Quote Originally Posted by Ultimate George
I used to go to IRC all the time for reasons stated above...Then I started to notice that it wasn't helping my game like it did in the beginning. I wasn't able to focus on my tables as much as I could/should have, and I was telling bad beat stories occasionally (we all know how helpful that is). I haven't been to IRC in many, many months.
Exactly what I was getting at. I still go into IRC and clown around with some people. Once I get some tables opened up though I inevitably leave. I find IRC to be too much of a distraction to have open and play good poker at the same time.

I think that we are, to some extent, a product of our environment. If you're continually around people that whine, tell bad beat stories, etc. it's easy to fall into the trap and do it yourself. I see people in IRC all the time that are playing (often multi-tabling) and trying to carry on a conversation about God knows what. Doing that doesn't put you in the right mindset to play the best poker you're capable of. There are several regulars in IRC that have been playing poker a long time yet still remain basically break-even players or are only marginal winners. While other people are progressing and moving up in limits, they on the other hand seem to be content with their stagnancy. It's long past due for these people to become more serious and step-up their game.

The other problem I have is that when a new member comes to FTR and begins to learn about our community, they eventually become curious about IRC. They have this idea that IRC is a place where there is active dialogue about poker strategy and become eager to participate. Poker strategy and other important issues are discussed, but in my observation it happens rarely and you have to sort through line after line of drivle to find it. That is NOT the type of place a player wanting to work on their game needs to go, yet they don't know better.