Too Much Pity to Make Money?!

PhoenixVA

PhoenixVA

Old Rookie
Silver Member
I enjoy playing pool for money and betting as much as the next guy, but I have a problem: PITY. Some guys have the killer instinct and want to send their opponent home broke. I don't have that, for some reason. Sure, I want to win money, and normally when I want to win it it's because I could use the money. I like loading my pockets up when I get the chance. If I was rich, I'm not so sure I'd play for money. Not much, anyway. I just love to play pool.

Should I care whether my opponent is playing with his rent money, and that by me winning I may be making his life harder? I know, if he's dumb enough to play on his bill money, then that's not my problem, but then again, some people are addicted to gambling, and I feel like I'd be taking advantage of them if I removed what money they had from their pockets, and left them in need. I know in my economically-depressed little town that the majority of players are not rich by any means, and that if I make a big hit off of them then it could mean the difference between paying a bill or not paying a bill.

Should that be something I even think about, or should I just cash in every chance I get?
 
I think that's a personal decision. I doubt that you will find the solution to your problem here.

Roger
 
If they're gambling it with you, they're most likely going to continue gambling it until its gone anyway.

May as well be you.
 
This is the main reason I quit gambling. I couldn't take their money and a lot of times would just tell them to keep it. I play a lot by myself now because people won't play me unless I gamble with them, but I've gotten used to it.
 
Try not taking the money after you win ,if they ask you to play a second set ,there's your answer. Do you think they would take your money? Are these friends or poolhall accquantinces?
 
PhoenixVA said:
I enjoy playing pool for money and betting as much as the next guy, but I have a problem: PITY. Some guys have the killer instinct and want to send their opponent home broke. I don't have that, for some reason. Sure, I want to win money, and normally when I want to win it it's because I could use the money. I like loading my pockets up when I get the chance. If I was rich, I'm not so sure I'd play for money. Not much, anyway. I just love to play pool.

Should I care whether my opponent is playing with his rent money, and that by me winning I may be making his life harder? I know, if he's dumb enough to play on his bill money, then that's not my problem, but then again, some people are addicted to gambling, and I feel like I'd be taking advantage of them if I removed what money they had from their pockets, and left them in need. I know in my economically-depressed little town that the majority of players are not rich by any means, and that if I make a big hit off of them then it could mean the difference between paying a bill or not paying a bill.

Should that be something I even think about, or should I just cash in every chance I get?
Click to expand...

What am I missing here? Your avatar implies that you're a Christian but you're asking this question? Seems like a no-brainer.

If I knew someone was betting his rent or food money, I would say "no" and even suggest the guy leaves and takes care of himself. If he's hell-bent on gambling with his last dollar it won't be with me... I like to sleep at night.
 
Mr. Krupa nailed it. You gotta know and accept who you are... and be more selective with whom you gamble.
 
This reminds me about what they say about fighters "they are never sorry". It's because they assume the other guy would do the same or worse to them. It comes down to your personal ethics though. You can take many points of view.
 
WardS said:
Same here Allen, I quit years ago

later
Click to expand...

I was gonna sAy...completely up to you and nothing worn with. Boozing no to gamble: it ain't for everyone, nor should one allow another to force him into it.

Your game, your life, your choice.
 
Black-Balled said:
I was gonna sAy...completely up to you and nothing worn with. Boozing no to gamble: it ain't for everyone, nor should one allow another to force him into it.

Your game, your life, your choice.
Click to expand...

Thanks, phone.

It was supposed to say 'nothing wrong with CHOOSING...'
 
You're saying you don't like taking money you don't need, from guys who probably can't afford to lose it, and you label that a problem? And you want AZ's permission to start treating opponents like cash machines instead of human beings because you think..., what, it will help your pool game?

Well you're right that there's a problem.


Posted from Azbilliards.com App for Android
 
I brought this up once years ago and someone told me,

If your gambling with someone they're looking to take your money
so never worry about taking theirs.
 
You should organize a tournament. Get 32 guys signed up. Everybody brings their financial statements and pay stubs. Based on them you redistrubute the total net worth of the field. You"ll need to make it a monthly event because the bottom 6 will find a way to get back down there. If anyone wants to, they can shoot a few racks for funzies.
 
decent dennis said:
Try not taking the money after you win ,if they ask you to play a second set ,there's your answer. Do you think they would take your money? Are these friends or poolhall accquantinces?
Click to expand...

