Back when I was playing a lot more live poker, I used to think that I had the worst luck when it came to getting stuck at tables full of angry players that loved nothing more than to berate their fellow competitors and, on occasion, even the dealer.
After talking to some friends I realised that they too had to deal with almost unbearable verbal harassment from another player. Behaviour like this can have a deeper, more negative effect on the game than almost any other form of bad etiquette we’ve discussed this far.
No One Likes To Be Publically Criticised
No one likes to hear that they suck or that they don’t know what they’re doing, especially from a complete stranger. The vast majority of poker players view their time at the card room purely as a hobby and a way of relaxing.
Imagine if you went to the cinema and someone behind you not only talked throughout the whole film, but also directed one negative rant after another directly at you. You’re likely to just get frustrated and start lashing out yourself, which will just elevate the situation.
Don’t Let Your Frustrations Get The Better Of You
I understand that there are times where you want to just throw your hands up in the air and groan because some player sucked out on you after making a call that most wouldn’t make, but those occurrences should be few and far between.
The major offenders are those that constantly pick on the others sitting at the table, belittling their proficiency and slinging derogatory remarks. If you find yourself on the receiving end, do not hesitate to ask the dealer to call a floor supervisor over to the table to deal with the heckler immediately.
If you notice that you may be showing signs of being the offender yourself, just remember that in the process of being offensive you are greatly diminishing someone else’s poker enjoyment. Ask yourself if you would want the same remarks redirected back at you.
Chris
- Chris Laquinta is a magazine editor, content specialist and poker fanatic with 10+ years writing experience and over 1,500 published articles. Chris is a naitive of Southern California, where he spent his entire life learning gaming concepts and theories from relatives that had been former professional gamblers. He currently resides in Torrance, CA where he works as a professional content writer and part-time SNG professional.
