shocky2012

I’ve been playing poker for a living since the early 2010s, so seeing the game recognized on this level is genuinely refreshing. Even though poker doesn’t rely on physical conditioning, it absolutely qualifies as a psychological sport in my eyes. The level of focus and discipline required to make consistently good decisions over hundreds of thousands of hands can be just as demanding as any traditional competitive arena. There’s so much more to this game than just “playing cards.” You have to build solid opening ranges, refine your 3-bet and 4-bet strategies, and balance your frequencies, etc.... then in tournaments, you have the ICM pressure as you approach final tables forces you to adjust pushing and calling ranges dynamically, taking stack sizes and payout structures into account on every decision. It’s a constant balance between maximizing chip EV and preserving your tournament life. Beyond that, the amount of study that goes into staying competitive today is massive. Reviewing HHs, analyzing spots with solvers, studying population tendencies, running ICM sims, it’s all part of the routine. Even after years in the game, I still see leaks pop up in my strategy that need patching. The meta evolves, the pools adjust, and you have to keep adapting if you want to survive in a tough ecosystem. On top of the technical side, there’s the mental side that people underestimate. Long hours, brutal downswings, variance stretching your patience and bankroll management skills, it takes real mental fortitude to keep showing up and executing a solid strategy. Tilt control, emotional regulation, and maintaining focus deep into 12-hour days are as important as knowing your preflop charts. So yeah, for me, poker has always been a mental sport in every sense of the word. It tests your decision-making under extreme uncertainty, your discipline, your adaptability, and your resilience — all while you’re chasing the tiniest edges over massive samples. I’m glad to see more recognition for what really goes on at the tables.

Not sure what you're meaning.

I’m really sorry for your loss. May your father rest in peace. My own father was actually terrified of needles, he couldn’t even stand being near me when I got vaccinated as a kid. I think that fear played a big role in him avoiding the hospital for over 10, maybe even 15 years. Interestingly, my maternal grandfather went through something similar. He did go to the hospital in time, and they found that two of his arteries were blocked. They performed a procedure (I believe it was angioplasty), and it worked. That was back in 2002, and he lived all the way until 2020 where he passed at 83. You're absolutely right: a lot of it does come down to genetics. That same grandfather was a heavy drinker for over 25 years, and somehow still made it into his 80s. Some people live pretty unhealthy lives and still reach old age, while others take care of themselves and sadly don’t make it. Genes definitely play a big role, but they’re still just one part of the story.

My father passed away the exact same way at 63 -- sudden cardiac arrest. He was in good shape, never touched steroids, and stayed active. One day, he simply collapsed after coming back from running a quick errand. No warning signs, no obvious symptoms. A lot of people are walking around with undiagnosed heart conditions, and they have no idea. That’s why I strongly recommend everyone, especially past a certain age, to get screened. An ECG, EKG, stress test, blood work… the whole nine yards. In my father's case, all his arteries were completely blocked, but he had no clue. If he had just gone for a check-up earlier, they would’ve caught it—and he might still be here today. Please don’t take heart health lightly. Looking fit on the outside doesn’t always mean you’re okay on the inside.

As for poker being a sport? I would say poker is best described as a psychological sport, not about physical strength, but about mental endurance, emotional control, and the ability to out think your opponents under pressure. I know some people are already rolling their eyes like, “How is poker a sport? You just sit there and play cards.” But let’s be real, if the only requirement for something to be a sport is physical movement, then we’d have to kick out stuff like chess, shooting, and even eSports. And yet all of those are widely recognized as legitimate competitive sports. Poker is a mental game, but it demands serious discipline, preparation, and endurance. Players study for hours, review hands, train their mindset, and sit for 10–16 hour sessions while staying focused and sharp the entire time. Try doing that deep in a tournament on Day 4 with real money on the line and see how “easy” it feels. It’s strategy, stamina, and skill all rolled into one, and just like other sports, the edge goes to those who put in the work. So yeah, poker absolutely deserves its spot among other recognized competitive activities. You don’t have to sweat buckets to be an athlete in every sense of the word.

Exactly! It’s hilarious how confidently that guy dismissed poker like it’s some slot machine with cards. Of course there's a gambling element, everyone knows variance exists, but acting like that’s all there is? That’s pure ignorance. What really makes poker fascinating, and tough, is everything under the surface: balanced preflop ranges, range vs. range analysis, hand equity breakdowns, ICM pressure in tournament spots, bet sizing theory, blockers, combo counting, adjusting your lines across multiple streets based on population tendencies… It’s a complete blend of math, psychology, and long-term strategy. And that’s not even touching the hours of post-session study it takes to stay competitive. Hand reviews, database filtering, solver work, population analysis, node locking, building exploitative lines, you don’t just play poker, you study it like a language. It’s the furthest thing from “dumb luck.” And the cherry on top? He tried to flex with chess, LOL. As if poker doesn’t involve anticipating and reacting to your opponents’ decisions in real time, often with incomplete information and money on the line. It’s chess with hidden pieces and real pressure. Honestly, people like that shouldn’t talk about things they’ve never studied or played beyond a drunken home game. Just don’t respond to him, he clearly has no clue what he’s saying. Ask him for fun what an opening range looks like and enjoy the silence. 😂

You're deflecting now. Is it something you do often involving yourself and talking about things you know nothing about? What a sad miserable life. At least, it's not like your opinion hold any weight anyway. Nothing but air. Your username checks out lol.

