pool effects on the mind

JamisonNeu

JamisonNeu

Mr. Masse
Silver Member
Anybody have any thoughts as to why alot of "us" pool players are a little anit social...

I have my thoughts on this subject. I think it is all the years of life playing solitaire. I started this game at 4 and never really did anything else until I found out about girls. Then I was still on the table as much as time permitted. I never did anything but gamble, and try to find another mark for years.

It wasn't until I stopped gambling that I ever even talked to someone around a pool table without trying to figure out how to get their cash into my wallet...

Life is much better now when I go play pool I talk with people not to them. I am not ever thinking about how much I could win if I play my cards right...I enjoy the time I am at the poolhalls...

I played a few guys at valley forge. I played for a little, and all those hustler thoughts were gone. I just had fun, and played.

Can anyone relate? Any other ideas as to why some pool players are a little anti social?
 
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Jamison,

I think it's the opposite from my experience. I'm really out-going and conversational--- and it's all from hanging in pool halls as a kid. In fact, the guys I know with the MOST charisma are pool players.

Maybe I'm an exception, though.
Dave
 
SpiderWebComm said:
Jamison,

I think it's the opposite from my experience. I'm really out-going and conversational--- and it's all from hanging in pool halls as a kid. In fact, the guys I know with the MOST charisma are pool players.

Maybe I'm an exception, though.
Dave
Click to expand...

You said hanging out in poolhalls. I am asking about guys that grew up at the table gambling. Many of which have never stopped.

The guy that never has never had to work a job?
 
I don't believe that a pool player who gambles is necessarily anti-social so much as he, or she would be narcississtic. A good comparison, I think, would be the prize fighter with the so-called 'killer instinct'. It is unlikely that they would be successful in the ring without it, so neither would a competent pool player when the cash is on the line.
Several years ago a guy we all knew around here was leaving for the Army and a few of us had decided to take him out for a going-away lunch of bar-b-que and beer. A very famous pro who lives here and whose name I will not mention, was invited to go along. He asked me why we were going to so much trouble for the guy and I said it was only something to make him feel better about leaving for the service. The pro was dumbfounded and remarked that he would have never thought about doing something like that for anyone. It seemed very Fruedian at the time.
Anyway, I'm glad that life is treating you well and if you were once anti-social you certainly aren't now, and that's good. :thumbup:
 
I'm antisocial even without gambling. I think pool attracts solitary types. It is basically a game you play by yourself since the opponent doesn't even have to be in the same room when you're shooting. And when you're practicing alone it doesn't really change (unlike, say, tennis).
 
I am over social. Players in Texas can vouch that there isn't a player that I haven't hugged after a match. Problem is Big Perm is the only one that hugs back. :)
 
Being anti-social is a relative term. In my travels I have met some of the best people I will probably ever meet, on the other hand I have met some of the most two faced people I have ever met. Why put yourself in a situation that will allow you to be seen with certain people. Keeping to yourself for the most part, you can still have a lot of fun and enjoy everyone, but trusting someone is a whole other world. I don't thinks it is being anti-social it is being smart. Its kinda like the old saying, keep your friends close but your enemies closer. When I am at the table I have no friends nothing else matters but that one shot, gambling or not. When I'm done shooting, respect is always there.

It doesn't come down to being anti anything, its about CYA because it is really hard to trust anyone in this industry and it is sad to say that. Because there are some amazing people involved in everything we all love with this game. Even some of those amazing people are the most two faced as long as everyone believes they are a certain way.


Off topic: you done moving yet, ill be headed your way end of april....
 
CreeDo said:
I'm antisocial even without gambling. I think pool attracts solitary types. It is basically a game you play by yourself since the opponent doesn't even have to be in the same room when you're shooting. And when you're practicing alone it doesn't really change (unlike, say, tennis).
Click to expand...

That is the real question isn't it. Which came first the anti-social behavior or the attraction to pool?
At any rate I'm not convinced that pool players are necessarily anti-social, but assuming they are there really is no reason to assume one causes the other.
Though I'm a person who struggles in social situations, I find the same percentage of gregarious and anti-social people in pool players as in the general population. Just what I've observed.
 
I tend to disagree. Most of the pool hustlers I have met are just the opposite. They tend to be very loud and social and can charm just about anybody into a game. They are often the life of the party.

And pool is a beautiful game played by ugly people and ugly people tend to be anti-social for obvious reasons - lol.
 
The so called lack of social skills I believe is the reason that pool is not as popular as it once was.
 
