Talking while playing...what's your opinion?

inside_english

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I don't like a lot of chit-chat while shooting, whether its practice, fun or tourney, and DEFINITELY not when gambling.

Now, I have been known to shoot the breeze during my own games for fun, but that usually ends up with us stopping play altogether so the conversation can continue, if the conversation is good enough and the play was for fun to start. Or we'd stop, finish the convo and start playing again. I guess it depends on who I am playing. Sometimes I won't speak at all with certain people so as to discourage them from chit-chatting too much, because I know them and I know what would happen if I start up.

I have been told by some that they don't like playing me, even for fun, because I am "too serious". I guess they look at my face while I am shooting and think so, I dunno. I am just trying to concentrate.

There are social games, and then there are social games.

It doesn't totally bug me, because after the 2nd or 3rd comment the player realizes I am not going to offer much in the way of a reply and he shuts up.

What REALLY bothers me is when my opponent strikes up a conversation with a railbird and they talk away while I am trying to shoot! I have no problem asking them to stop, but I'll only do so in a tourney or when gambling. Not much action in my home room, so the gambling thing is not a problem.

Yeah, I'm rambling, just don't feel like sitting in traffic right now!)

So do you all like to talk and play or not?
 
For a guy that doesnt like chit chat, your sure do type alot. lol, just messing with you. I feel the same way as you do, especially for the cash
 
People say the same thing about me "why so serious" or "you never smile at the table are you even having fun"

if i didnt take the game serious and try to concentrate and improve my game i might as well be doing something else.

i dont mind bullshitting as long as its away from the table.
 
I think you might be taking it a little overboard. During serious play, I understand completely. But while knocking balls around or even while practicing, chit-chat keeps the monotony from becoming too much to bear. There's a decent amount of conversation in every sport; pool shouldn't be any different. You should also consider it a training exercise. Learn to play with ambient noise (pool isn't golf). Can you imagine a MLB pitcher asking the crowd to quiet down because he needs to concentrate? Playing seriously and concentrating is one thing, but don't be a grumpy pool player.
 
I don't care if you talk, yell, or jump in your seat.

I enjoy the game for what it is - a game.

If I feel that someone is trying to shark me, I just stop and let them finish. I won't shoot again until they are finished. No big deal. I don't mind waiting.
 
I usually don't say a word unless it's "nice shot". If I need to acknowledge a call or anything, I simply nod my head. And please don't speak to me until the match is over.

:)
 
Go ahead

Talk my ear off while I am shooting. Chances are I am not listening while I am shooting and I will simply say "Now what were you saying as it is your turn to shoot..." I tend to turn the table so to speak on this "sharking" tactic... I play in leagues where it is not uncommon for the "railbirds" to be talking shit about the match, your shot selections, etc while you are playing!!! Yesterday as I am getting down to shoot the 8-ball for a table run someone says, "Well, we will take two points". In this league, had the 8-ball touched the other player's object ball going into the pocket it would have been loss of game (2pts). The 8-ball was relatively close to the other players ball and I could only see about half the pocket. At any rate, I drilled the shot but you get my drift!
 
I typically never say a word because I'm just not a talkative guy when I'm playing. Honestly, if someone recites the encyclopedia britanica to me while I'm playing, it wouldn't faze me the slightest.

If I'm gambling or in a tournament and they're chatting in an obvious attempt to shark, I'll say something. Otherwise, I honestly never hear it.

When I'm in the zone, someone could say.... "Dave, here's the money I owe you... I'm setting the c-note on the table" and all I hear is "wa wa wawa wa wa wa....wa C-NOTE wa wa wawa" like Charlie Brown's teacher.

Sometimes, however, being in the zone gets me into trouble. One time, this girl I knew said, "Dave, one of these days we should take up ride up to the zoo. I just bought a new Cadillac because my legs have been killing me. I wanna see the cheetahs, they're such cute pussy cats!"

All I heard was, "Dave, take a ride up my legs and see my cute......"