Acquaintances only, I don't gamble with friends, for the same reason I wouldn't borrow money from friends, because I don't want it to mess up a friendship.

Yeah, you're right. If I lost, I have no doubt that they would take my money, no questions asked.
 
krupa said:
What am I missing here? Your avatar implies that you're a Christian but you're asking this question? Seems like a no-brainer.

If I knew someone was betting his rent or food money, I would say "no" and even suggest the guy leaves and takes care of himself. If he's hell-bent on gambling with his last dollar it won't be with me... I like to sleep at night.
Click to expand...

As a Christian, I have no problem pitting my skills against an opponents skills for money. I can find no opposition to it in the Bible.

By the way, "casting lots" in the Bible was a form of gambling, and the Apostles did it when trying to decide who would be Judas' replacement (Acts), just like the soldiers did it when trying to decide who would keep an article of Jesus' clothing.

Thanks for the reply.
 
CreeDo said:
You're saying you don't like taking money you don't need, from guys who probably can't afford to lose it, and you label that a problem? And you want AZ's permission to start treating opponents like cash machines instead of human beings because you think..., what, it will help your pool game?

Well you're right that there's a problem.


Posted from Azbilliards.com App for Android
Click to expand...

No, I never said I didn't need it. I can always use more money, like most people can.

But you and others do make a valid point: I don't have a clue who can and who can't afford to play. Everyone who comes in that I know and play has jobs, so apparently they think they can afford to lose, if need be.

And no, I would never treat a person like a cash machine. That's seems to be the prevailing idea here among some people, but I enjoy the game more than the gamble. I don't need anyone's permission to do anything related to pool. I was simply asking for opinions for and against the subject, and whether anyone else had the same dilemma at times.
 
logical said:
You should organize a tournament. Get 32 guys signed up. Everybody brings their financial statements and pay stubs. Based on them you redistrubute the total net worth of the field. You"ll need to make it a monthly event because the bottom 6 will find a way to get back down there. If anyone wants to, they can shoot a few racks for funzies.
Click to expand...

I did that. But for some crazy reason after I redistributed the money, the guys who brought in the most money thought that the guys who didn't bring in as much were being treated unfairly by getting too much money. The guys who brought in the most money decided not to come back the next month, but the bottom few were there with bells on, waiting on the redistribution to take place. When the guys with more money didn't show up, we all played the tournament anyway for funzies, and everyone received a trophy without a place on it, because I wanted all the players to feel like winners, and no one went home sad that day.

How's that for sarcasm? LOL! Good one, right? :thumbup:
 
PhoenixVA said:
I enjoy playing pool for money and betting as much as the next guy, but I have a problem: PITY. Some guys have the killer instinct and want to send their opponent home broke. I don't have that, for some reason. Sure, I want to win money, and normally when I want to win it it's because I could use the money. I like loading my pockets up when I get the chance. If I was rich, I'm not so sure I'd play for money. Not much, anyway. I just love to play pool.

Should I care whether my opponent is playing with his rent money, and that by me winning I may be making his life harder? I know, if he's dumb enough to play on his bill money, then that's not my problem, but then again, some people are addicted to gambling, and I feel like I'd be taking advantage of them if I removed what money they had from their pockets, and left them in need. I know in my economically-depressed little town that the majority of players are not rich by any means, and that if I make a big hit off of them then it could mean the difference between paying a bill or not paying a bill.

Should that be something I even think about, or should I just cash in every chance I get?
Click to expand...

PhoenixVA said:
As a Christian, I have no problem pitting my skills against an opponents skills for money. I can find no opposition to it in the Bible.

By the way, "casting lots" in the Bible was a form of gambling, and the Apostles did it when trying to decide who would be Judas' replacement (Acts), just like the soldiers did it when trying to decide who would keep an article of Jesus' clothing.

Thanks for the reply.
Click to expand...

I wasn't questioning the act of gambling, it was the question you asked in your original post, highlighted above, that has me confused. How can a Christian knowingly do something -- that they don't have to do -- that could make life harder for someone else?
 
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