My Journey As A Professional Poker Player (31 Viewers)

[Frogzilla]

Since you are not vaccinated, you may wish to get the monoclonal antibody IV infusion. It is available free of charge at many hospitals in our area. Get well soon.

Doesn’t this one have some long term consequences for your immune system, that all future covid infections probably will require monoclonal treatment

 

[Anthony Martino]

I just scheduled the monoclonal for tomorrow morning at 9am in Tampa, hopefully will help me get over this hump and start feeling better again.

 

[Rakrul]

Good luck. Are you vaccinated?

 

[Anthony Martino]

Good luck. Are you vaccinated?

Not vaxxed

 

[buzzmonkey]

I just scheduled the monoclonal for tomorrow morning at 9am in Tampa, hopefully will help me get over this hump and start feeling better again.

Is this your second bout or first?

 

[Anthony Martino]

Is this your second bout or first?

It's my first "confirmed via testing", but I believe 3rd or 4th since the pandemic hit

 

[gopherblue]

I hope you recover fully, but maybe you might finally consider getting vaxxed? Whatever you’re currently doing (magical thinking?) isn’t working, and given your high risk exposure situation, you are putting yourself and others at risk.

 

[Marc Hedrick]

Feel better man, maybe some time to do some studying, and be better than ever in a few days!

 

[Rakrul]

Not vaxxed

Sorry for asking, you've probably been asked this several times already but why not? (Genuine curios, not a fanatic

 

[Anthony Martino]

Sorry for asking, you've probably been asked this several times already but why not? (Genuine curios, not a fanatic

Aside from the first bout (back in early 2020) that positively knocked me on my ass for a solid week, every other time hasn't resulted in severe symptoms, just discomfort for a few days to a week

I guess I just view these vaccines and neverending booster shots as a cash grab by the pharma companies.

They don't want to cure us, they want us on their drugs for life, it's big business

 

[buzzmonkey]

Aside from the first bout (back in early 2020) that positively knocked me on my ass for a solid week, every other time hasn't resulted in severe symptoms, just discomfort for a few days to a week

I guess I just view these vaccines and neverending booster shots as a cash grab by the pharma companies.

They don't want to cure us, they want us on their drugs for life, it's big business

One could make the same argument for the companies making the therapeutics, and yet you've just made an appointment. Not an attack, just a counter argument.

 

[Marc Hedrick]

Sorry for asking, you've probably been asked this several times already but why not? (Genuine curios, not a fanatic

You're not sorry if you apologize immediately before doing something.

It's his business.

I feel like we would be better keeping vaccination status completely out of this thread.

 

[Rakrul]

Aside from the first bout (back in early 2020) that positively knocked me on my ass for a solid week, every other time hasn't resulted in severe symptoms, just discomfort for a few days to a week

I guess I just view these vaccines and neverending booster shots as a cash grab by the pharma companies.

They don't want to cure us, they want us on their drugs for life, it's big business

Fair enough, thanks for answering.

You're not sorry if you apologize immediately before doing something.

It's his business.

I feel like we would be better keeping vaccination status completely out of this thread.

Well, I guess I could've added "again", but as *I* hadn't asked him before it didn't seem correct either. It was to be less confrontational in case there was already a 12 page discussion about this in here that I had missed. Feels strange to explain to a native speaker that "Sorry for asking" is a fairly common curtesy, but here we are.

I do agree that there's no point in discussing it further, I was just curios about the rationale behind it and it's been answered.

 

[gopherblue]

You're not sorry if you apologize immediately before doing something.

It's his business.

I feel like we would be better keeping vaccination status completely out of this thread.

If you “feel” this, then I infer that you reject science.

And it is absolutely a fair data point and discussion point, given that Anthony is engaging in a high-risk endeavor due to his vax status. The numbers on this are irrefutable, and frankly, not getting vaxxed at this point is irresponsible and puts others at risk.

 

[Marc Hedrick]

If you “feel” this, then I infer that you reject science.

And it is absolutely a fair data point and discussion point, given that Anthony is engaging in a high-risk endeavor due to his vax status. The numbers on this are irrefutable, and frankly, not getting vaxxed at this point is irresponsible and puts others at risk.

I just come here (to this thread) to be envious of someone who is living a poker dream, in doing this for a living.

That has nothing to do with science, mostly math in fact.

 

[DMack]

If you “feel” this, then I infer that you reject science.

And it is absolutely a fair data point and discussion point, given that Anthony is engaging in a high-risk endeavor due to his vax status. The numbers on this are irrefutable, and frankly, not getting vaxxed at this point is irresponsible and puts others at risk.

