research paper, i need your help

[Onemoreyouth]

again, you guys/girls are giving me more help than i had ever imagined!

again a few of you will be getting pm's shortly.

billychips - if your reading this i would really like to chat with you about your religious views, or lack there of, if you dont mind. i ask you because of your willingness to bet anything on the CD matchup, if it ever happens

 

[cueandcushion]

I would be interested.

In addition to "Hustlers, Beats and Others" you may want to check out an older book entitled "Where the Action Is." I wrote my masters thesis on the pool hall subculture for a graduate sociology program, but that was almost ten years ago. I may be able to dig up my bibliography if you're interested. Just send me a PM. And best of luck to you!

Alice Rim

Sounds like good reading. You should post it online somewhere if possible. Would love to read it. Craig

 

[Ken_4fun]

I like to read him too.

As far as I know, the best reference source on the psychology and sociology of pool and gambling is the book "Hustlers, Beats, and Others" by Ned Polsky. It gives a very interesting accounting of why pool's popularity has ebbed and flowed through the years, and, while not delving into the religious aspect of pool and gambling per se, I think quite a bit can be extrapolated for your purposes. PM me your address and I'll send it to you on loan (on my dime as I like what you're about).
The person with the largest pool/billiards library in the world is Michael Shamos; he would be a terrific source for info. I E-mailed him once and he was extraordinarily gracious and generous. Give him a try. Best of luck, you're doing good work. Jeff.

Mike is an easy read. When I read his work it seems that he is sitting next to me and talking to me in the same room.

That is good writing.

Ken

 

[Ken_4fun]

I love it pre game prayer.

I think it was North Dallas Forty where they have a pre game prayer.

After the prayer, someone says.

"NOW LET'S GO OUT THERE AND KILL THOSE MOTHERF$@%ERS!!"

LOL

Ken

 

[chefjeff]

so... first off to let you know a little bit more about myself, i am a student at Judson College in Elgin(chicago area) and i'm also studying youth ministry (yes thats an actual degree) and heres what i'm wanting to write a research paper on.

something along the lines of spirituality in gambling/high stakes society.

we all know what pool halls have a culture of their own, and i really want to dig into what spirituality, and Chrisitianity, look like in that.

heres the delima, theres not a lot of books available at most if any libraries on the topic, so i would really like to buy autobiographies if your willing to part, or i would also be interested in 'loaning' them. i would be happy to pay fo the shipping both ways, and promise i wont run off with your book, nor destroy it.

i would also like to talk to some of you here on the forum about your views on religion and what not. especially if you are or have been a high stakes cash player. i promise i wont preach at your, or anything of the sort. i'm just looking to write an interesting paper, and i would be happy to post it if any of you are interested.

bottom line though.... I NEED PRINTED SOURCES... please let me know if you can help out at all... and yes i do look at the local used bookstores.


if your interested in giving me your personal opinions as a gambler, feel free to pm me.


thanks in advance.

Good gamblers lose in life more than what they gain in money. To be a good gambler, requires putting aside hopeful faith and, instead, relentlessly focusing on rational winning. Losing gamblers don't do this. This means that one of the rational things to do (if you want to be a winning gambler) is to surround yourself with losers, as winning requires others to lose ( a zero-sum game).

Yes, you must also become good at the game, but only good enough to keep the losers close to you, or to hide your goodness from them. Too good, and they go.

Winning money at pool requires that the player functions rationally and views all situations rationally. He must use his full mind to overcome the lazy, ignorant players' unwillingness to think. This is a good thing.

But, what are the long-term consequences of this method of winning money?: Losing in life. Why? The reason lies in the nature of gambling. Nothing is produced, so it is a lose/win situation. Better would be a win/win situation as then a person is surrounded by winners, not losers. To constantly surround oneself with losers is wasting a large chunk of one's life, imho. And you've got to be dishonest with others so they don't know your true speed. Dishonesty and hanging with losers...not much of a life.

By not gambling at pool, a smart, rational person can then use that time, otherwise wasted, for real production of values that can be traded with other winners.

The same is true for any mystical activity, not just gambling.

I trust your English in your paper will better than what you used here...I'd give you an "F" for what you, a college student, have written so far. Hell, I'd give an "F" to a third grader if they wrote as you have here. Why write if you aren't communicating to the readers?

Jeff Livingston

 

[Colin Colenso]

Subject is interesting, but I think you're wasting your time at school doing this. No one will read it and your teachers are likely morons regarding the subject with little constructive criticism to offer.

Write some articles for some pool websites if you have anything worth reporting. That will be something worth showing to potential employers.

The college system is a waste-bin. For the ambitious, I recommend hasty removal. Heck, your post didn't even use capitalization....what have they been teaching you?

 

[Chris]

The college system is a waste-bin. For the ambitious, I recommend hasty removal.

No offense, but this is the single worst bit of advice I have seen on this (or any other) forum. I have never met anyone who was worse off for the experience and knowledge gained from education.

 

[Cameron Smith]

Subject is interesting, but I think you're wasting your time at school doing this. No one will read it and your teachers are likely morons regarding the subject with little constructive criticism to offer.

Write some articles for some pool websites if you have anything worth reporting. That will be something worth showing to potential employers.

The college system is a waste-bin. For the ambitious, I recommend hasty removal. Heck, your post didn't even use capitalization....what have they been teaching you?

I admit I don't anything about the job market or education systems of Australia or China, but over here in Canada, and I suspect the US, high school won't get you anywhere without some seriously impressive job experience. And in order to gain that experience you often require contacts. The common complaint among young people is "How am I supposed to get experience if they don't give it to me".

Now I am assuming that by college you mean post-secondary institution, which includes both university and college. I believe the terms university and college are used interchangeably south of the boarder (correct me if I am wrong).

You are right in a sense however. I graduated from university with a double major in history and philosophy, meaning I have two degrees. Those degrees have not made it easier for me to find a good, high paying job. The reason being is that they are very broad and general subjects. I know about the subjects but that does not mean I am trained for anything outside of research, which is what I do. Nevertheless I do not regret the experience, I learned a lot about my chosen subjects. I plan to go back to school in the next year to obtain my masters in philosophy (and become a certified smart ass ).

My advice to anyone going to a post secondary institution is to decide what you want to do, before you go. Major in something that is directly related to a specific career that you want. If you major in something like history or philosophy, you should be looking to become a teacher. Otherwise plan to go for your PHD to be a professor. Keep your marks up and get a Coop placement, this can possibly get you a job right out of university.

P.S. I agree with the above part of your statement though

 

[pete lafond]

You may have heard that "Prophets educate us and Religions poison us." I think pool is much the same as it is an education about us and life, and gambling is the poison. Just making a statement...

Anyone want to play for $$?