Telling People/Friends You Play Poker?

From someone who plays for a living I try not to bring it up unless I'm directly asked. From there, I'll tell people who I think I won't get negative reactions from - (eg. I really hate telling people over the age of 30, but I generally get good reactions from the 20-25 yr old crowd).

It took a long time for my parents to get it and understand. I think deep inside they would still rather I worked my ass to get an accounting job for half what I earn playing poker, but at least they're accepting of it and appreciate that I'm happy doing what I do. All of my close friends who don't play think it's cool. My extended family still doesn't get it and we don't talk about it, but I still get along with all of them fine. So I'm pretty fortunate with how it all worked out.

My advice is if you're playing recreationally, don't bother mentioning it because there really isn't much good that can come of it. If you're playing professionally, be picky about who you choose to tell about it. You should be telling people who you're close (or want to be close to) to about it, and outside of that, make an educated guess about who you think will react positively to it because otherwise the questions really suck and you don't want to deal with that.

Another example is say you got yourself a date and she/he asks you "what do you do for a living or what hobbies do you have?". Would you openly tell that person you play online poker as a living/hobby?

The more you like that person, the more I'd be honest. I did that with my new girlfriend one month ago and she is totally accepting, because she understands my motives for doing poker.

Im if 'pro' means living of poker money.. then I'm 'Pro'.. But all my close friends i live with anyway, so they know.. My mum loves it, and my dad used to play... So its really easy for me to tell people.. more distant family dont.. Brother and sister also love the fact i play it.

I always get the whole... 'how much did you lose though?' and the 'you're addicted'.. So when I tell them I've earnt more than them in ten minutes than they have a days work.. (were uni students) they tend to change subject.. (i only say this to close friends) I wouldnt dare say that to random people haha..

Tbh.. I love poker, I love the game, and I wont shy away from telling people so... Think that answers it..

my GF at the time, hated the game.. hated me playing it, and hated everything about it.. She then slowly came around when she understand it wasnt luck, or gambling.. and then accepted it.. never played it or anything though, and more than likely still hates it.. but she accepts it.

There is a chapter in the book .. 'treating poker like a business, by Dusty Schmidt' and he says you should 'Say it clear, shout it if you need to, I AM A POKER PLAYER' If you dont.. and if you don't believe in yourself, why would anyone else believe in you..

@Wasy8.. with the former saying, if you dont say it to people.. I believe that this is the kind of saying it to people you should do.. if people ask what i do for a living... just say Poker player.. and if you accept it they will, or they wil learn to..

But also.. telling certain people with the whole.. So your addicted blah blah.. I normally try explain if they honestly dont get it.. or I just give em the finger.. but then thats me If i dnt know the kid, and they dont think what i do is 'acceptable' they can go talk to someone else.

When on nights out.. it works a charm with ladys.. Poker players, always get this note on theyre foreward that waves bundles of cash, who can party and are fun.. So its not a bad thing for girls ever... well sometimes ha

EDIT: Hope i dont sound like a dick...
EDIT2: You also get allot of respect from some people.. So its worth it sometimes. Some people dream of being this independant person.

I love this thread!

I'll move it over to General Poker Discussion so we can get some more views.

Using your first example where friends may be talking about the WSOP payouts etc, I would not bring up that I play, it would almost seem like you're bringing it up to brag, unless you said "Yeah, I'd love to go play one in it one day" this way you could work it in that you play

As for Friends and Family, most of mine know and I'm not ashamed of telling anyone that I play, with the younger generations they seem to think its quite cool, well I've not had a bad response yet, a prime example is a new girl started at work, got talking, brought up that I was going to the Casino to play some Poker and she now wants to give it a go, not what you would expect 10 years ago, maybe not even 5.

Complete opposite with my parents though, took me a while to explain to my mum that I'm not taking huge loans and then gambling my car and body parts on the table against the Mafia, she does now realise that I play sensibly, party because she knows I love money too much to gamble it away, despite this, she still says "Be careful" after every poker discussion.
My dad completely understands and also plays, only the odd $2 MTT & sometimes comes to play the £25 Casino Tourney but thats about it. Because he is more involved with poker he understands that its nothing like the preconceptions (I can't think of the word I wanted to use... lol)

I'm proud to be a Poker player, not ashamed, I'll defend that its not outright gambling and its a game of skill, I'll make them look stupid if they really want that I wont go out of my way to push it in someone face, or bring it up purposely, only if asked or if it fits in with the current discussion. Besides, even if you lost £25 a week, its alot cheaper than alot of the hobbies out there; you even have the chance of turning it into profit.

What, you people play poker, good day good sir ........ leaves forum

I love this thread too guys!
For first post i just want to say that it seems that most of you guys make success in progress that you actually explained to your parent all about poker.
Only I am not. ♠_cry: ♠_cry: ♠_cry:

Any help?

