The Language Issue

I have been playing online poker for just over a year now. There have been many memorable tournaments at several sites, the majority of which I lost. I have had a few wins and finished in the money on several occassions in both freerolls and buy-in tournments. Most of the time the games have been friendly where it appeared that at least a few of those at the tables were acquainted with each other and the conversations and comments flowed like water. But they were primarily FRIENDLY!

More memorable than any good or bad hands, however, are the number of ill-tempered individuals who resort to using foul language and name calling. Try as I might, I just don't understand it. Whether playing a freeroll or a buy-in tournament, the entry fee is the same for all players. In a freeroll, the buy-in and cost of participation is the same for everyone, and everyone is entitled to spend their chips and time in any manner they see fit. If one player decides to go all in with 9-2 off suit, they are perfectly within their rights to do so.

Of course it's aggravating as hell to lost to such a hand when your starting hand is a premium one, such as A-A, K-K, A-K suited, or the like.
But to start calling people names and using foul language in such a case shows immaturity and poor sportsmanship. Poker like any other sport, for even the most skilled player(s), is a game of chance: the outcome is always uncertain.

It seems simple enough to me that if a player is foolhardy enough to risk their entire chip stack/tournament on a bad starting hand and fortunate enough to catch, it only re-enforces what I have always believed about poker: it's 95% luck, and 5% skill.

Thanks!

Yes, although all poker sites block off the innapropriate words but some people find super gnarly loopholes. Or just mute the person who is calling you a meanie pants

Today I had someone berate me late in a tournament (it was down to like 18) and he raised 3x BB and I shoved on him with AJ. He flips over AK and I all but had the hand lost until the board read 7,9,10, 3, 8. I rivered the straight and he went nutz............

I guess the devils advocate would say...

If you play your cards anyway you want (and that is your right), the other player also entered the Tournament and has the right to "chat at you" or call you names in the same way

It might not be the right thing to do...just as playing bad isnt the right thing to do

But why not just let it go and move on...what do you care what the other guy says...its the internet!!!

Agreed.

WEC said:

I guess the devils advocate would say...

If you play your cards anyway you want (and that is your right), the other player also entered the Tournament and has the right to "chat at you" or call you names in the same way

It might not be the right thing to do...just as playing bad isnt the right thing to do

But why not just let it go and move on...what do you care what the other guy says...its the internet!!!

Click to expand...

So for example then:

Let's say theres a game going on with a few unknowns, and a few pros. One of these pros is Phil Hellmuth and he has pocket A's. He raises in position preflop to 4x BB and he gets called by someone out of position holding 7 10 suited.

He flops an A and the guy who called him flops a flush draw. Hellmuth checks it and the guy bets half the pot which Hellmuth calls. The turn is a blank for both players but Hellmuth leads out and bets the pot which the other player calls.

The river makes the other players flush and Hellmuth check calls and proceeds to go nuts. Now aside from the theatrical value we get from Hellmuth is it really necessary to mumble on for 10 minutes about getting bad beat?

Now he doesnt berate the other players so much (he just calls em donks) and curses to himself.

What does that do for Hellmuth except make him look like an azz?

I think its even worse online cause Ive sucked out on people before and they will stalk me to every table im playing at and shout from the rail all their obscenities. I dont think thats appropriate behavior.

Nor should it be tolerated. Every poker player has been sucked out on more times than they can remember. I know I sometimes lose my cool and say dumb things, but I dont say half the stuff some of these people do.

Songtime: You said poker is 95% luck and 5% skill. Only a complete donkfish thinks this way, so language or not, I hope you keep playing...

Makwa said:

Songtime: You said poker is 95% luck and 5% skill. Only a complete donkfish thinks this way, so language or not, I hope you keep playing...

Click to expand...

be nice, no one likes a dick

from time to time u will come across ppl who have foul mouths but dont ever let that affect you, some ppl do it on spite to tilt others

pantin007 said:

be nice, no one likes a dick

from time to time u will come across ppl who have foul mouths

Click to expand...

A case in point, thanks.
I stand by what I said. That throwaway statement at the end of his post is utter garbage, and it is 'nice' of me to point it out to him, or anyone who thinks it makes sense. Could save them a lot of money over the years to get over the idea that poker is 'luck.'

^ u can make a point without insulting him

pantin007 said:

^ u can make a point without insulting him

Click to expand...

You can make your point without being foul mouthed.
Enuff, good nite all.

there a simple solution to everything, and in this case it would be to block the chat so you cannot even see what other ppl are saying to you ...im pretty certain it well improve your game to, instead of just worrying about what someone said to you earlier in a game

I agree blocking the chat is the easiest way to stop the fowl chat. Just the other night a person was out of the tournament and and had some things to say that were totally out of line. Observer chat is just annoying. When ever I come across unwelcomed chat...they are blocked out! I know that it is just a way to get in someones head...but somethings are better left unsaid.