What do you tell a girl

[ZwiFT]

When she ask you what you do for a living.

So I met this hot chick, we kept the tone throughout the night. She was studying to become a nurse. Which made me even hornier than i was before. She had tits, ass, body and face. (Sorry didn't take a picture, maybe i can find it on facebook)

Then she asked me what I did for a living;..

At first i told her i didn't do anything for a living. She looked weird at me.
Then i told her i made investments. She looked even weirder at me.

Enough with the lies! You lie so much!

At this point i was kinda annoyed with her, and decided to cockblock myself. I told her i gambled for a living. And yeah it worked.

Went out, thought to myself how this bitch studying something she will make 2500$ a month for could look down at me.



So, how do you guys break it down. When you tell a girl/her parents what you do for a living?

[XTR1000]

Tell her you´re fishing.

[dranger7070]

So wait, the stupid skank looked down on you cuz you're a poker player? Fuck her then dude. Lie next time, til you hit it lol.

In all seriousness though, I'd just be straight up and tell them that you play poker for a living. I don't think most people will look down on it like she did. Poker is becoming part of the world more and more these days, and I think it will/is starting to become more socially acceptable to have it as a profession.

So next time, just be like I make bank stealing from stupid rich people

[Jack Sawyer]

"What do you do for a living?"

"Stocks, bonds, you know, the works."

"Oooh, give me advice on what to invest on!"

"I could, but you'd have to pay me. I accept multiple forms of payment..."

Bla bla bla bla bla

[XTR1000]

Patrick Bateman: I'm into... well murders and executions mostly.

[Parasurama]

Just tell her you're not allowed to disclose such information to strangers, and if she laughs, look at her funny.

Also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hm7FqjagJo

[BennyLaRue]

In all seriousness though, I'd just be straight up and tell them that you play poker for a living. I don't think most people will look down on it like she did. Poker is becoming part of the world more and more these days, and I think it will/is starting to become more socially acceptable to have it as a profession.

This. I'd say the perception with most is that straight-up "gambler" is degen, pro poker player is a curiosity and kinda ballin. The shades of grey between the two terms are plenty but I doubt the general public sees them at this point.

[dranger7070]

Just tell her you're not allowed to disclose such information to strangers, and if she laughs, look at her funny.

Also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hm7FqjagJo

"Woman like danger, if they could, they would date a fire, so cover yourself in broken glass. Cuz broken glass is dangerous."

"If a woman farts, hit her."

"Woman like 5 things: chocolate, and dick... chocolate dick! It's brilliant! Get on it."

Good stuff.

[swiggidy]

In all seriousness though, I'd just be straight up and tell them that you play poker for a living. I don't think most people will look down on it like she did. Poker is becoming part of the world more and more these days, and I think it will/is starting to become more socially acceptable to have it as a profession.

This. I'd say the perception with most is that straight-up "gambler" is degen, pro poker player is a curiosity and kinda ballin. The shades of grey between the two terms are plenty but I doubt the general public sees them at this point.

I completely disagree with this.

Every time I tell someone I play online they're confused and think it's a gambling fix, etc.

If it was my primary source of income I would probably tell people I'm a day trader. Which is equally as "risky" (or even more so) but more acceptable for some reason.

[thizzSantaCruz]

yea any of you that think people will be shocked and awed when you tell them you play poker for your primary source of income are crazy. people automatically assume your a huge degenerate or just flat out dont believe you. its not a fun topic to talk about.

[boost]

yea any of you that think people will be shocked and awed when you tell them you play poker for your primary source of income are crazy. people automatically assume your a huge degenerate or just flat out dont believe you. its not a fun topic to talk about.

it def depends. But ya, this is true for the most part.

[dranger7070]

Honestly, if a someone thinks I'm a degenerate for playing poker, I'll just be like, "Hey thanks, you're the kind of guy that supplies my income." Then just walk away. Who fucking cares what someone thinks about it? If I can make more playing poker than I would in a job, and I enjoy it, don't look down on me like you're better than me because you have to bust your ass to make a living, while I do something I enjoy and that I'm good at.