I feel I am kind of in the middle. I have always liked my alone time and feel I need that. But I def have a lot of friends and a wife that I enjoy spending ample time with. I also am in a sales position and love it. But I would agree, when I shoot pool thats what I am interested in shooting. If its with friends, sure we can have some drinks and chat but anthing competitive I am focused. So I would agree with Neil it is a great release for me and I do think I may come of on the anti social side when I play. But I think that me being me in the zone.
 
"anti-social"

Anti-social as a professional term doesn't mean quite what it seems to. I would say it means "not fitting with the rest of the herd and relating to them closely". I took the standard MMPI test awhile back, think I remember the initials right. After the first three sections that I answered pretty honestly I decided I was being a little too hardline and moderated my responses in the last section. As a result the report only said I was anti-social three times instead of four.

What it really meant wasn't that I was a danger to society but that I didn't look to others for an affirmation of my worth, I looked to myself. When a decision is to be made I weigh all the information available, listen to advice, but ultimately I make the decisions I have to live with not somebody else.

I'm not a herd animal. Sometimes the herd forms around me but I never seek a herd to join. I think that is true of almost all long term individual competitors in any activity. In pool you can't be wondering if the other player is going to be upset with you if you play a great safety or if some railbirds will think it is a low class move, the goal is to win inside the rules and inside your own ethics. Others can like it or not like it, I am most concerned with my own opinion of myself. I am self-centered, self governing, self reliant, and make no bones about it. That makes me anti-social according to the tests.

Hu
 
What you described is the difference between a job and an hobby.

People who fish for a living probably don't enjoy it as much as people who go fishing once in a while.
 
I have some anxiety problems and over the years I have became anti- social. At holidays when 30 members show up at mom and dads for dinner I just want to get away I can't even eat sometimes. After 27 years away from this game I started playing again in December. After being on this forum and at the advice of a few people and encouragement from Smokey I joined a league. Each week I get to know more people some good and some bad. But I have friends again for the first time in about 10 years. 2 beers is usually my limiy and helps me loosen up. last night I stayed 2 hours after league just shooting the breeze and watching the sharks feed. I never had to make a living at playing but playing has actually helped me be social.
 
JamisonNeu said:
Anybody have any thoughts as to why alot of "us" pool players are a little anit social...

I have my thoughts on this subject. I think it is all the years of life playing solitaire. I started this game at 4 and never really did anything else until I found out about girls. Then I was still on the table as much as time permitted. I never did anything but gamble, and try to find another mark for years.

It wasn't until I stopped gambling that I ever even talked to someone around a pool table without trying to figure out how to get their cash into my wallet...

Life is much better now when I go play pool I talk with people not to them. I am not ever thinking about how much I could win if I play my cards right...I enjoy the time I am at the poolhalls...

I played a few guys at valley forge. I played for a little, and all those hustler thoughts were gone. I just had fun, and played.

Can anyone relate? Any other ideas as to why some pool players are a little anti social?
Click to expand...

Recreational pool players (like me) and true gamblers/hustlers are a different breed.

Recreational players like to play cheap, play challenging games, like the sport, and enjoy trading knowledge and camaraderie with other players. They hang out, have drinks, and enjoy each others friendship. Many are good players and like tournaments. They are friends with each other, not putting "the moves" on other players.

My observation about true hustler's is they are their own breed. So many similarities to each other, they are:

- found an exceptional talent for pool quickly in the game and advanced rapidly.

- pool was easy and quick money for them - an hourly job didn't make sense.

- only wanted to play pool - it is very important to them and their lives revolve around it.

- lived in a world of stake horses and fast times.

- have few real friends - friends are mostly business partners used to make games or money.

- don't pay taxes. Live outside of mainstream society.

- like gambling but with having an edge. Hustlers can't afford to book many losers.

- are extremely good at matching up and gaging skill - spotting weaknesses.

- burn out eventually - it's a tough life.

- are constantly in the position to be in an adversarial role, even in social situations.

I'm not saying that I haven't met some great guys who were hustlers - people I really liked. But this is basically a money business. This breeds anti-social behavior. Money is thicker than blood and friendship. A pool hustler has customers not friends. How can there be a true social aspect?

Chris
 
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I'm anti-social because when I was a kid starting out in the ph I got introduced to so many crooks, tush-hogs, self centered gamblers and general ner-do-wells that it made me bitter and distrusting for life! Made me thing the world is full of a bunch of prics trying to get my money or my girl friend. :groucho:

Just kidding. I don't think pool players are any more anti-social than soccer players or golfers or????
 
I am not surprised to see both sides of this topic here.

There is positive effects on ones social life in pool. It brings like minded people together. Almost anyone can play it and have fun. Leagues are a perfect avenue for people using pool for this.

The negative effect is you could turn out like APA7...bah
 
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