I hate these discussions, and I try to stay away from them, but what about the countless vaxxed people spreading it to everyone?

 

[DMack]

And to expand on the “who’s business is it?”…it’s nobody’s darn business. If you go the ER for a hangnail, you’re protected by HIPPA. If you go to the ER for a tummy ache, you’re protected by HIPPA. If you come down with a virus that is so stigmatized, like COVID, then suddenly everyone and their pets should have the right to know? I’d like to discuss further, but I think I started menstruating. #science

 

[gopherblue]

And to expand on the “who’s business is it?”…it’s nobody’s darn business. If you go the ER for a hangnail, you’re protected by HIPPA. If you go to the ER for a tummy ache, you’re protected by HIPPA. If you come down with a virus that is so stigmatized, like COVID, then suddenly everyone and their pets should have the right to know? I’d like to expand further, but I think I started menstruating. #science

This is a fundamental misunderstanding of HIPAA, Marjorie.

HIPAA only applies to HIPAA-covered entities – healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses. It’s not a violation of your HIPAA “rights” to disclose, or be asked or required to disclose, your vaccine status.

In short, your hangnail or tummy ache are protected info, inasmuch as your healthcare provider can’t disclose certain health-related info about you if personally identifiable, unless you consent. Other than that, HIPAA is irrelevant.

 

[gopherblue]

I hate these discussions, and I try to stay away from them, but what about the countless vaxxed people spreading it to everyone?

This is simply a straw man argument, and utterly false. The data shows that far higher percentages of the unvaxxed are at risk of, and spreading COVID, and are hospitalized and dying in greater numbers as a result. Any argument to the contrary is willful ignorance and magical thinking.

 

[DMack]

This is simply a straw man argument, and utterly false. The data shows that far higher percentages of the unvaxxed are at risk of, and spreading COVID, and are hospitalized and dying in greater numbers as a result. Any argument to the contrary is willful ignorance and magical thinking.

No, it just fits the narrative you want to believe. Vaxxed people are infecting both vaxxed and unvaxxed at high rates. Any argument to that is willful ignorance and fairytale believing.

 

[Saoliver]

Unsubscribe. Someone please tag me when Anthony’s poker is discussed.

 

[navels]

As a backer, I'd appreciate folks taking the off-topic content elsewhere.

 

[gopherblue]

No, it just fits the narrative you want to believe. Vaxxed people are infecting both vaxxed and unvaxxed at high rates. Any argument to that is willful ignorance and fairytale believing.

I’m not going to turn this thread into a COVID vax thread, but I think you misunderstand a number of things, as is evident by reading your past posts. No one is suggesting that vaxxed people can’t get COVID or transmit it, to vaxxed and unvaxxed alike—however the data is pretty clear that it is far less likely that a vaxxed person would do so as compared to an unvaxxed person. So your suggestion that the vaxxed are infecting others “at high rates” is, again, a straw man, insofar as the statement is meaningless. And what is also irrefutable is that the unvaxxed are getting COVID at orders of magnitude higher rates than the vaxxed, and suffering far worse outcomes.

You can keep shouting into the void if you like, however. Science doesn’t give a crap about your feelings.

I originally posted solely because I hope that Anthony has a full recovery and a realization that vaccination is in his best interest. I made that point, engaged the trolls unnecessarily, and now turn back to our regularly scheduled programming.

 

[DMack]

I’m not going to turn this thread into a COVID vax thread, but I think you misunderstand a number of things, as is evident by reading your past posts. No one is suggesting that vaxxed people can’t get COVID or transmit it, to vaxxed and unvaxxed alike—however the data is pretty clear that it is far less likely that a vaxxed person would do so as compared to an unvaxxed person. So your suggestion that the vaxxed are infecting others “at high rates” is, again, a straw man, insofar as the statement is meaningless. And what is also irrefutable is that the unvaxxed are getting COVID at orders of magnitude higher rates than the vaxxed, and suffering far worse outcomes.

You can keep shouting into the void if you like, however. Science doesn’t give a crap about your feelings.

I originally posted solely because I hope that Anthony has a full recovery and a realization that vaccination is in his best interest. I made that point, engaged the trolls unnecessarily, and now turn back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Your bias doesn’t mean squat for what might be best for Anthony. And it’s none of your business, or anyone else’s for that matter. Send him a PM if you’re so concerned. You knew exactly what you were doing when you brought it up in here.

