Why do some people get mad when you ask them to gamble?

[wahcheck]

the stigma in the pool hall....

This would apply only to those people who are not habitual gamblers, or shortstop speed or higher; because those particular people would probably gamble with you for obvious reasons, and not for just a small amount....Certainly there is an unspoken psychology to it when you ask someone (who doesn't know you) if he wants to gamble; the one doing the asking is usually the one who thinks they have an edge; the one being asked might feel like he has been "gauged" or "sized up" and therefore see the question as a preliminary to the hustle....Even if it isn't a hustle in terms of future escalation, many people don't like losing money, even if it's just a few bucks, depending on the circumstances. To a certain degree, I would feel less negative about losing money if I was the one who initiated the session than if I was the one who was asked. No one wants to feel foolish, even for 10 or 20 bucks. Just my opinion.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

This would apply only to those people who are not habitual gamblers, or shortstop speed or higher; because those particular people would probably gamble with you for obvious reasons, and not for just a small amount....Certainly there is an unspoken psychology to it when you ask someone (who doesn't know you) if he wants to gamble; the one doing the asking is usually the one who thinks they have an edge; the one being asked might feel like he has been "gauged" or "sized up" and therefore see the question as a preliminary to the hustle....Even if it isn't a hustle in terms of future escalation, many people don't like losing money, even if it's just a few bucks, depending on the circumstances. To a certain degree, I would feel less negative about losing money if I was the one who initiated the session than if I was the one who was asked. No one wants to feel foolish, even for 10 or 20 bucks. Just my opinion.

Exactly my thoughts. Usually when I ask someone, I figure I have the edge as you suggested. People obviously don't like this.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[supergreenman]

Maybe they are all league players.

Most league players wouldn't bet a dime that water was wet!!

Leagues have taken the competitive and gambling heart out of pool.

I bet you're wrong.....

 

[Matt_24]

I'd be a high rollin' gambler too, if only I could find someone to back me.

 

[randyg]

Maybe they are all league players.

Most league players wouldn't bet a dime that water was wet!!

Leagues have taken the competitive and gambling heart out of pool.

Just how so?
randyg

 

[Jodacus]

Some of us have reached a point in our lives that gambling is just another entertainment. Unless we bet enough to change our standard of living we really don't much care.

One time a kid (20 something) tried to cajole me into playing by telling me I had no gamble. I rolled out 5 c-notes and told him to get his out so that we could flip a quarter once, and only once, to see who wins the large. He never questioned my "gamble" again. The point is that I did not feel like playing and the money was irrelevant. Don't misunderstand, I'm not willing to bet my standard of living on anything short of the sun rising tomorrow, but anything else is just entertainment.

Many years ago when we were still young a friend of mine had his father killed in a pool room, by a cue stick, while gambling. My friend still plays but does not gamble. I don't blame him.

I never assume I know why people choose not to gamble, and I never know why they get angry if asked to.

 

[Aten]

The reason I do not like to gamble is the person that loses is ALWAYS pissed off. The loser is NEVER happy afterward and the next time you see them it's awkward at best. Recently I had been playing with another retired guy just to pass the time. He asked me on several occasions to play some cheap nine ball sets. Finally I gave in ,he lost both sets and was upset, now whenever I see him he no longer wishes to play at all. I won a measley $40.00 but lost a friend and playing partner.

I'd understand if you were the guy requesting the action, but HE asked you to play, lost, and is now being sour about it? Basically it just looks like he thought you were easy cash, but since you weren't he can't be bothered to play you anymore. You didn't lose much then.

 

[Koop]

The logical extreme for a diplomatic invitation to gamble, assuming you're not a hustler but an honest person looking for fair action ----

"Forgive the interruption. My name's John. I wanted to ask you a question and if you say no, I'll understand in full. I was wondering if you might enjoy playing a match with me for a few dollars. I've seen you play and I think the match would be close. You'd be doing me a favor, for in my experience, the pressure of a small wager helps me to perform at a higher level. As I said, though, if you'd rather not, that's OK." The invitaiton may be accepted, but if the player does not wish to gamble, say "have a nice evening and good luck with your practice and, once again, I'm sorry to have interrupted you."

No matter how this turns out, you have treated this person with respect.

See, to me, this is a hustle in itself. You're so damned nice I would wind up losing hundreds and feeling ok about it

J/K, Stu. Hope you're well.

