Who are you to judge?

Since when are there judges in the world of poker? I am so tired of people criticizing the way others play. PLAY YOUR HAND. If you don't like the way they play theirs, take em out.

Ok, interesting statement, but very broad, there is certainly CORRECT and INCORRECT ways to play certain hands, and there is lots of much more marginal stuff that there is never a "correct" way to play. But learning and debating this stuff is what will make you a great player, not just doing your own thing, because in the grand scheme of things, even the worlds best are still on a learnig curve.

Not quite sure what you are referencing here TC, if your are talking about the the chatter that goes on at the tables, that's mainly just folks bitching or venting or trying to get in your head & should be ignored anyway since there is nothing other than turning off the chat you can do about it.
What we have here on the forum are folks voluntarily submitting hands for critiquing by the members so that we all can discuss & learn. I will grant you that being inside ChuckT's head is a truly scary experience, but if you want to improve as a player it's a excellent place to visit.

Not without my cleats!

First thank you for your replies on this subject, and your right tenbob that was a very broad statement, it is just frustrating for me to sit and watch others be criticized so harshly. Kenzie I suppose your right about the venting, and I have seen some actually step in and try to decifer if it was an inexperienced player and then go on to try and help. I am by far experienced but fortunately I have only experienced this once a long time ago and that was my comeback "who are you?"

What tcooper is talking about falls under the rubric of coaching. You can coach someone in person or on a forum like this by helping him become a better player, or you can coach him at the table by complaining about his style of play or the lucky bad beat he just gave you. IMO coaching at the table is inappropriate and should be prohibited. The sites have a problem with the fine distinction between someone coaching and someone who is just blowing his stack or using table chat to psych out his opponents. The latter two are completely legit, but it can be almost impossible to tell what another player is up to unless you can get inside his mind--which I can't and don't believe most people who play poker can.

One reason I quit PokerStars is the constant, usually abusive coaching I had to endure at almost every table. PS is the worst site for that kind of thing.

eternitas

turn off chat or click on another tab, like "stats".

turn off the chat, or if the poker room has this function: "block this player's chat", use it. I think Bodog has this cool function. Someone commented on my sexual orientation once, I blocked him from my chat box and carried on talking to the rest of the players on the table, like he never existed.

Until I took his stack, did I realised that he's still there.

sometimes, I say things like, "Yeah, your right, I took a gamble and got lucky" even if I did have the odds to call for my flush or straight, or just got lucky.

Who is he to judge??

He's David Sklansky, and you played it wrong!!

My usual contribution to these instances is to comment;
"Isn't it amazing how many pros are playing 50 cent ring tables or 3 dollar tourneys with great poker advice!"

Or Monty Pythonesqe; "Oh loook a poker critic!"

After that I'll just ignore the chatter, or on the rare occasion, and I mean rare I'll discuss a hand and play if the other player is actually a reasonable person looking to discuss and learn, not to vent and be a jerk. I NEVER initiate the discussion but will join one if it's reasonable.

Unfortunatly, we all are judgemental. We judge that our hand is good or bad, and how so in relation to others in that hand. We judge that railbird on his awful choice in clothing, or lack of, and his rude comments. We judge how breakfast tasted.

If the OP was commenting on others judging him while in a game, then he probably needs to turn the chat off for that particular player. But when I read it originally I was not so sure that he was refering to a table situation.

Maybe he found reference to himself in a HH and was refered to as villian, or worse. In which case he really needs to get out of the poker game. Same if he recognized a scenario he always play that has been shown to be an ill advised play.

We all know there is a difference between a critique and criticism. Expect maybe him.

To criticize is just someones way of feeling superior, they should question a decision or even offer advice.

Anyone can criticize - its easy, advise and teach so someone learns thats the harder job

The typical player doesn’t want to believe it. But usually there really is a best way to play a hand. Even in no limit hold ’em. Many hate that notion because it means that most hands can be reduced to a sort of logic problem, and average players don’t like to deal with that.