I've heard that people that play pool don't want to be home....

dom_poppa

dom_poppa

Banned
A friend of mine has brought something up that made sense and I failed to believe. He has told me that the reason why I see so many of the same faces, myself included, at pool halls because they don't want to be home.

I think this is pretty accurate considering most people play in multiple nights of the week. You see the same damn people and always wondered, where are their families?

Something as fun as a pool league is setup for those that don't want to be home with their families or single. My father has always said I was wasting my time at these places, which I disagree.

Is this true?
 
It is definitely one part of the market place.
Single young men or women need to do something with their time, especially if they live alone. A pool hall is just one option...

Loneliness is one of the highest causes of suicide / self harm and death for old and young people - statistical fact.

This is why so many young players are vulnerable to non-paticiaption of pool once they 'fall in love' :thumbup:
 
A pool hall full of 100 guys would have 100 different stories about why they are there. That would be true for 100 guys at a golf course, 100 guys at the gun range, 100 guys at a baseball game...or 100 guys at the public library.

I only worry about why I am where I am.

There needs to be balance. If a guy has 4 young kids and he's out at a pool hall (or the library) 4 other nights a week in addition to tonight....that's bad. But the guy next to him may be the perfect Dad and husband who plans ahead to get one night out tonight doing something he enjoys. It's even possible that his wife is rational enough to actually want him to be happy and therefore encourage a night out.
 
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dom_poppa said:
A friend of mine has brought something up that made sense and I failed to believe. He has told me that the reason why I see so many of the same faces, myself included, at pool halls because they don't want to be home.

I think this is pretty accurate considering most people play in multiple nights of the week. You see the same damn people and always wondered, where are their families?

Something as fun as a pool league is setup for those that don't want to be home with their families or single. My father has always said I was wasting my time at these places, which I disagree.

Is this true?
Click to expand...

I would agree with your dad if you have not completed your obligations in life, good school and marriage; but if pool pays like Golf, your dad would have encouraged you to play pool probably.
To answer the post, everyone has a reason to go out and play pool; if it is not drinking or gambling addiction then it is healthy to take sometime from your daily life to play pool.
 
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was
full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He
shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf
balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course,
the sand filled up the remaining space. He asked once more if the jar was full. The
students responded with an unanimous 'yes'.

The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the
entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the space between the sand
particles. The students laughed.

Now, said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that
this jar represents your life. "
"The golf balls are the important things - your family, your children, your health,
your friends, your favourite passions - things that if everything else were lost,
and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other
things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else
- the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the
pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and
energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are
important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children. Take your partner out to dinner. Go out with friends. There
will always be time to clean the house and fix the washing. Take care of the golf
balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just
sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented.The
professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how
full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers
 
ctyhntr said:
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was
full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He
shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf
balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course,
the sand filled up the remaining space. He asked once more if the jar was full. The
students responded with an unanimous 'yes'.

The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the
entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the space between the sand
particles. The students laughed.

Now, said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that
this jar represents your life. "
"The golf balls are the important things - your family, your children, your health,
your friends, your favourite passions - things that if everything else were lost,
and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other
things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else
- the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the
pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and
energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are
important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children. Take your partner out to dinner. Go out with friends. There
will always be time to clean the house and fix the washing. Take care of the golf
balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just
sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented.The
professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how
full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers
Click to expand...

well stated sir.....kudos to you! :thumbup:
 
Just about anything that takes you away from home you extended periods of time is bad for a marriage and kids. Out playing pool most nights, out drinking every night, firemen, police men, commercial fishermen, oil rig workers, anyone that works double shifts all the time, military, traveling sales, or anything else that takes you away from home a lot, leads to a very high percentage of divorce.

I am lucky to be married 50 years to the same women because I was out almost every night for years playing pool and partying. One reason was she was away a lot working and always going to school. She was out of the house just as much as I was. If one of us would have been home a lot more I'm almost positive the marriage would have ended in divorce also. I would say our 4 kids suffered more than us as the first 3 of 4 were mostly raised by schools and a nanny. Johnnyt
 
If you want to play pool you have to be where the players are. Pool can be/is a passion/obsession for most of us. I've been married to the same woman for 43 years through alcoholic drinking, bad financial situations, marriage problems, all of which had almost nothing to do with pool.
 
dom_poppa said:
A friend of mine has brought something up that made sense and I failed to believe. He has told me that the reason why I see so many of the same faces, myself included, at pool halls because they don't want to be home.

I think this is pretty accurate considering most people play in multiple nights of the week. You see the same damn people and always wondered, where are their families?

Something as fun as a pool league is setup for those that don't want to be home with their families or single. My father has always said I was wasting my time at these places, which I disagree.

Is this true?
Click to expand...

If I was single, I'd be playing 3-4-5 or more days a week for sure. Either league or practice or tournaments. Although the only reason I'd be playing in a league is because of the USAPL league and the rules our league plays by, if there was only APA or even TAP in my area I would not be in a league.

I mostly play 2 times a week at now, very rarely 3 times, and only for a few hours each day, only when my son and I go play, I don't play alone anymore much, maybe once or twice a month. So even when I go to play pool, it's with my family.
 
Johnnyt said:
Just about anything that takes you away from home you extended periods of time is bad for a marriage and kids. Out playing pool most nights, out drinking every night, firemen, police men, commercial fishermen, oil rig workers, anyone that works double shifts all the time, military, traveling sales, or anything else that takes you away from home a lot, leads to a very high percentage of divorce.

