Joined: Jun '09
Location: New Zealand
Age: 33 (M)
Posts: 22
Meny times in my poker playing I have been told that I'm am addicted to poker. Usually by ppl that are or like to consider themselves as influential in my life lol. And I'm sure that meny ppl here on this forum have been on the end of some of these type of comments be4 as well. Now like ne1 ive denied being addicted of coarse but now I'm wondering what it really means to be addicted. So I was wondering what u guys would consider being addicted to poker.
And I'm not talking about what they say on the responsible gambing websites, more about when actual players consider that they or sum1 has a problem lol
Joined: Oct '08
Location: Germany
Age: 49 (M)
Posts: 2025
quote:"Every pokerplayer that doesn't say he is a gambler => -1 coz U are. And I bet U on that one"
no im not ? lol people always think everyone has to have the same habits as they do..
allthough its your job, 16h a day thats shocking. ofc theres days i could play 10hours or more but then again i get so bored of playin poker that i dont play for weeks/or max 3h a week.
quote:"So I was wondering what u guys would consider being addicted to poker"
if your social contacts suffer - as in losing friends. if you always refuse invitings/going out or whatever but prefer to play poker instead. well, i would simply say if your diary is dominated by poker.
3-4h a days isnt addicted in my opinion. others watch 8h a day TV
Joined: Jun '09
Location: New Zealand
Age: 33 (M)
Posts: 22
Posted by T3ddyKGB: if you always refuse invitings/going out or whatever but prefer to play poker instead.
What if I said I couldn't go out to a party because I had work the next day, would I therefore be addicted to work lol
Social connection is not always the be all and end all of life. Some ppl are just natuarlly independant or enjoy not going out, would that make them more susptable to addiction? Plus for some ppl poker could be a substitute for lesuire. Like they enjoy playing it just like they'd enjoy going out .... I guess some ppl would consider this sad lol
Joined: Nov '07
Location: Belgium
Age: 40 (M)
Posts: 1289
A. 16 Hours because tournaments last long B. I it's not shocking, when I play, I play long sessions, not some short 2 hours ones. C. I can play 5 hours and make my living out of it as well, but No, it's too dull D. Social doesn't suffer E. nothing more to add fok sake.
Joined: Feb '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 1886
Yes I agree with T3ddy. It's about whether it effects your everyday life and you still keep playing. I enjoy playing poker. It's my hobby. I'm not gonna stop til I get bored. Although I think I play too much and I do have a problem when I don't do the constructive things I want to do cos I play poker instead. But some ppl get distracted with facebook when they should be doing uni work. Others play games and don't give up til they finish the level.
I think my family are addicted to TV because my mother cannot have dinner without the TV on and my father turns the TV on as soon as steps through the door even if I'm listening to the radio. He doesn't know what's on, he has nothing to watch but when he comes home from work the TV must go on. They can't relax without the TV. I watch a lot (usually online) but I don't have it on when I'm not watching like some sort of comfort blanket.
Joined: Mar '08
Location: Australia
Age: 49 (M)
Posts: 1158
if you cant stop playing you addicted.but who cares tell those people to f off,they addicted to there phones,makeup,car,whats the difference,know it alls.you could be addicted to booze and bash ya missus everynight like me,poker stops that.enough said.
Joined: Oct '08
Location: Germany
Age: 49 (M)
Posts: 2025
thats was just an example.
doesnt have to a be a party. i generaly mean if you "always" refuse to do something because you prefer to play poker. let it be your child you cant pick up from school because you " so busy playin poker"......doh. use your imagination.
social contacts is something very important (to me anyways). btw what has being independent with that to do
Joined: Nov '07
Location: Belgium
Age: 40 (M)
Posts: 1289
Addictions are hidden everywhere, wether U admit it or not.
I made poker my profession / job + my affiliation. So its a combination of being online for afiliation and Poker. I can easily go play less, but I have a goal in mind to reach atm. And also I used to go out alot more in the passed, but at this point I cannot, since I have a heartcondition and I am taking pills / betablockers. it turned my life a bit... by nearly having a Heart attack once. Situation is more complex in my case, but I am not going to bore U with this.
Joined: Oct '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 43 (M)
Posts: 1086
Each to their own I suppose, if you're making a living out of it then why not! If you keep yourself healthy and don't turn into that guy in the world of warcraft Southpark then good luck to you!
It's a profitable hobby for me, probably about 50/50 with my social life...
I had to replace my wireless usb adapter recently but couldn't get away from work to pick one up for two days. I didn't break into a sweat, I slept well and had no withdrawal symptoms
Joined: Nov '07
Location: Belgium
Age: 40 (M)
Posts: 1289
I do have, but it's less then before due to the condition and besides, I am moving to UK anyway this year or beginning next year where loads of my overseas ladyfriends live
And if U really wanna know how my life turned around and what I did and what I had to drop... Il tell U but only if people are intrested
Joined: Jun '09
Location: New Zealand
Age: 33 (M)
Posts: 22
Posted by T3ddyKGB: thats was just an example.
doesnt have to a be a party. i generaly mean if you "always" refuse to do something because you prefer to play poker. let it be your child you cant pick up from school because you " so busy playin poker"......doh. use your imagination.
social contacts is something very important (to me anyways). btw what has being independent with that to do
lol, what I meant by inderpendent was ppl who like being alone, or naturally enjoy solitude. I just didnt want to offend ne1 by using the word loner. Like saying "maybe ur just a loner who plays poker" lol.
Joined: May '08
Location: Netherlands
Age: 53 (M)
Posts: 6197
Well, i was kinda addicted, must play 5/6hours a day. Nowadays i play average 4 hours sometin like that, sometimes 7 hours sometimes 1 hour, not as addicted as i was but still yeh littl addicted cos i like the game so much
Joined: Mar '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 6714
Addiction = obsession, compulsion, or excessive psychological dependence I personally have none of the above and would say im not addicted to poker olltho I play nearly every day. If I was a good runner and enjoyed that I would do that everyday too etc etc. To be addictid as said above you life and thoses around you will be affected. I can quit poker anytime in fact I do it every day, never keeps me awake at night or gives me a reason to get up. Just because you do something alot does not make you an addict if so then I was once addicted to school and now addicted to work.
Joined: Apr '08
Location: Finland
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 1613
Posted by drtom:
Posted by T3ddyKGB: if you always refuse invitings/going out or whatever but prefer to play poker instead.
What if I said I couldn't go out to a party because I had work the next day, would I therefore be addicted to work lol
Social connection is not always the be all and end all of life. Some ppl are just natuarlly independant or enjoy not going out, would that make them more susptable to addiction? Plus for some ppl poker could be a substitute for lesuire. Like they enjoy playing it just like they'd enjoy going out .... I guess some ppl would consider this sad lol
When the hell did playing poker become more fun then be out with your friends ? If thats the case , change friends ...
Poker will always be there for you , there will ALWAYS be an empty seat at a pokertable online ... your friends wont be there forever with you so take care and choose wisely .
Theres a very easy answer to this problem ... play poker with your friends
I bet u i am more addicted than u.......... 