:)
 
Chit chat is annoying, especially between opponent and railbird, but I think we need to distinguish between chit chat and chirping. I am a huge supporter of chirping/needling, especially when done right. I will not instigate the mid-game chirping, but I will respond in kind. Professional chirpers include Ronnie Allen, Keither, Earl, Sigel, Rodney. Anyone that can't handle a little chirping or even turn it around on your opponent may need to find a new hobby.
 
oh, love to talk...

but usually only after they've done something to piss me off though. dont usually do it against players i like and respect, because i wanna give them a good game.
 
I usually don't say a word unless it's "nice shot". If I need to acknowledge a call or anything, I simply nod my head. And please don't speak to me until the match is over.

:)

I'm with you. I will comment on a shot to an opponent, but I don't want to hear from someone sitting on the sidelines asking me questions, or talking about anything, including the game.
When I am competing, I want my mind to be on my match and nothing else. Talk to me when I finish my match.

Steve
 
I don't care if you talk, yell, or jump in your seat.

I enjoy the game for what it is - a game.

If I feel that someone is trying to shark me, I just stop and let them finish. I won't shoot again until they are finished. No big deal. I don't mind waiting.

thats what im sayin. i dont care if you want to set off fireworks next to me. i mean if my opponent chooses to be quiet and sit there like someone killed his puppy that's fine. i will not. i have fun in whatever i do. talking chit playing around its all good as long as its in good spirits. this goes for money games, practice,tournys, banging balls, or whatever. if you want absolute quiet and inner peace and stuff, GO TO CHURCH OR YOGA or something and get the f outta the pool room fools
 
Phones while playing drives me nuts! Talking isn't bad unless it is about my shooting.

I joke a lot while playing though... Ie. "Take that!" when I miss a hook and leave an easy shot or "Hook'em!" when my CB is looking like I will be hooked. I will toss in the: I suck, hit it with my purse, I sit to pee....

I also say, can't buy that for a dollar, when I make a good shot like a bank kick while hooked.
 
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Chit-Chat!

The best and only way to shut everyone up is to play run out pool!

Seriously, when I'm playing pool everyone is in a coma, so I here no chit-chat!;)


David Harcrow
 
Phones while playing drives me nuts! Talking isn't bad unless it is about my shooting.

I joke a lot while playing though... Ie. "Take that!" when I miss a hook and leave an easy shot or "Hook'em!" when my CB is looking like I will be hooked. I will toss in the: I suck, hit it with my purse, I sit to pee....

I also say, can't buy that for a dollar, when I make a good shot like a bank kick while hooked.

i do have an issue with texting while playing a match. i would rather have my hands shut in a car door than watch someone myspace their g/f from their phones.
 
During serious play, I would appreciate the other people to keep it quiet. But at a tourney like at Shooters in Olathe, it is hard to have the entire room quiet when there are close to 100 people there. I love to chit-chat with my friends while we just practice or bang balls around. I usually stop talking when I am taking a shot and ignore them and just ask them what they say after I am done taking the shot. I use it as practice to get use to noise while I play in places that are not so quiet. I think you can gain from it, regardless of you like it or not. I understand we need total concentration while making a shot, but I keep it fun and light hearted while I shoot with my brother or my friends. Unless I am practicing by myself, than I don't talk to anyone. I put in my headphones and shoot away. I think some of the best conversations I have had in the past was around the pool table. Have fun buddy!

Chino
 
I'm lucky enough to be able to switch off all ambient sounds while I play, unless I hear something seriously funny! Doesn't happen too often but when it does you just gotta enjoy it!
 
During serious play, I understand completely. But while knocking balls around or even while practicing, chit-chat keeps the monotony from becoming too much to bear.

That's just it, I enjoy the game itself. It's not monotonous. In fact, chatter takes away from my enjoyment of the game.
 
When I am shooting in a match, I don't let my opponent hear my voice unless it is as a part of the game such as good shot and that is what I expect from them. Cell phones should be forfeit of game.
 
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