| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| duh |
Posted - 05/15/2007 : 06:56:03
I've drunk a couple of beers this evening, but am still reeling from the force of evil that was directed at me earlier this evening.
I am fortunate. The evil was only a verbal expression in the form of screaming over the telephone. This was, on a worldly scale, nothing at all!
The woman's shrieking nearly busted my eardrums. Before she lost control, she was guileful and mocking and mean. When I expressed the opinion that she was behaving in an evil way, she lost it, and then she hung up on me.
I'm thinking...wow...this is someone who is a garden variety Narcissist. One of those people who appears quite ordinary most of the time, until triggered by what they perceive as an insult or lack of respect, etc. Then they just go ape-shit, with no attempt to reel themselves in or to stand outside themselves and see how insanely they are behaving.
No wonder these people usually get their way. As a result of the 'conversation' I've lost my stomach for the controversial issue at hand. I'm dropping it and walking away. This person is just so fucking nuts, it isn't worth the possible harm to my health and welfare to hold out for the right thing to be done.
Is this somewhat similar to the issue of how to deal effectively with terrorism? Some folks see the insanity of the terrorist and recognize the futility of trying to fight them. The good folks decide to walk away, and circle the wagons. Other folks see the insanity of the terrorist and decide that the best thing to do is to engage them in battle. But the supply of terrorists is virtually inexhaustible. Evil breeds at a prodigious rate.
Even within our civilized society, there are people who sometimes catch us off guard by how evil they can behave. These aren't the obvious ones, but the people who appear quite normal on the outside, until their internal evil is triggered and released. People with whom we may have thought we had a lot in common show themselves to be irrational, excessively emotional, and without empathy.
The Bible says not to repay evil with evil. Jesus charged his followers to love their enemies. Being a Christian is hard! We have Jews and atheists on the fourum as well, and perhaps Muslims also. This Fourum is one of the most loving venues I have ever experienced. What is the secret to the peace and affection that we enjoy here, and how can I carry that over into my real life? |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| thefoxboy |
Posted - 05/16/2007 : 21:35:24
quote:
Originally posted by Downtown
quote:
Originally posted by duh
quote:
Originally posted by thefoxboy
All good fun and have made a lot of friends down at the local pub.
It does sound like fun!
I feel a bit socially handicapped, because I never learned how to play cards of any kind. How did you learn, foxy?
It's very different from poker, but when it comes to learning cards blackjack is by far the easiest, because once you've memorized the basic strategy it's impossible to make a mistake. All you're playing against is Lady Luck, so you don't have to worry about reads or tells or anything like that. And if you play it right, the odds are far better than any other table game in a casino. With perfect basic strategy, the house edge is less than 1%.
Agreed, blackjack is the easiest.
You are only up against the dealer and the dealer follows a set guideline in calling cards or not.
Duh, I started watching WPT (World Poker Tour) about 3-4years ago, who says TV doesn't teach you anything? 
As they say on WPT. "A minute to learn, a lifetime to master"
I'm proud to say that in the time that I have been playing, the only money that I have spent is to buy myself a beer. The only time I have ever played for real money is with my brothers, sisters, nephews and a niece. I'm always happy to take their money.  |
| Downtown |
Posted - 05/16/2007 : 19:45:20
quote:
Originally posted by duh
quote:
Originally posted by thefoxboy
All good fun and have made a lot of friends down at the local pub.
It does sound like fun!
I feel a bit socially handicapped, because I never learned how to play cards of any kind. How did you learn, foxy?
It's very different from poker, but when it comes to learning cards blackjack is by far the easiest, because once you've memorized the basic strategy it's impossible to make a mistake. All you're playing against is Lady Luck, so you don't have to worry about reads or tells or anything like that. And if you play it right, the odds are far better than any other table game in a casino. With perfect basic strategy, the house edge is less than 1%. |
| Beanmimo |
Posted - 05/16/2007 : 15:53:09
quote:
Originally posted by thefoxboy
quote:
Originally posted by Beanmimo
quote:
Good.
Incase anyone was wondering, I came 6th in Poker last night (101 players). I caught a few players out telling a lie (bluff). 
Nice, what was your highest hand and your biggest pot?
I remember somewhere that you said it was Texas Hold'em that you play.