In Latvia when you say poker , everybody is like
-yeah i playing too
me- What you play Cash, mtt, sng
- PokerStar
me- but what game
- Play money, We coud play some day?
me- i don`t play playMoney.

And in that moment when i said i play for real money, most of people look at me like I`m addict and i probbably soon live under some brige . ♠_biggrin:

I used to tell people i playe with pride and getting them to be involved .I would explain how great of a game it is and have a discussion about it.That was before the scandals and Fulltilt.Now its a little different i still have the same passion or even stronger for the game.But i wont talk about it or admit i play as much to people thanks to these idiots who have put a black mark on poker.The public looks at poker in a different light now since all these scandals.They look at poker as corrupted and full of alot of shady characters.Johnny ACES

Originally posted by JBCD71
I used to tell people i playe with pride and getting them to be involved .I would explain how great of a game it is and have a discussion about it.That was before the scandals and Fulltilt.Now its a little different i still have the same passion or even stronger for the game.But i wont talk about it or admit i play as much to people thanks to these idiots who have put a black mark on poker.The public looks at poker in a different light now since all these scandals.They look at poker as corrupted and full of alot of shady characters.Johnny ACES

Whilst i agree that this definitely has harmed poker, i find that, at least in my country, it wasn't mainstream enough news to affect peoples reactions to me telling them i play. The people who have no idea about poker have no idea what Full Tilt even is nevermind what they've been up to and the people who know a bit about poker either already know whats happened or understand after a short explanation.

Since i don't play for a living it only really comes up in conversation with other people who play either seriously or for fun so i don't get negative reactions and im always happy to explain things to an outsider who's interested in my hobby

Originally posted by Saka000
I love this thread too guys!
For first post i just want to say that it seems that most of you guys make success in progress that you actually explained to your parent all about poker.
Only I am not. ♠_cry: ♠_cry: ♠_cry:

Any help?

I got magical solution for you mate...

Just tell them "I play poker!" it works like a charm.

lol love above poster comment

Originally posted by Gerovit

Originally posted by Saka000
I love this thread too guys!
For first post i just want to say that it seems that most of you guys make success in progress that you actually explained to your parent all about poker.
Only I am not. ♠_cry: ♠_cry: ♠_cry:

Any help?

I got magical solution for you mate...

Just tell them "I play poker!" it works like a charm.

When my mom asked me what do I make my living of- I said I am in the adult industry. She never bothered to ask again. Just saying...

Spoiler

P.s. You know I am joking, right...

Anytime someone asks me what i do for a living i always tell that i'm proffesional poker player as i'm proud of that.

Parents: well, it wasn't really tough at the start, they didn't like the idea of becoming a poker pro, but i simply told them that i know what i'm doing and they had to accept that ♦ Now they are ok with it (tho would prefer me working/studying as a "normal" person), i only get the occasional question "are you still winning?" from them

Friends: pretty much everyone thinks it's cool ♦ close friends especially as they have an idea of how much approximately i make. (some of them know sharkscope and such sites, so there's nothing to hide and for others i just occasionally brag/rant if i had great/bad days )

With the rest i try not to get into long conversations if they don't know anything about poker and just try to quickly tell that you can make money out of it and change topic

Originally posted by Gerovit

Originally posted by Saka000
I love this thread too guys!
For first post i just want to say that it seems that most of you guys make success in progress that you actually explained to your parent all about poker.
Only I am not. ♠_cry: ♠_cry: ♠_cry:

Any help?

I got magical solution for you mate...

Just tell them "I play poker!" it works like a charm.

just lie bro I just say I won the lottery

Originally posted by wasy8

I really hate telling people over the age of 30, but I generally get good reactions from the 20-25 yr old crowd.

I'm 40 and I play for a living. I have seven nephews and nieces that are 18-25 and I'm reluctant to tell them what I do.

Given the contrast with your example, this could be an interesting case of how we make mistakes when we try to predict how others will think.

I believe the word you were looking for was "misconception".
Thanks for the post!

Originally posted by FingersMalone

Originally posted by wasy8

I really hate telling people over the age of 30, but I generally get good reactions from the 20-25 yr old crowd.

I'm 40 and I play for a living. I have seven nephews and nieces that are 18-25 and I'm reluctant to tell them what I do.

Given the contrast with your example, this could be an interesting case of how we make mistakes when we try to predict how others will think.

IMO it's much more difficult to explain to family/loved ones than it is a random girl at the bar who's excited to hear something different/new/exciting than the standard boring jobs. There's an 'edgy' factor to it that makes it easier to explain to non-family members who don't have the need to be concerned about your well-being.

IMO it's much more difficult to explain to family/loved ones than it is a random girl at the bar who's excited to hear something different/new/exciting than the standard boring jobs. There's an 'edgy' factor to it that makes it easier to explain to non-family members who don't have the need to be concerned about your well-being.

+1