I work in a high risk profession where this crap is discussed like a broken record. My girlfriend is a physician assistant at the only COVID hospital in our region, and she is hands on with it daily. But you’re right (like always), I have no understanding of anything. I am going to consult with you about my future medical needs. Can you start by helping me with how to treat my morning sickness? I think I’m several months pregnant. #science

 

[Poker Zombie]

Aside from the first bout (back in early 2020) that positively knocked me on my ass for a solid week, every other time hasn't resulted in severe symptoms, just discomfort for a few days to a week

I guess I just view these vaccines and neverending booster shots as a cash grab by the pharma companies.

They don't want to cure us, they want us on their drugs for life, it's big business

Discomfort for a few days to a week vs. considerably less discomfort for a day, maybe two. From a poker standpoint, isn't the vax +EV?

As far as the money grab, the vaccination is free. I'm sure they receive $$$ from the government for the vials produced, but if they put them in your arm or in the arm of some hopeful resident of Zambia, the company turns the EXACT SAME PROFIT. So, I'm not sure your vaccine logic holds any water.

If you don't want it because you think it will turn you into a zombie (really not so bad from my point of view), or just because you hate needles, that is fine by me. But at least have a solid logical argument. I think you are bright enough to have a reasonable anti-vax argument.

As a backer, I'd appreciate folks taking the off-topic content elsewhere.

This is a thread about the trials/tribulations of a professional poker player. I'm sorry to say that COVID is as much a consideration of a poker pro as bankroll, stakes, location, traffic, or competition. Anthony has no healthcare as a Pro (perhaps Jenn provides some, IDK). But the journey of a poker pro involves more than hands played. It's Anthony's life in a thread. From his health (gym membership and roller-skating) to diet, Anthony has opened his life up in a way most of us would abhor.

I for one am extremely grateful he has done so.

I may not agree with every decision he makes. Playing 3-suited middle connectors or going unvaccinated may seem like terrible decisions to me, but A.M. is in charge of his life. I may tell him that those are bad decisions, but by no means am I going to demand he must make the choices that I would make.

...but if he is 4-betting with quad 2s, he knows we are going to comment about his choice.
Going unvaxxed at a poker table is no different.

 

[navels]

MJ you are absolutely right. I'm talking more about people getting into their own arguments about vaccines, etc., in this thread. However it is probably not my place to police Anthony's thread

 

[bergs]

Help me to understand….

Guy: “I’m not getting the vaccine, I don’t support big businesses trying to take advantage of us.

Same guy: “I play professional poker inside a casino every day”

Guy: “I’ve had COVID, like, I dunno, 27 times”

Same guy: “I don’t want to take anything that will help in any way to prevent getting it a 28th time”

It baffles me. Legions of people with this line of logic. I wish I understood it, I really do.

 

[bergs]

Wait, DMack is a chick?

 

[Anthony Martino]

Help me to understand….

Guy: “I’m not getting the vaccine, I don’t support big businesses trying to take advantage of us.

Same guy: “I play professional poker inside a casino every day”

Guy: “I’ve had COVID, like, I dunno, 27 times”

Same guy: “I don’t want to take anything that will help in any way to prevent getting it a 28th time”

It baffles me. Legions of people with this line of logic. I wish I understood it, I really do.

Big Pharma: hey, we've got this vaccine for Covid

Me: oh great, just get the shot and I'm all set?

Big Pharma: Well......not exactly, there's a 2nd shot too

Me: then I'm protected?

Big Pharma: there's also a third booster.....

Me: then what?

Big Pharma: well, the vaccine doesn't actually work, per se. I mean, you can still catch, carry and transmit Covid, and it's looking like you'll need a 4th booster with Omicron. But, uh, it's your best chance?

 

[bergs]

Big Pharma: hey, we've got this vaccine for Covid

Me: oh great, just get the shot and I'm all set?

Big Pharma: Well......not exactly, there's a 2nd shot too

Me: then I'm protected?

Big Pharma: there's also a third booster.....

Me: then what?

Big Pharma: well, the vaccine doesn't actually work, per se. I mean, you can still catch, carry and transmit Covid, and it's looking like you'll need a 4th booster with Omicron. But, uh, it's your best chance?

I see your point to some extent — but it’s no different from getting slightly different flu shots every year, with the only difference being 1) we have to get them in rapid succession now because it’s a novel virus and we don’t have any innate immunity to any of the variants, and 2) it’s not seasonal, so instead of getting slightly different shots like we do with the flu annually, we have to get a booster now as this quickly evolves.