Yes, Texas Hold 'em is what I play. There are a few different Poker clubs here in Australia. APL, NPL & NPPL, what they do is go to a pub and offer to hold tournaments there. The pub pays the Poker Club to be there, which pays the wages of the two tournament directors. The tournament is open to anyone of the general public, you just show up and register. It's free to play, the pub makes money on drinks and meals that the 100+ players may purchase on the night.
Prizes go to 1st, 2nd & 3rd place, the top 16 for the night get points. The points go toward your session total, session goes for 3 months. At the end of the session, the venue leader gets a ticket to the state final. The top 100 players from each region play a regional final and the top 8 players from that final get a ticket to the state final. The state final first prize is around $10000 and the top 5 in the state final get a ticket to the national final, first prize there is a cool $1 million. I made the state final last session and came about 120th out 400 players.
Anyway, last night, my highest ranked hand that I got was Queen high straight, which isn't that good. One hand that came up on my table was 4 Aces  , I'm glad I had folded my hand early in that pot.
The biggest pot I won was about 20000. We start the night with 2000 in chips. The last hand that I was in, blinds were 5000/10000 and I only had 15000 left. My hole cards were 5 5 and I was going to be on the big blind next hand. So I pushed 'all in' 15000 chips. The next 3 players folded and the small blind called my raise, the big blind also called my raise. I had 5 5, Small blind had 6 9 (don't know why he called), big blind had K 7. So I had all in chips in with the best hand, the small blind hit a 9 on the river card to win the hand and knock me out.
All good fun and have made a lot of friends down at the local pub.
That's very well organised but I'm not surprised as Oz has a healthy reputation for organised Gambling (as many of my friends tell me who come back with empty pockets and full memories!!)
I play every month with a bunch of mates and a few stragglers. Sometimes we clean the stragglers out and other times somebody takes us to the cleaners.
We start off with five card stud and as the night wears on Texas Hold'em kicks in. Its a fun night.
I'm feeling brave and next month i;m going to my first casino night. It's for charity so I won't feel so bad if i lose. |
| duh |
Posted - 05/16/2007 : 15:07:33
quote:
Originally posted by thefoxboy
All good fun and have made a lot of friends down at the local pub.
It does sound like fun!
I feel a bit socially handicapped, because I never learned how to play cards of any kind. How did you learn, foxy? |
| thefoxboy |
Posted - 05/16/2007 : 12:05:48
quote:
Originally posted by Beanmimo
quote:
Good.
Incase anyone was wondering, I came 6th in Poker last night (101 players). I caught a few players out telling a lie (bluff).
Nice, what was your highest hand and your biggest pot?
I remember somewhere that you said it was Texas Hold'em that you play.
Yes, Texas Hold 'em is what I play. There are a few different Poker clubs here in Australia. APL, NPL & NPPL, what they do is go to a pub and offer to hold tournaments there. The pub pays the Poker Club to be there, which pays the wages of the two tournament directors. The tournament is open to anyone of the general public, you just show up and register. It's free to play, the pub makes money on drinks and meals that the 100+ players may purchase on the night.
Prizes go to 1st, 2nd & 3rd place, the top 16 for the night get points. The points go toward your season total, season goes for 3 months. At the end of the season, the venue leader gets a ticket to the state final. The top 100 players from each region play a regional final and the top 8 players from that final get a ticket to the state final. The state final first prize is around $10000 and the top 5 in the state final get a ticket to the national final, first prize there is a cool $1 million. I made the state final last session and came about 120th out 400 players.
Anyway, last night, my highest ranked hand that I got was Queen high straight, which isn't that good. One hand that came up on my table was 4 Aces , I'm glad I had folded my hand early in that pot.
The biggest pot I won was about 20000. We start the night with 2000 in chips. The last hand that I was in, blinds were 5000/10000 and I only had 15000 left. My hole cards were 5 5 and I was going to be on the big blind next hand. So I pushed 'all in' 15000 chips. The next 3 players folded and the small blind called my raise, the big blind also called my raise. I had 5 5, Small blind had 6 9 (don't know why he called), big blind had K 7. So I had all my chips in with the best hand, the small blind hit a 9 on the river card to win the hand and knock me out.