Why am I doing it for a living since 2012 then? I must be very stupid I guess. Generalization like that always come from the most ignorant people. Just say you know nothing about poker it's ok. Poker is far from being only "gambling". But debating with you about it would be a waste of time as you don't even know what you're talking about when it comes to this topic.

This. Their New York style is actually quite good. Definitely better than their regular crust.

I like their New York style pizza. It really isn't that bad though I won't say it's really a ''new york style'' pizza but it's much better than their regular crust.

I hear you, and I get it. Not everyone’s path is going to be the same, and not every method will work for every person. But let’s not confuse “hard” with “impossible.” You said it yourself, you didn’t fail because the opportunity wasn’t there. You failed because the runway ran out. That’s fair. But that’s not a reason to tell others not to try or that it won’t work. You just proved the opposite: that with time and consistency, those platforms can pay off, you just weren’t in a position to wait. And that’s okay. You made a smart pivot for your situation, and it worked out. But that doesn’t mean the advice I’m sharing is unrealistic. It just takes what you didn’t have at the time: a longer runway, patience, and persistence. I’m not saying “everyone can do it just like I did.” I’m saying: if you can stick with it, if you do learn the skills, and if you stay consistent, there are real results on the other side. You even said it yourself — "Yes, I could've stuck with it and gotten bigger gigs." Exactly. That’s the point. This post isn’t for the people who want quick wins or guaranteed outcomes. It’s for the ones willing to take hits, adapt, and keep going, because that’s the reality of building anything worthwhile, online or offline. You made your call, and it brought you back to Thailand with stability. Respect. That’s a win. But someone else reading this might still have the drive, the time, or the freedom to build now, and I’m speaking to them.

I can't speak about raising kids or owning property back home, I don’t have either. But I can speak about how possible it is to build something for yourself if you’re willing to put in the time and effort. I don’t know why so many people here keep talking about how “hard it’ll be for him to find a job.” It’s 2025, ffs. I’ve only worked online since my early 20s (2009-2010), and I was making just as much (if not more) than people commuting to work every day. Hasn't anyone learned anything from COVID? In 2016, I knew nothing about online marketing. I enrolled in a course by Google and Harvard and started learning. Then I kept stacking skills, website building, newsletter creation, SEO strategy, digital branding. In 2017, I got my first freelance gigs on platforms like Upwork, and by 2021, I’d launched my own agency. I’ve been financially stable for a while now, but it didn’t start that way. It took discipline, learning, and persistence. I've definitely had my days of buying mama at 7-11 with stamps. Let’s be real: you can gain the skills to start something in under a year, and yes, it’s absolutely possible to make $5K/month or more. I'm not exaggerating. I'm being conservative. The problem is: most people don’t want to put in the effort. They’re stuck with the same outdated logic I see in so many of these comments, “it’ll never work,” “real life doesn’t work like that,” etc. That mindset? It’s disconnected from the world we live in today. We’re in the most accessible era EVER when it comes to learning and building. Free tools, knowledge, clients, it’s all online. If you’re not tapping into that, it’s either because you’re lazy, or you’d rather stay in your comfort zone and complain. And honestly? A lot of people commenting like that are just bitter boomers or uninformed folks clinging to the past. So if you're reading this and you want something better, stop listening to the noise. Start learning. Take action. It's not easy, but it's absolutely possible. You either build, or you stay stuck and that choice is entirely up to you. Best of luck to them.

I get where you’re coming from, but I don’t really watch his content for the dating or “get laid” stuff. What I’ve found helpful is his material on self-growth, mindset, and bouncing back after setbacks — especially breakups. I’m more into the personal development side of things than the player mentality.

In the real world, words have consequences. You have to be accountable for what comes out of your mouth. Personally, I wouldn't resort to violence—but a lot of people would. There are just certain things you don’t say to the wrong person. People have literally lost their lives over saying things like “suck my d*.”** So it's not about whether it's okay or not. It's about understanding reality and knowing that not everyone plays by the same rules. How about… just treat people with respect? It blows my mind how some people have zero manners in public.

So the guy threatening the owner acts like he's about that life, but when his sh*t gets pushed back, he runs to the police and snitches? Lol. Yeah, I don’t think he should go back to Pattaya, to be honest. That’s one of the easiest ways to go missing. His arrogance and lack of self-awareness put him in this position, not the filming.