You're a Bunch of Factors

This a question in relation to both online and live poker, but I think it fits here more.

Is there a different mentality (not only in online play, but online etiquette?). I have noticed more and more, and I guess because it directly happened to me last night is why I'm bringing it up, that there seems to be a 'pack mentality' in online chat.

I always conduct myself in a friendly, non-aggressive manner, which is exactly who I am and how I play online and live. But it seems that people are quicker to jump on a bandwagon and sledge people online than they are live.

Last night I was playing a game, and I must say I was a bit disappointed in the way that I was treated but meh! I guess that's the nature of online poker. I had been playing 2 different tournaments and had sat out of one for awhile and when I came back it was just before my BB (which is wholly and soley my prerogative to do so.....I had played and decided to sit out for awhile whilst I was concentrating on the pointy end of the other tournament). As it was, I picked up KK in BB. A few limpers into the pot, so I raised. Got called. Flop came down with nothing over a Q (from memory) but 2 diamonds, so I overbet the pot as I didn't want anyone chasing a flush (again my prerogative to bet what I want). First player makes a comment that I'm only there to play my blinds. Second player pipes in with a smartarse comment about overbetting the pot.

Next hand, I pick up QQ in SB, so again I raise, which started off 4 of the players deciding I was on tilt and having a good macho chuckle with each other at my expense. What was most disappointing was that some of these players are ones that I have played with many times, and I respect them......seems it was a bit misplaced. I showed the QQ and got the comment "Who raises with QQ anyway". Then there was more macho tilt comments between each other at my expense, to which I responded, I'm not actually on tilt. (Why they thought I was I don't know, or maybe I'm just not allowed to have raisable hands??)

Unbelievably, the very next hand I look down on the button and I have KK again. Before betting even starts the tilt comments were flying and one smartarse comment about going all-in. Before play gets to me, the blinds are raised quite significantly so I push all-in. Lots of LOL'ing and TILT comments, and finally a caller......with a smartarse comment to go with his call. He shows AQ off whilst I show my KK. He rivers an ace to take the pot. Then comments something along the lines of I only called because I didn't think you had high pockets. I wasn't out, but busted out not long after.

Now I've quite often sat and watched people tend to 'gang up' on people online and can't stand it. What I wonder though, is would these people be exactly the same playing live?

Does anyone else notice that there is more of this pack mentality online than there is live?

this is not unusual, people are more likely to be rude online where there is little consequense ( ie your not there to punch them in the nose)

how to fix it

quite simply turn your chat box off and concentrate on the poker not the social side, if you indeed require a social side to poker then use MSN and talk to the people you want to talk to, the ones you know respect you for who you are


thats my opinon anyway

Yeah, I know that I can turn chat off, and I don't use it much anyway, but it was more just an observation, prompted by my experience last night.

Whether I had seen their comments or not, I still would have played the hands the same

Best I can do on my phone.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/

AceLosesKing wrote:Best I can do on my phone.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/

Yep pretty much me......

G'day T ,
Don't let it get too you mate , . Nothing wrong with the way you played those hands either , Your chips your cards play them how you see Fit .
coming tonight ?

Cheers [_])

I wasn't worried Harps....takes more than that to ruffle me lol.

But it was just quite blatant, and I guess if I was someone who did take it more to heart then I can understand their frustration.

Not playing tonight though, no babysitter available.....gotta do swimming duty

You will find this online alot although I used to find it more on 888pl games. I think this is because you will usually find this is because at least 2 people at the table will know each other. I also think that a lot of people feel more comfortable at home , anonymous behind a screen and say things they would never say in live play. It has become much better since a very strong stance has been taken against anyone who is bullying or harassing players online and it is something that i have not seen in a long while .

You were obviously playing good cards and your play was probably frustrating them. There inability to accept your different play is why they will probably be losing players. You were just unlucky that guy spiked an ace but next time you will clean up and have the last laugh. In my book taking there chips is always the best revenge.

Side note on this though Jacqianie never ever think that if a player has an opinion on your play that they are having a go at you. Sometimes people will have valid points and it really helps to sometime take into account there opinion and explore it as it may help. Healthy discussion about play can be great but when it becomes abusive or a group attack is when it becomes a problem. Just my 2 cents.

G'day Gayle ,
Very well said