All good fun and have made a lot of friends down at the local pub.
|
| Beanmimo |
Posted - 05/16/2007 : 09:35:34
quote:
Good.
Incase anyone was wondering, I came 6th in Poker last night (101 players). I caught a few players out telling a lie (bluff).
Nice, what was your highest hand and your biggest pot?
I remember somewhere that you said it was Texas Hold'em that you play. |
| w22dheartlivie |
Posted - 05/16/2007 : 05:51:37
quote:
Originally posted by thefoxboy
Incase anyone was wondering, I came 6th in Poker last night (101 players). I caught a few players out telling a lie (bluff).
Sociopaths make the best bluffers. Or are they bluffing? |
| thefoxboy |
Posted - 05/16/2007 : 04:55:35
quote:
Originally posted by duh
quote:
Originally posted by Tori
I'm sorry you had such a rough time. Are things looking up now?
Yep, very much so.
Good.
Incase anyone was wondering, I came 6th in Poker last night (101 players). I caught a few players out telling a lie (bluff). |
| duh |
Posted - 05/16/2007 : 02:53:43
quote:
Originally posted by Tori
I'm sorry you had such a rough time. Are things looking up now?
Yep, very much so. |
| Sean |
Posted - 05/16/2007 : 01:56:39
quote:
Originally posted by Downtown
I'm a little uncomfortable with parallels being drawn between poor conflict-resolution skills and terrorism.
I agree. I can't see the connection. Actually 'terrorism' is so loaded I don't use the word at all. Whether someone is a 'terrorist' or a 'righteous hero' just depends on whose side you're on. And if the stakes are high, I think most people will be prepared to kill for an ideology. E.g., if Nazis or their ilk are attacking your country and committing genocide against ethnic minorities I suspect most would be prepared to kill them and consider it righteous. I certainly would.
I don't think someone with an anger-management problem and someone who kills for an ideology are comparable.
quote:
Originally posted by Conan The Reporter
I read somewhere recently that the sociopaths in many workplaces are promoted due to their aggressive dealings with others being seen as having a go-getter attitude.
Yep, I agree with this. The qualities in sociopaths that make them unpleasant people to interact with in social settings help them climb up the corporate ladder by destroying their competition and exhibiting decisiveness.
Sociopaths are also very useful people in wartime, they make excellent soldiers. They're able to emotionlessly conduct dangerous missions at great personal peril, quickly slaughter any enemy in their way and accomplish the mission with clinical precision, just like our favourite sociopath James Bond. Hence they become heroes and receive Purple Hearts, Victoria Crosses etc.
Also, we shareholders benefit from our corporations behaving like sociopaths. Specifically:- prioritising self-growth over ethics, remorselessly destroying competition, refusal to accept responsibility for adverse consequences of activities, and in general pursuing self-growth at any cost to others.
So, although normal empathetic human beings don't want to interact with sociopaths on a personal level, many (most?) of us want them to run our governments, run our corporations, run and populate our military, and even sometimes be our fictional heroes.  |
| Tori |
Posted - 05/15/2007 : 22:32:36
quote:
Originally posted by duh
quote:
Originally posted by Tori
I'm a go getter. 
I take it that you 'go get' that and 'go get' this...
Awwww, how did you know? :)
It's rather embarrassing but very true.
I'm sorry you had such a rough time. Are things looking up now? |
| duh |
Posted - 05/15/2007 : 22:30:51
quote:
Originally posted by Tori
I'm a go getter.
I take it that you 'go get' that and 'go get' this... |
| MisterBadIdea |
Posted - 05/15/2007 : 22:11:08
What is terrorism?
It's the use of terror to achieve goals. It's not blowing up tanks, suicide bombers targeting buildings, or so on. It's the use of scare tactics to promote a political cause, largely through the killing of civilians or public torture. |
| Tori |
Posted - 05/15/2007 : 22:03:40
I'm a go getter. |
| Conan The Westy |
Posted - 05/15/2007 : 21:44:59
quote:
Originally posted by Downtown
I'm a little uncomfortable with parallels being drawn between poor conflict-resolution skills and terrorism.
Although terrorism displays VERY poor conflict resolution skills.
I read somewhere recently that the sociopaths in many workplaces are promoted due to their aggressive dealings with others being seen as having a go-getter attitude. |
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