Some people really annoy me
I think I’m a pretty easy going guy. I’m nice to every person, big and small, rich or poor, brown, tan or beige.
But I don’t suffer ignorance well. People who should know better or are too caught up in their own little world to take any notice of what is going on in the world around them really, really seem to annoy me.
For example Joe Hachem was recently on 60 minutes. On 60 minutes they recap past stories in the following weeks and display some of the viewer feedback they receive.
Some clown who was apparently a ‘Psychologist’ wrote in saying how it was disgraceful that there was a story on the show glorifying gambling. They said they deal with people addicted to gambling and it destroys lives.
Are you kidding me?
I’m kind of skeptical that they were actually a psychologist to begin with, because not only should a trained professional know better, but I’d think they’d have more important things to do with their time than write into 60 mins…
But if they were - they should be ashamed of their own ignorance.
Gambling does not hurt people. Addictions hurt people. People with that sort of personality can become addicted to anything. Booze, drugs, exercise, sex, carrots, Arnie movies, krispy kreme - ANYTHING can be addictive. Psychologists should know this better than anyone. What does this one do, tell their patients not to visit the paper shop, watch TV, listen to the Radio or read magazines? Governments pimp their lotteries and scratch-it tickets on every street corner!
Removing or demonizing the object of an addiction achieves nothing positive. These people need support, love and strategies to help them deal with their problems. Simply not talking about gambling will not help anyone who has a problem. They still know it’s there… they need to learn how to control their urges and behaviour.
Gambling is a part of the world and it has been for centuries. And Joe Hachem is a special human being. Not just very skilled at poker, but also very generous and caring. He is exactly the type of person that should be included when talking about gambling.
A family man who waited until his children were old enough before pursuing his dream in Las Vegas. A man who overcame an illness that killed his original career. A man with the patience and fortitude to play his short stack through a field of over 5000 players to win the 2005 WSOP, and then a massive WPT event at the Bellagio. He takes bad beats on the chin, shakes the hand of the man that out-drew him and then signs every autograph request that comes his way.
Gambling is no different to any other area of life. It teaches people control, patience and logic and provides an outlet to let off some steam. It is not something that should be done to excess, but it is not something that should be swept under the rug of morality either.
And if a freakin’ psychologist doesn’t realise that, what hope do we have in helping other people?
Ignorance really annoys me…
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