I am lucky to be married 50 years to the same women because I was out almost every night for years playing pool and partying. One reason was she was away a lot working and always going to school. She was out of the house just as much as I was. If one of us would have been home a lot more I'm almost positive the marriage would have ended in divorce also. I would say our 4 kids suffered more than us as the first 3 of 4 were mostly raised by schools and a nanny. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

You're a very candid person, JohnnyT. I don't mind the candor but I love the honesty. You might have helped some young man struggling with his family with your words.

And yes, you're lucky and so am I.
JoeyA
 
Johnnyt said:
Just about anything that takes you away from home you extended periods of time is bad for a marriage and kids. Out playing pool most nights, out drinking every night, firemen, police men, commercial fishermen, oil rig workers, anyone that works double shifts all the time, military, traveling sales, or anything else that takes you away from home a lot, leads to a very high percentage of divorce.

I am lucky to be married 50 years to the same women because I was out almost every night for years playing pool and partying. One reason was she was away a lot working and always going to school. She was out of the house just as much as I was. If one of us would have been home a lot more I'm almost positive the marriage would have ended in divorce also. I would say our 4 kids suffered more than us as the first 3 of 4 were mostly raised by schools and a nanny. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

I agree with you 100%! Marc plays a lot of pool. It does not bother me because our children are grown and I catch up on things that did not get done around the office or enjoy some much needed quite time when he is gone. That being said; I would have to say that had he played so much when the boys were younger, things may have turned out much differently. Plus he may have a beer or two on occasion so drinking is not an issue.
 
Dum poppa is a fhuking geeenus.

People that go places don't want to not go places.

Vulgar display of brilliance.
 
dom_poppa said:
A friend of mine has brought something up that made sense and I failed to believe. He has told me that the reason why I see so many of the same faces, myself included, at pool halls because they don't want to be home.

I think this is pretty accurate considering most people play in multiple nights of the week. You see the same damn people and always wondered, where are their families?

Something as fun as a pool league is setup for those that don't want to be home with their families or single. My father has always said I was wasting my time at these places, which I disagree.

Is this true?
Click to expand...

NO, it's not true. And moreover the person that thinks that has his head up his ass. If you do something you love that means you don't want to be around the ones you love.
What a stupid thing to say. The people that love you, love you for who you are. If you stop doing the things that make you who you are like the things you love. Then you slowly die as an individual.
 
I just got home from the pool hall. I've been there for the past four days. What was it you wanted to say about hanging around the house? :)
 
YubaCushion said:
NO, it's not true. And moreover the person that thinks that has his head up his ass. If you do something you love that means you don't want to be around the ones you love.
What a stupid thing to say. The people that love you, love you for who you are. If you stop doing the things that make you who you are like the things you love. Then you slowly die as an individual.
Click to expand...

A wise man once said before accusing someone of having their head up their ass that one should take a reallllllly deep breath.... thru the nose........

When one has fewer responsibilities and attachments there are no costs associated with spending your time out playing.... When the rubber hits the road and you do have a family and people who love you they tend to want you around so the every night out at the pool hall has to give ground unless you are 1 in a million and have the talent and drive to be one of the guys that can support a family playing the game.... There are only a handful of players that do that... If your name is not on that list as you approach 30 you are living a dream....

Everyone needs a hobby... Everyone needs something in their life that they are passionate about.... Just make sure you aren't letting years of your life slip by hanging on to the dream when you could be home hanging on to the family... I wasted more years than I care to count and we don't get do overs.... I get out 1 night a week.. The better half would let me go all 7 but I finally understand opportunity cost... I am picking and choosing my opportunities and I think yuba would still need a spot.....

Chris
 
Now that our pool hall is officially closed for good, I know that I will suffer less from scrotal perspiration.

I will be able to shower more than once a week. I will save on the water bill in the long run because I can wear my undies longer.
 
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dom_poppa said:
A friend of mine has brought something up that made sense and I failed to believe. He has told me that the reason why I see so many of the same faces, myself included, at pool halls because they don't want to be home.

I think this is pretty accurate considering most people play in multiple nights of the week. You see the same damn people and always wondered, where are their families?

Something as fun as a pool league is setup for those that don't want to be home with their families or single. My father has always said I was wasting my time at these places, which I disagree.

Is this true?
Click to expand...

I answered the post already, but like to add, people at home at times do not want us home to sit and watch tv, drink, eat, watch porn and FFFFF, love us..etc they want us to do dishes, take care of kids, clean the house, money, take them places, and finally make them feel that pool is not a second wife!! That is a hell of responsibilities only rare men stand up to, certainly not the guys at the pool hall.
For unmarried people, enjoy your 1st wife "pool" while it lasts..
 
There are a few ways to take your friend's statement.


If you wanna be like Spock about it, it just boils down to "People go out because they want to not stay in".
Sort of like "I turned left at the intersection because I didn't want to go right or straight".
In that case, the statement is totally true and doesn't mean anything.

But what your friend was probably saying (with a lot of unspoken words) was something like this:
"Pool halls are a refuge for lonely people who can't get their shit together and need a girlfriend,
who hate their home life and want to avoid their wife and kids."

There's a hell of a lot of assuming going on there.

- Assuming having a family and kids is Good and The Whole Point of Life™ and not having
those things is a failure and means you are stuck in your life.
Personally I think people who want to not get married and have kids are just fine.
Mostly those who say otherwise are just reacting to social pressure, and probably
parroting back beliefs drilled into them by their parents or maybe their church.

- Assuming many of those faces are family men who are avoiding someone,
rather than singles who are seeking someone.

- Assuming the family men are pissing off the wife or neglecting them.
Many couples reach understandings or some kind of schedule,
and some women are content to have time to themselves while their SO shoots.

I guess I'd say a lot of what your friend is saying is wrong, though not 100%.
Pool halls are full of lonely people, as are bars and restaurants.
 
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