[a500lbgorilla]

you guys play poker?

I'mma just be over here judging you all.

[bigred]

Honestly, if a someone thinks I'm a degenerate for playing poker, I'll just be like, "Hey thanks, you're the kind of guy that supplies my 5NL income." Then just walk away and jerk off that night alone and then write in myspace blog about how nurses are so conformist. Then bigred will swoop in and not be a fucking moron and bang that chick cause he's not self righteous.

major fyp

Oh, and btw, you pool income and then redistribute it while she's studying to save lives so you might want to check up on your attitude.

[bigred]

@OP

Just tell her you're temporarily retired, maybe some emphasis on you weren't ever fired or laid off (in this economy). Sounds cool to me. Maybe say you're a writer or some BS. I mean hell, you wrote something to start this thread.

[dranger7070]

Honestly, if a someone thinks I'm a degenerate for playing poker, I'll just be like, "Hey thanks, you're the kind of guy that supplies my 5NL income." Then just walk away and jerk off that night alone and then write in myspace blog about how conformist nurses are. Then bigred will swoop in and not be a fucking moron and bang that chick cause he's not self righteous.

major fyp

Oh, and btw, you pool income and then redistribute it while she's studying to save lives so you might want to check up on your attitude.

Obviously I wasn't talking about myself... I was speaking in terms of if I was Zwift. And why should I feel bad because I'm playing 5nl right now? I'm just starting to build my BR; I'm not gonna feel bad about it.

And just because shes studying to be a nurse doesn't automatically make her better than everyone else around her. My mom is a nurse, she's been working 12 hour days 5 days a week for the last 15 years, so I have respect for what she is getting herself into, but despite that, don't look down on poker players because you don't think its a "real" profession.

And seriously man, don't look down on me just cuz I'm grinding microstakes. Like seriously, wtf. Sorry I'm not fucking rich and can't deposit $500+. I'm 18 and I'm in college. Heaven forbid if I don't move right up to 25nl.

Check your attitude imo.

[BennyLaRue]

I completely disagree with this.

Every time I tell someone I play online they're confused and think it's a gambling fix, etc.

Yeah, but you're American.

[nutsinho]

just confidently say that you play poker for a living and most girls will have some questions but think its cool as long as your attitude is very positive about it. if you try to hide it or act weird about it then of course they will think you are some sort of loser degenerate.

[swiggidy]

Check your attitude imo.

Pretty sure bigred is correct here. The internet is serious business.

You way missed the point. Someone who thinks poker is just a degenerate hobby isn't going to be playing 200NL supporting a solid players choice of money making. He's going to be donking around at 5NL.

Yeah, but you're American.

ZING

just confidently say that you play poker for a living and most girls will have some questions but think its cool as long as your attitude is very positive about it. if you try to hide it or act weird about it then of course they will think you are some sort of loser degenerate."

That's pretty easy when you're the largest grossing online player

[kb coolman]

just confidently say that you play poker for a living and most girls will have some questions but think its cool as long as your attitude is very positive about it. if you try to hide it or act weird about it then of course they will think you are some sort of loser degenerate.

Then I go get in my ballin Aston Martin I bought with all my poker monies, and the girls don't give a damn anymore cuz I am the shit and can piss wherever I want.

FYP

[dranger7070]

Check your attitude imo.

Pretty sure bigred is correct here. The internet is serious business.

You way missed the point. Someone who thinks poker is just a degenerate hobby isn't going to be playing 200NL supporting a solid players choice of money making. He's going to be donking around at 5NL.

Yeah, but you're American.

ZING

just confidently say that you play poker for a living and most girls will have some questions but think its cool as long as your attitude is very positive about it. if you try to hide it or act weird about it then of course they will think you are some sort of loser degenerate."

That's pretty easy when you're the largest grossing online player

Yea sorry bigred's post kind of got me a lil heated when he started saying shit about me playing 5nl and thinking nurses are conformist. I mean wtf?

