[Drew]

For the most part here you have people taking pop-shots from behind the safety of their monitors. 90% of them wouldn't say half the things they do to someones face. I know five of them that run their mouths on here , but when I use to see them at the poolroom or bar they were meek little things playing quietly in the corner, not even making eye contact with anyone. Johnnyt

Hmm...I know a couple lurkers on here who talk a lot in real life.

 

[Impact Blue]

Oh Star Trek facepalms....

 

[Impact Blue]

One more for good measure:

 

[crawfish]

After reading some of this......

Pool, in general, is a very ego driven sport. It is also very self serving. It is just you, the layouts, and your opponent. You almost have to feel contempt for the opponent to actually crush him. Most people, that can really play, use pool to release aggression, make money, or as a show to boost their ego. To actually put in the hours that we have, over the many years on the table, I would call it an obsession. Kind of like golf. Think about it. If you run a fiver, with noone watching, is it as much fun? Hell no. With someone watching? Yes. With someone paying? Hell, hell yes. We USE pool. Who could give it up right now? I am an addict.

 

[Dawgie]

People fighting, flaming, demeaning, baiting, attacking, belittling, cheating, stealing... Bickering over a difference of opinion from anything to aiming techniques to bad grammar... Hatrid over another's political stance... And that's just on the forums! The forums are supposed to be a social network to promote pool and meet others who shared passion for it.

There is so much animosity in the pool world, and not just on the forums. It seems we will continue to be bad representatives for something we claim to love until it becomes a crushed butterfly.

A common thread in most sports. Nothing unusual.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Aiming systems....
Banking systems....
Gambling to get better....
Naked avatars....
Botched cue deals....
Unfair moderator treatment....
Unjust moderator ban-hammering....
Unpaid internet bets....
Barking with a followed-up no-show / air barrel....
Know-it-alls....
Red-reps....

LET ME FEEL YOUR HATE. HATE MAKES YOU STRONGER!

 

[blueridge]

People fighting, flaming, demeaning, baiting, attacking, belittling, cheating, stealing... Bickering over a difference of opinion from anything to aiming techniques to bad grammar... Hatrid over another's political stance... And that's just on the forums! The forums are supposed to be a social network to promote pool and meet others who shared passion for it.

There is so much animosity in the pool world, and not just on the forums. It seems we will continue to be bad representatives for something we claim to love until it becomes a crushed butterfly.

In order for pool to gain the popularity it deserves, it needs to be made more appealing to the average laymen who is not a serious pool player. The only way this is going to happen is if the television networks that air pool (ESPN) glorify the unsavory aspects of the game that appeal to the non pool playing television viewer. That being the gambling and hustling aspects of the game, and trash talking and sharking. This is what the average non pool playing view wants to see. The pool community needs another Minnesota Fats to put the game on the map. Some loud mouth hustler who's charismatic and entertaining to watch and listed to. The audio portion of the match is essential to get non pool players to tune in.

Since we have very little video footage of Fats, we have to go with the next best guy to put pool on the map. If you want the television ratings to go through the roof, which is the only way pool's ever gonna gain significant popularity, all you have to do is air every Earl Strickland match that's ever been played, with full audio so you can here everything he's saying. Just put a mike on Earl, and televise every match he plays. If that doesn't increase the ratings, nothing will. People who don't even play pool would tune in to see a good Earl melt down. This is precisely the strategy they use in poker, with Phil Hellmuth. It worked in tennis with John McEnroe. It worked in boxing with Mohammed Ali. It works in the NFL and NBA with loud, arrogent, athletes. People want to tune in to watch the guy they love to hate.

 

[!Smorgass Bored]

I'm Justa Skeered To Talk To People Face To Face

I know five of them that run their mouths on here , but when I use to see them at the poolroom or bar they were meek little things playing quietly in the corner, not even making eye contact with anyone. Johnnyt

I'd guess that I'm one of the five in the corner playing pool with my head down (eyes averted) and drawing no attention to myself.

Doug
(it's my natural shyness)

*And....I'm waaaaaay too shy to talk to wimmin.. imo

 

[SpiderWebComm]

In order for pool to gain the popularity it deserves, it needs to be made more appealing to the average laymen who is not a serious pool player. The only way this is going to happen is if the television networks that air pool (ESPN) glorify the unsavory aspects of the game that appeal to the non pool playing television viewer. That being the gambling and hustling aspects of the game, and trash talking and sharking. This is what the average non pool playing view wants to see. The pool community needs another Minnesota Fats to put the game on the map. Some loud mouth hustler who's charismatic and entertaining to watch and listed to. The audio portion of the match is essential to get non pool players to tune in.

Since we have very little video footage of Fats, we have to go with the next best guy to put pool on the map. If you want the television ratings to go through the roof, which is the only way pool's ever gonna gain significant popularity, all you have to do is air every Earl Strickland match that's ever been played, with full audio so you can here everything he's saying. Just put a mike on Earl, and televise every match he plays. If that doesn't increase the ratings, nothing will. People who don't even play pool would tune in to see a good Earl melt down. This is precisely the strategy they use in poker, with Phil Hellmuth. It worked in tennis with John McEnroe. It worked in boxing with Mohammed Ali. It works in the NFL and NBA with loud, arrogent, athletes. People want to tune in to watch the guy they love to hate.

I couldn't agree more. Mic-up Earl and put him on every single tv table, win or lose. Listening to him banter is way more entertaining to the average joe than some gentleman who has a robot personality.

 

[bigskyjake]

I'm a member of three hockey forums, a sport riddled with actual knock-down, drag out, physical fights. I don't recall a single thread escalating to the nth degree of hostility as I see on any pool forum. There are no pictures of females as avatars or cluttering the boards, nude, scantily clad, or otherwise. Guys aren't posting about how they'd bang some Ice Girl. There's playful ribbing, sure, but no threats of violence or even profanity. No one is arguing over politics or religion. How does hockey have a more civilised messageboard than pool???

Marrisa, are you on hockeyfights.com
I love that place

 

[rossaroni]

In order for pool to gain the popularity it deserves, it needs to be made more appealing to the average laymen who is not a serious pool player. The only way this is going to happen is if the television networks that air pool (ESPN) glorify the unsavory aspects of the game that appeal to the non pool playing television viewer. That being the gambling and hustling aspects of the game, and trash talking and sharking. This is what the average non pool playing view wants to see. The pool community needs another Minnesota Fats to put the game on the map. Some loud mouth hustler who's charismatic and entertaining to watch and listed to. The audio portion of the match is essential to get non pool players to tune in.

Since we have very little video footage of Fats, we have to go with the next best guy to put pool on the map. If you want the television ratings to go through the roof, which is the only way pool's ever gonna gain significant popularity, all you have to do is air every Earl Strickland match that's ever been played, with full audio so you can here everything he's saying. Just put a mike on Earl, and televise every match he plays. If that doesn't increase the ratings, nothing will. People who don't even play pool would tune in to see a good Earl melt down. This is precisely the strategy they use in poker, with Phil Hellmuth. It worked in tennis with John McEnroe. It worked in boxing with Mohammed Ali. It works in the NFL and NBA with loud, arrogent, athletes. People want to tune in to watch the guy they love to hate.

I have to agree. However, there are some people who will tell you that pool does not have a seedy image to the average person. Pool movies are not made about a league player who wins the league championship and wins a trip to nationals!:embarrassed2: I really don't see pool even getting really, really big again, but people do like gambling, money, and danger. It has a small chance of getting bigger if it is marketed right. They are some great characters in the game.