 

[cuesblues]

The logical extreme for a diplomatic invitation to gamble, assuming you're not a hustler but an honest person looking for fair action ----

"Forgive the interruption. My name's John. I wanted to ask you a question and if you say no, I'll understand in full. I was wondering if you might enjoy playing a match with me for a few dollars. I've seen you play and I think the match would be close. You'd be doing me a favor, for in my experience, the pressure of a small wager helps me to perform at a higher level. As I said, though, if you'd rather not, that's OK." The invitaiton may be accepted, but if the player does not wish to gamble, say "have a nice evening and good luck with your practice and, once again, I'm sorry to have interrupted you."

No matter how this turns out, you have treated this person with respect.

I think it would be easier just to exchange pool resume's, with a note asking for an email response.

 

[Daithi]

I don't think of myself as being good enough to gamble at pool (I'm a C level player at best), so if you are asking me to gamble I'm going to decline. I might even avoid eye contact the next time I see you. I'm not mad. I just know that you'd like to gamble and I don't, so don't take offense. However, if you want to play just for fun -- then the next time you see me, say, "Hey, Daithi, you want to play just for fun?" I'd be happy to play you for fun.

 

[book collector]

this is dancing around the IMO. All pool rooms have had these guys for many years and years. The ones who do gamble with them have been warned and usually well aware and go ahead and put themselves through it.
not many are gonna do any ***** slapping as that takes a degree of heart and some risk too.
Times have changed so much. Few carry any cash to amount to anything anymore as it has become the ATM society. When we see them head to the ATM it chops the incentive in half.
I have to wonder, why does anyone get so worked up over $10-$20 sets anyway? If one thinks about it, it is hardly enough to make any difference to anyone. It proves nothing. In the older days if we beat someone out of $40, we wondered what it costs us.

You are correct , the same guys have been around for years, every so often they stumble in and play their game on someone who hasn't seen it before, usually they run new customers out of the room because they badger them so hard they start feeling like they are in danger.
To normal human beings gambling 5 or 10 dollars is no big deal but in a pool room you might see a corporation form if someone has 20 dollars in their pocket and doesn't know what day it is.
Maybe i have just been around the worst places but I can't believe thats it.
The OP is probably a fine young man with no intentions of trying to turn 8 bucks into a pool playing career , but lets be realistic , there are a hundred that are, for every one that is not.
I also have a question, some people are adamant that the only way to get better is by playing better players. Go in any pool room in the 23 states I have played in, and you will have a really hard time, finding 2 good players, playing each other.
Also when does this theory end?
It must end somewhere or you would see a line of guys who are under Shane, waiting to play him every day.
I have seen a few guys follow a great player around and keep trying them for cheap money , but even that is almost as rare as leprechaun gold.

 

[cheeseroller]

Leagues

Just how so?
randyg

In our area, league players seldom play the tournaments or match up gambling. I guess that is what I meant when I said that leagues have taken the competitive and gambling heart out of pool.

The league guys get together to have a beer or two or a six pack.:grin: and hang out having some fun. That's all fine and good. People have different reasons for playing pool.

But when you try to suggest to some of them that maybe they should gamble some or play non-handicapped tournaments in order to improve their game, they just say they agree but you know they have no intention to do so.

The true competitors tend to gravitate to the tournament/gambling scene. The leaguers tend to attract the recreational, less seroius player. That's the way it is in my area. Is it different elsewhere?

 

[justadub]

In our area, league players seldom play the tournaments or match up gambling. I guess that is what I meant when I said that leagues have taken the competitive and gambling heart out of pool.

The league guys get together to have a beer or two or a six pack.:grin: and hang out having some fun. That's all fine and good. People have different reasons for playing pool.

But when you try to suggest to some of them that maybe they should gamble some or play non-handicapped tournaments in order to improve their game, they just say they agree but you know they have no intention to do so.

The true competitors tend to gravitate to the tournament/gambling scene. The leaguers tend to attract the recreational, less seroius player. That's the way it is in my area. Is it different elsewhere?

In our league, we have between 100 - 120 people playing, depending on the session. I would venture that probably between 10 to 20 percent of those gamble some on pool. Not necessarily a lot, but not "no one", either.

Further, I expect that out of that same group, probably closer to 30-40% play in some other tournaments. They are few and far between around here, but I am quite sure I've seen many of us at some sort of tourney before...

 

[Banks]

But when you try to suggest to some of them that maybe they should gamble some or play non-handicapped tournaments in order to improve their game, they just say they agree but you know they have no intention to do so.

The true competitors tend to gravitate to the tournament/gambling scene. The leaguers tend to attract the recreational, less seroius player. That's the way it is in my area. Is it different elsewhere?

Not necessarily. For me, I'd like to do tournaments, but..