The point I was trying to get across is that just because someone plays poker for a living doesn't give anyone the right to look down their noses at them. I mean shit, if I was a doctor or something, I wouldn't look down on a high school janitor because that's where he ended up in life. No reason for that kind of stuff these days. If you are happy what you're doing than it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Who knows? Maybe that janitor is more happy than the doctor because its something he enjoys doing. I just hate people who look down their noses at others for no good reason. Its pointless. My mom and dad both grew up poor, and I wasn't exactly born with a silver spoon in my mouth.

I just think bigred took my post the wrong way.

[PokerSwede]

I don't know.. I've usually had the opposite effect when telling people I play/played poker for a living. People (read: girls) are usually amazed by it and wanna know more how it works, what a great life that must be, bla bla bla. and it's usually a bonus rather than something people look down upon.
You just need to come across as there's actually not that much of a risk/gambling and that you actually know what you're doing and that it is a solid income.
Then it's all a good thing. I usually say that I have other big plans education/work-wise though and that's it's not something that I plan on doing my whole life.

Just my experience/opinion with it.

[BennyLaRue]

I don't know.. I've usually had the opposite effect when telling people I play/played poker for a living. People (read: girls) are usually amazed by it and wanna know more how it works, what a great life that must be, bla bla bla.

That's because you're not American.

ZING XING.

[meeloche]

just confidently say that you play poker for a living and most girls will have some questions but think its cool as long as your attitude is very positive about it. if you try to hide it or act weird about it then of course they will think you are some sort of loser degenerate.

This is true in my experience as well.

[wufwugy]

its not what you tell them, but how you tell them. if your body language and words are ones of confidence then women dont care what you do, for the most part. it's pretty disgusting, actually, how much women focus on confidence despite other important shit. you can be a complete dumbass with nothing to offer, but as long as you think you're a pimp then women will dig you

also, ive never had a bad experience telling somebody i poker for a living because im cool and i know how to communicate. however, i dont like telling people because i simply dont want them to know. which brings to another thing about women, fuck telling them what you do. just make something up and make it mysterious. thats what they want you to do, whether they acknowledge it or not

[Jack Sawyer]

I just wanna fuck, you, no touching and rubbing
girl you got a husband who love, you, don't need
you all in mine,
I just wanna fuck, you, we can't
be kissing and hugging girl you got a husband
who loves, you, you need to give him your
quality time.

[bikes]

One of these days I'm going to be as suave and debonair as everyone else on FTR!

[PokerSwede]

I don't know.. I've usually had the opposite effect when telling people I play/played poker for a living. People (read: girls) are usually amazed by it and wanna know more how it works, what a great life that must be, bla bla bla.

That's because you're not American.

ZING XING.

Hehe, yeah probably.. Most likely a different attitude towards it in the US

[dev]

I always get, "Do you win?"

Like didn't you know you're supposed to lose when you play poker?!

After giving them a quick rundown on it I change the subject. One time the chick joked about it later in the night as if I was lying about it, but it was ok with her anyway so I just went with it.

[daven]

This. I'd say the perception with most is that straight-up "gambler" is degen, pro poker player is a curiosity and kinda ballin. The shades of grey between the two terms are plenty but I doubt the general public sees them at this point.

this

[Ragnar4]

The more cool shit you have, the more likely she will be to buy the fact that being a gambler is good for her, and the more likely you are to get some action out of it.

IE I'm a gambler, I'm wearing a cheapass watch, and a dirty shirt, some old sweatpants, and I drive an 83 honda accord... she thinks you're a fuckstick

IE2 I'm a gambler, I'm wearing a really nice watch, I've got a pair of dior sunglasses on, Got a nice button up Ralph Lauren shirt on, silvertab pants, I'm ordering the top shelf tequila when I'm buying her shots, and I'm driving something that isn't covered in rust? Then she'll be siitting on your fuckstick in no time.

It's all about the presentation. Women will eat a shit sandwich if it's served to them on a silver platter with money around it. Guys are the only ones that tend to stop and think... yeah, but it's still a shit sandwich.

Not to argue that you should blow 40g's lookin' balla. But lets be honest, if you're playing poker to just get by, and can't afford to buy yourself some nice stuff, why the hell did you quit your just barely above minimum wage job in the first place?

