I'm just a kid myself, but growing up my parents always tried to keep the game out of my life. Whenever the sports channel was broadcasting pool, dad would switch the TV off. wouldn't even let me try shooting around at the small tables they had at the local YMCA. My parents were both raised in Taiwan, and mum would always tell me that back in her days that Taiwanese high schoolers that shot pool were always associated with delinquents, drop-outs, and generally kids gone bad. She said grandma and grandpa would always be making sure that she wasn't hanging around with anybody that played pool.
The first time I ever picked up a cue was after I was off to college where my parents couldn't control what I did, actually in sophomore year. Started playing the game and loved it, a year later when I went back home my dad wanted to spend some quality time with his boy so I suggested we go play some pool ahaha. He gave me the sternest look and I think he figured maybe I'd picked up the game at school and gotten into some nasty crowds or whatever. Anyways, I think the game is often associated with the "negative" facets of life that parents try to keep their kids out of (gambling, drinking, smoking, etc.). At this point though, I was at least old enough to figure out the good from the bad and I stayed away from the serious money, alcohol, and other such (moderation, in my eyes. There's nothing wrong with a few drinks here and there or a couple 10 dollar sets. I think that at a younger age, it's just tougher for a person to determine where the line is). Anyhow I just wanted to shoot some pool. I think my dad, after not seeing me for 2 years, realized that I at least had still kept my senses around me so he didn't complain too much about me playing all the damn time. That trip back home he shot with me at least twice a week, and it was real nice seeing pops had some decent skills. He told me in his youth he had a hectic high school career and had dropped out, playing a lot of pool, running with the wrong crowds, but he enjoyed the game though he knew he couldn't keep it as a career. He started a business in the tech industry and did well with that though, but anyways while I was growing up he and mum always kept that side of his life a secret from me.
Even nowadays my mum calls me every day and tells me to drop the game because she thinks I'll go bad. When I get to having kids though, I'm not sure how I'd present pool to them. I do believe that it's entirely just what you make of it either way... I don't regret picking it up at all though, I haven't played long and the game has already started to teach me some life lessons I never learned before.
The first time I ever picked up a cue was after I was off to college where my parents couldn't control what I did, actually in sophomore year. Started playing the game and loved it, a year later when I went back home my dad wanted to spend some quality time with his boy so I suggested we go play some pool ahaha. He gave me the sternest look and I think he figured maybe I'd picked up the game at school and gotten into some nasty crowds or whatever. Anyways, I think the game is often associated with the "negative" facets of life that parents try to keep their kids out of (gambling, drinking, smoking, etc.). At this point though, I was at least old enough to figure out the good from the bad and I stayed away from the serious money, alcohol, and other such (moderation, in my eyes. There's nothing wrong with a few drinks here and there or a couple 10 dollar sets. I think that at a younger age, it's just tougher for a person to determine where the line is). Anyhow I just wanted to shoot some pool. I think my dad, after not seeing me for 2 years, realized that I at least had still kept my senses around me so he didn't complain too much about me playing all the damn time. That trip back home he shot with me at least twice a week, and it was real nice seeing pops had some decent skills. He told me in his youth he had a hectic high school career and had dropped out, playing a lot of pool, running with the wrong crowds, but he enjoyed the game though he knew he couldn't keep it as a career. He started a business in the tech industry and did well with that though, but anyways while I was growing up he and mum always kept that side of his life a secret from me.
Even nowadays my mum calls me every day and tells me to drop the game because she thinks I'll go bad. When I get to having kids though, I'm not sure how I'd present pool to them. I do believe that it's entirely just what you make of it either way... I don't regret picking it up at all though, I haven't played long and the game has already started to teach me some life lessons I never learned before.
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