I get off work around 6pm, get home around 6:30pm and really don't want to grab my gear and run out the door to get to a tournament by 7pm that probably won't start until 7:30pm and stay there possibly til midnight or later just to make $20-$50, to get home at 12:30am, get to bed around 1am or later, then do it all over again. Then there are the times that you play until 11pm, spend $20 and go home.. hell, I could hit up my regular spot and play game after game for that and still have change after beers.

I'd rather relax at home, then go out to the bar and relax instead of rush, rush, rush only to wait, wait, wait.. for maybe minimum wage or barely more.

I did go to a tournament Monday night to hang out a little with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. Fortunately, it was over by about 10:30 and I got $35 for first($5 buy). There were 11 people there, 3 tables, 9b 3/2 and maybe 1 or 2 people I might've had to worry about if they were on or I was off. Probably the first tournament I've gone to since the BCA one a couple months ago.

A lot of league players have seen enough that although they may know they're doing okay in the league, they know a reality check comes real quick when asked to gamble. Me, I don't stray far from my usual stomping grounds, so I don't get into many money games unless you count $5 APA sets or $1/$2 games something.

 

[supergreenman]

In our area, league players seldom play the tournaments or match up gambling. I guess that is what I meant when I said that leagues have taken the competitive and gambling heart out of pool.

Perhaps it's not league players that took the competitive and gambling heart out of pool as you say.

Perhaps all the degenerate gamblers took their money to one of the many new casinos or bars with video lottery terminals to feed their addiction.

As it stands I know plenty of very competitive players that play league. Some gamble and some don't, but you don't need to gamble to be competitive. Don't believe me? pick up a dictionary.

 

[inside_english]

Over the last few months I have asked 3 different guys to play cheap and it seemed to really upset them. None of these folks were friends of mine or anything. My relationship with them is simply to say "hi" when I see them. They were all between 40 and mid 50's. I'm in my mid 30's. The situations have pretty much been the same. I would simply ask, "hey, do you want to play some cheap practice sets for like $10 or $20 a set?". I have never asked them in front of anyone else because I don't want them to be embarrassed if they don't want to play. I also said it quietly, so as not to be calling them out or anything. I have a really hard time focusing if it's for nothing. As far as skill goes, all three of these guys play very similar to me. Nobody really has an edge. In fact, two of the three beat me in short tournament races the last time they played me.

All three times they made an excuse that didn't make any sense and now won't make eye contact with me or speak to me first. I feel like a jerk just because I don't like anyone being upset with me. I can understand if you don't gamble. That's fine, but you don't have to get mad about it. Gambling is part of pool and always will be IMO. Anyone else have this experience or can provide perspective from their side perhaps? Thanks.

I have a similar experience where I can't even get some people to play me for fun!

I was told I am too serious when I play.

 

[inside_english]

The logical extreme for a diplomatic invitation to gamble, assuming you're not a hustler but an honest person looking for fair action ----

"Forgive the interruption. My name's John. I wanted to ask you a question and if you say no, I'll understand in full. I was wondering if you might enjoy playing a match with me for a few dollars. I've seen you play and I think the match would be close. You'd be doing me a favor, for in my experience, the pressure of a small wager helps me to perform at a higher level. As I said, though, if you'd rather not, that's OK." The invitaiton may be accepted, but if the player does not wish to gamble, say "have a nice evening and good luck with your practice and, once again, I'm sorry to have interrupted you."

No matter how this turns out, you have treated this person with respect.

If someone spoke to me like this in a poolroom, and were serious, I would be wary of them [they might even be wearing a bowtie!]...

But I do agree with your point.

 

[inside_english]

The reason I do not like to gamble is the person that loses is ALWAYS pissed off. The loser is NEVER happy afterward and the next time you see them it's awkward at best. Recently I had been playing with another retired guy just to pass the time. He asked me on several occasions to play some cheap nine ball sets. Finally I gave in ,he lost both sets and was upset, now whenever I see him he no longer wishes to play at all. I won a measley $40.00 but lost a friend and playing partner.

Well, HE asked YOU...so he is the one with the issue (sore loser).

 

[HouseMan]

If someone spoke to me like this in a poolroom, and were serious, I would be wary of them [they might even be wearing a bowtie!]...

But I do agree with your point.

I would think he was the devil and Rod Serling was just around the corner talking to a camera about me.

 

[johnqbs]

Let it go

Look at it this way they may not be having the best day. It could be they
are the type of guys that don't even want anyone to speak to them. And there are plenty out there that way. If someone ask me I would never get P/O or mad I would just say not today or I don't like to gamble. Just let it go, the problem may be on the other end. JMO Take care, John