[swiggidy]

IE I'm a gambler, I'm wearing a cheapass watch, and a dirty shirt, some old sweatpants, and I drive an 83 honda accord... she thinks you're a fuckstick

GMML?

IE2 I'm a gambler, I'm wearing a really nice watch, I've got a pair of dior sunglasses on, Got a nice button up Ralph Lauren shirt on, silvertab pants, I'm ordering the top shelf tequila when I'm buying her shots, and I'm driving something that isn't covered in rust? Then she'll be siitting on your fuckstick in no time.

Lukie?

[wufwugy]

It's all about the presentation. Women will eat a shit sandwich if it's served to them on a silver platter with money around it. Guys are the only ones that tend to stop and think... yeah, but it's still a shit sandwich.

deep

u have a way with words imo

[boost]

Oh, and btw, you pool income and then redistribute it while she's studying to save lives so you might want to check up on your attitude.

meh, I dont really get your point here. How is this different from any form of an entertainer? I really hate the notion that being a professional poker player makes you a non-contributing member of society. The world is far too complex to try and judge someones level of contribution based on their profession.

[dev]

Oh, and btw, you pool income and then redistribute it while she's studying to save lives so you might want to check up on your attitude.

meh, I dont really get your point here. How is this different from any form of an entertainer? I really hate the notion that being a professional poker player makes you a non-contributing member of society. The world is far too complex to try and judge someones level of contribution based on their profession.

This is a cop-out. Not to say we can't contribute, but I think a better argument (albeit still full of holes) is that we're society-neutral, while you can argue that many lawyers, insurance salesmen, people working for tobacco companies or banks, etc. are hurting people for a living.

[Galapogos]

High Yield Equity Investments.

[bigspenda73]

I tell them I'm unemployed

girls love guys like that, my whole life I had a job, money, and was well put together, and that shit barely ever worked

[Lukie]

what you do is this:

You stand up tall, look her dead in the eyes and with unwavering confidence you say, "I'm a poker player."

dead nuts

[flomo]

what you do is this:

You stand up tall, look her dead in the eyes and with unwavering confidence you say, "Take your pants off."

dead nuts

[kingnat]

Not that i've used to pick up chic's but just in general conversation people are usually floored by what i make; which is probably lifetime < than wut you haul in a month.

Funny side note... 'da wife is less than thrilled with the amount of time I spend playing cards and occasionally it comes up in conversation from time to time with friends. The convo usually goes:

Friend: "wut?"
Me: "um.. i play poker online.."
Friend (doubtful): "wut for like real money?"
Me: "yup"
Wife: "yeah.. he spends WAY too much time doing it.."
Friend (curious): "do you ever win?"
Me: "sometimes.."
Friend (thinking it's like when they play BJ): "so how much have you lost?"
Me: "um.. well, lifetime, I've deposited $120"...
Friend (curious): "so have u actually taken money out?"
Me (embarrassed by how much of a failure i am at poker): "well.. over a LOT of hours and ups and downs.. idk, something like 7000 total in withdrawls.. plus a TV and some other stuff"
Friend (fucking flabbergasted): "DOLLARS??.. holy christ!...
Friend (looking at my wife like she's insane): "My husband's favorite hobby is fishing... we just bought a new bass boat for $10 grand... wanna trade??"
Wife (now steaming mad, because this person also thinks she's nuts for being pissed about the time on a hobby that actually makes money; muttering under her breath): "..but he spends a lot of time on it..."

This conversation has happened so many times in a similar way that she doesn't even want to hear it come up at all anymore.

IDK... prolly different when it's your full-time job and such... but i think the confidence thing in your response would likely go a long ways. It'd also help if she had low self-esteem... though this typically describes most girls who are <21... well probably most women.. but those <21 are more likely to try improving their self-esteem by whoring it up with some guy who they think has money...

[a500lbgorilla]

But you spend so much time on it! Why don't you ever do stuff together? Don't you remember when you two used to go out and have fun? Now all you do is play your damn online poker! And she's not getting any younger!

[BennyLaRue]

This conversation has happened so many times in a similar way that she doesn't even want to hear it come up at all anymore...

