Thursday, March 20, 2008

the Circles of Poker Blogging Hell- 1

In the beginning
Good always overpowered the evils
Of all man's sins
But in time
The nations grew weak
And our cities fell to slums
While evil stood strong
In the dusts of hell
Lurked the blackest of hates
For he whom they feared
Awaited them...
Now, many many lifetimes later
Lay destroyed, beaten, beaten down
Only the corpses of rebels
Ashes of dreams
And blood-stained streets
It has been written
"Those who have the youth
Have the future"
So come now, children of the beast
Be strong
And Shout at the Devil


Much has changed over the last couple of years. Some for better, some for worse. What started as a group of people coming together to enjoy poker evolved into trips to Vegas and other places that had large amounts of alcohol.

But things have changed. The amount of jackassery has increased taking away the enjoyment of the game and the people involved. I mentioned to DonkeyPuncher a month or so ago how there were certain cliques of bloggers. It was like Dante's Circles of Hell. As each circle builds on, it seems the more asshats get involved and the bullshit gets spewed in the chat boxes just to piss people off.

This is my perspective of how things are. I don't apologize if I offend you or get some parts wrong. It is my view. Deal with it. I won't be naming names. You know who you are. If you get irritated, too bad.

In the beginning...there was a group of people playing poker and telling their stories on blogs. About thirty of them congregated in Vegas to actually meet each other in person. The WPBT was born.

These people make the inner circle. They made some shit happen. You know who they are. They are treated like rock stars by this community. They are the ones that put a lot of work into their blogs and have been quite successful. A link or a comment from one of these rockstars was pretty cool.

The best part is the rockstars are great people. They don't let their egos get in the way. They are quite humble. They are sought out at gathering and they do their best to meet new people and make them feel comfortable. They take most everything in stride and get back to the basics of just having a good time. They didn't ask to be rockstars. They may try to avoid being so but will play the part just to placate others.

Best of all this circle still gets it. It isn't necessarily about dominating at the tables. It isn't about who can drink the most. It isn't about who gets the most page hits, sells the most ads, or is the best at anything. It is about seeing your friends and having a great time.

I won't put words in their mouths. I will say I wouldn't be shocked if they think blogger gatherings are all watered down with people who just don't get it.

Yes. A lot of you just don't get it.

14 comments:

change100 said...

I always thought you were a rock star, StB.

Unknown said...

I'm one of the new ones, Steve, but I know exactly what you mean. I wish I had met you all earlier, as I'd like to think I could have fit in pretty well. But then again, maybe too many think that, and that's part of the problem.

Great post. And I loved the Crue reference.

StB said...

Peak, please do not read too much into this as it unfolds. It is not about when you came to know the group, nor is it classifying anyone in particular. It is just observations that I have and the character of people involved.

Unknown said...

Rock on sir.

And apologies for my crap posting, I hate spewing the downside of this game.

Drinks tonight?

StB said...

Mucho drinks!

Hammer Player a.k.a Hoyazo said...

All very well said. The asshattery in the blonkament chatboxes is insane and always has been. I've posted about it, I've talked and chatted with people about it privately, but it never changes and I've given that whole thing up.

One major thing you missed though -- the "inner circle" you write about forms easily the silliest and most exclusionary clique of them all among the poker bloggers. Perhaps you are too far inside to see that for the truth that the rest of us clearly see it for.

StB said...

Hoy, ever think that there just isn't such a clique? That it is made up by others because they want to believe there is?

jremotigue said...

Dude, you drop my name but don't give a link-up? How rude!

It's all about the traffic.

The friendships aren't so bad either.

PokahDave said...

One of the best songs from the 80's by far! i've been reading your blog almost as long as the Iggy and Paulys. I was a first timer last winter and I had as good a time as I thought I would. Even though I never met a single person in the blogger community I felt welcomed by everybody. I guess there are a few 'cliques'...but there usually are when something gets as big as the WPBT. I think back to high school and realize that I could hang out with anybody from all different cliques and still have a good time. If someone was a complete douchebag I would just go hang with someone else. Maybe next year (doubtful for the Summer gathering) we can hang out and have a few beers....

Anonymous said...

Hmmmmm, let me get this straight? Maybe there isn't a clique but it's made up by others who want to believe there is?

Well this summer will be the "inner circles" second all-exclusive "gentile" gathering. How would one not consider that a clique. I can't wait for that explanation.

The "inner circle" also has another thing in common...they all suck at poker. So I guess what started as a poker gathering had to evolve since those in the "inner circle" couldn't keep up.

This post is so wrong... yet so humorous, I can't wait for more!

StB said...

Guess you didn't pick up on the secret hand shake while standing at the Geisha bar.

Pauly said...

I don't believe in Beatles. I only believe in me.

on_thg said...

The "inner circle" also has another thing in common...they all suck at poker.

There's a joke about Waffles in there somewhere, but I'm too busy laughing.

Heather said...

I married a rock star!!!

=)