Nice. I've had similar conversations with friends but ever since poker paid for my wife to go back to school, there have been zero complaints from her end.

[BennyLaRue]

Now that I wrote that, it looks incredibly nitty. Can I be more FUCKING PRACTICAL!!!

GOD DAMN FUCK MY LIFE!!!

[bigred]

Oh, and btw, you pool income and then redistribute it while she's studying to save lives so you might want to check up on your attitude.

meh, I dont really get your point here. How is this different from any form of an entertainer? I really hate the notion that being a professional poker player makes you a non-contributing member of society. The world is far too complex to try and judge someones level of contribution based on their profession.

Entertainer's produce a lot for the good of society imo. Except for Sex and the City, they should be shot. And Titanic. And Nicolas Cage.

Honestly though, I don't want to get into it nor do I care. I was just exaggerating a point and I think Dev hits on it pretty well.

As for my 5NLaments friend, omg DUDE SOMEONE MADE FUN OF YOU ON THE INTERNET GAME OVER. Playing at 5NL is not an insult or something to be embarrassed about. The chips are a different color, that is all. Inserting 5NL into your "income" comment is funny and amuses me. My amusement is the point of this world. You best learn yourself.

[dranger7070]

Ah, see I thought you were just being an asshole lol. Normally I can tell when you are making fun of people, it just really seemed like you were being a dick in that instance. I apologize.

NH sir

[BennyLaRue]

My amusement is the point of this world.

Only if it amuses me.

And it does. Carry on.

[JinxT4]

High Yield Equity Investments.

L O L. Possibly the funniest post I've read on FTR so far this year.

[Erpel]

I like this one:
I'm an actor - I just play poker to pay the bills

It's a bit of deflection and a somewhat tongue-in-cheek reference to jobs that you do to pay the bills as opposed to jobs that you do because you identify with them. You can substitute painter, writer, photographer, chef, freelance journalist or whatever you find interesting enough that you could actually have a meaningful discussion on the topic and which you wouldn't be opposed to trying as a line of work at some point (if there was money in it).

You're not identifying with poker player up front so people who see poker as gambling and something bad might not react badly right away. They might throw a sarcastic "How's that working out for you" at you, but those kinds of questions are easy enough to reply to. "I gamble the same way casinos gamble - by making sure the odds are always on my side" and "Haven't found a job yet that pays better" should cover most eventualities.

I think the main problem with the OP is that you were caught in a situation where you didn't feel you had a reply you could feel strong and confident about. It doesn't really matter if your reply for these kinds of situations is absolutely truthful - what matters is if you can sell it. I have a normal job and can be decidedly unenthusiastic about selling it, but it's a normal job so I don't need to sell it. I think you just need to plan your hand really.

[Ragnar4]

It's all about the presentation. Women will eat a shit sandwich if it's served to them on a silver platter with money around it. Guys are the only ones that tend to stop and think... yeah, but it's still a shit sandwich.

deep

u have a way with words imo

The best part about reading this? You're post count is at 1337

Anyway. I appreciate the compliment. My local gaming group as begun referring to me as "The Wordsmith" for the same reason. I haven't decided if it's a compliment or not.

I think the biggest reason that such a huge negative stigma exists, and that this is even a problem is because 85% of everyone that plays this game is destined to have it be a huge waste of time, and money over the long run.

Couple that with churches demanding that gambling is a sin, and suggesting that money would be better spent on tithing (the biggest gamble evar) Poker is always going to have a bad wrap.

Oh ohoh, I forgot, it seems to have a recent bloody/thuggish history and stigma in which poker is played in smoky backrooms, where more than half of everyone playing is armed, everyone is trying to cheat, and they tend to get robbed/busted by the police.

Seriously, how has poker survived such a bad wrap?

[bigred]

Seriously, how has poker survived such a bad wrap?

Matt Damon

[wufwugy]

Seriously, how has poker survived such a bad wrap?

Matt Damon

i was gonna say g2k4 and lukie saved it but okay

[Ragnar4]

Seriously, how has poker survived such a bad wrap?

Matt Damon

LOL I don't know why, but your response evoked the South Park where Matt Damon was in the episode but could only say his name, and he sounded a little retarded.

Matt daaaayyymuhhhhn

[Robb]

Tell her that buying her dinner and taking her to a show is all about positive implied odds, and that when she truly gets to grips with that, she'll understand what you do for a living.

[boost]

I still dont get why you people seem to equate someones professional contributions to society with their value as a participant in society.

My point is that being a pro poker player does not make you a noncontributing member of society. Being a noncontributing member of society makes you a noncontributing member of society. You could be a drug dealer, a doctor, a school teacher, a garbage man, ect. and be a contributing or noncontributing member of society.

[Ragnar4]

Gotta be a positive contribution to be considered boost.

Drug Dealing is not in any way, shape, or form positive. Even if the only drug being slung is weed. People go to great lenghts to protect their assets in the drug industry, and since they are breaking laws to create/distribute their product they are probably more willing to break laws to protect that.

Poker CAN be a positive contributing societal function, but only if you spend the money you earn. You're contributing to the economy, and you don't have to kill anyone to protect it.

I guess someone could make the argument that by being a poker pro, you've probably took someones money that should have been earmarked for his rent, or his daughters formula/college etc. But who's being the non contributor? You for taking his money and spending it on legal legit things, or him for wagering money he couldn't stand to lose? My money is on him.

[boost]

are you serious? Do you just read my posts, ignoring whatever you feel like as you go?

I still dont get why you people seem to equate someones professional contributions to society with their value as a participant in society.

to illustrate this point, I could be an amazing artist who struggles to get his work "out there" and so I struggle financially. I sell weed to keep food in my stomach and a roof over my head. 100 years after my death, my works are "discovered" and celebrated as masterpieces which find their way through the worlds museums inspiring an entire new generation of artists.

Was I a bane to society? Or was I a "contributing member of society?"

[bigred]

Seriously, how has poker survived such a bad wrap?

Matt Damon

LOL I don't know why, but your response evoked the South Park where Matt Damon was in the episode but could only say his name, and he sounded a little retarded.

Matt daaaayyymuhhhhn

This is what I was aiming for (it was Team America btw)

[boost]

the Film Actors Guild

rofl

[dranger7070]

"There are 3 types of ppl in this world: dicks, pussies, and assholes..."

[bigred]

are you serious? Do you just read my posts, ignoring whatever you feel like as you go?

I still dont get why you people seem to equate someones professional contributions to society with their value as a participant in society.

to illustrate this point, I could be an amazing artist who struggles to get his work "out there" and so I struggle financially. I sell weed to keep food in my stomach and a roof over my head. 100 years after my death, my works are "discovered" and celebrated as masterpieces which find their way through the worlds museums inspiring an entire new generation of artists.

Was I a bane to society? Or was I a "contributing member of society?"

Yeah, but then the artist's journal is discovered hidden in his grave and contains logs about how he raped little boys his entire life. The damage done was far more crushing then any of his masterpieces clearly proving he is in fact evil.

Boost, honestly, this is just trivial. At the end of the day, what does it matter? There's always exceptions to any rule. Barry Greenstein donates all his tournament winnings. But let's be honest, most poker players are degenerates. Where else could you find a site with more vile creatures than FTR? Ok, 2P2, but that's not the point.

[wufwugy]

meanwhile the universe is 14 billion years old and homo sapiens are only 150k years old

[boost]

are you serious? Do you just read my posts, ignoring whatever you feel like as you go?

I still dont get why you people seem to equate someones professional contributions to society with their value as a participant in society.

to illustrate this point, I could be an amazing artist who struggles to get his work "out there" and so I struggle financially. I sell weed to keep food in my stomach and a roof over my head. 100 years after my death, my works are "discovered" and celebrated as masterpieces which find their way through the worlds museums inspiring an entire new generation of artists.

Was I a bane to society? Or was I a "contributing member of society?"

Yeah, but then the artist's journal is discovered hidden in his grave and contains logs about how he raped little boys his entire life. The damage done was far more crushing then any of his masterpieces clearly proving he is in fact evil.

Boost, honestly, this is just trivial. At the end of the day, what does it matter? There's always exceptions to any rule. Barry Greenstein donates all his tournament winnings. But let's be honest, most poker players are degenerates. Where else could you find a site with more vile creatures than FTR? Ok, 2P2, but that's not the point.

meh.. I think its just a stupid argument and is simply and expression of jealousy.

[will641]

Gotta be a positive contribution to be considered boost.

Drug Dealing is not in any way, shape, or form positive. Even if the only drug being slung is weed.

drug dealers get you high. how is that not positive?

[wufwugy]

if my dad was never a heroin addict i would have never been born

[Ragnar4]

are you serious? Do you just read my posts, ignoring whatever you feel like as you go?

I still dont get why you people seem to equate someones professional contributions to society with their value as a participant in society.

to illustrate this point, I could be an amazing artist who struggles to get his work "out there" and so I struggle financially. I sell weed to keep food in my stomach and a roof over my head. 100 years after my death, my works are "discovered" and celebrated as masterpieces which find their way through the worlds museums inspiring an entire new generation of artists.

Was I a bane to society? Or was I a "contributing member of society?"

I get where your coming from. But everything you do has the potential to impact society negatively, and positively. You're trying to remove the idea that any sort of a professional action cannot be considered a contribution to society, and that's simply wrong.

Most professional contributions to society are neither positive nor negative. Dealing drugs is decidedly a negative, for the sake of this argument.

I guess if someone was a drug dealer who used his drug money to fund a homeless shelter you could measure as to who recieved a greater impact: The idiots buying the drugs, or the people not sleeping on the cold streets at night and getting 2 hots a day. Can those two things even be compared? Your art argument is imaginitive and I like it, but Art is such an odd thing to be considered a "societal contribution" I pose this quiestion: Is our world any better for the Mona Lisa sitting in the Louvre? I'm thinking no.

[Jack Sawyer]

Re: Pablo Escobar.

[boost]

[quote="Ragnar4"]
You're trying to remove the idea that any sort of a professional action cannot be considered a contribution to society, and that's simply wrong.[/quopte]

dude, please rewrite this without the double negatives. Seriously, I dont even know what youre trying to say that Im trying to say, know what Im saying?

Most professional contributions to society are neither positive nor negative. Dealing drugs is decidedly a negative, for the sake of this argument.

Not sure why this is a given, but yes was using "drug dealing" as a negative in my example.

Art is such an odd thing to be considered a "societal contribution"

it is?

I pose this quiestion: Is our world any better for the Mona Lisa sitting in the Louvre? I'm thinking no.

Im thinking you are simply ignorant to the affects that art has on society. Its influences are felt in nearly everything we interact with, if not everything. That painting is not just something that tourist peer at while vacationing. That painting, and art as a whole, provides inspiration for creative minds.

That being said, we can replace artist with any sort of passive contributor to society, such as biographer, philosopher, inventor, physicist, historian, ect. Are you really interested in arguing that any, much less, all of these pursuits do not better mankind?

[wufwugy]

one point being missed is that the ability to choose itself, the ability to have as much option about our actions/careers as we can, is itself a HUGE benefit to society

[boost]

one point being missed is that the ability to choose itself, the ability to have as much option about our actions/careers as we can, is itself a HUGE benefit to society

ah, this is indeed an interesting angle. Very nice point.

[bigred]

one point being missed is that the ability to choose itself, the ability to have as much option about our actions/careers as we can, is itself a HUGE benefit to society

It's gotta be the post count.

[Parasurama]

one point being missed is that the ability to choose itself, the ability to have as much option about our actions/careers as we can, is itself a HUGE benefit to society

It's gotta be the post count.

Wait, are you somehow implying that prior to attaining 1337 posts, wuf's posts were subpar in any way?

[bigred]

Hmmm 302, you got a long road ahead.

[flomo]

all of us

just admit to bigred being right and we are wrong
now move along

[mcatdog]

Is our world any better for the Mona Lisa sitting in the Louvre? I'm thinking no.

WTF

[ZwiFT]

Well what about that girl?