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Want proof that only fools love online gambling? See how many of them are attracted to Internet poker. The Bible puts it very succinctly:

Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless. -Ecclesiastes 7:5-7

How can you explain a player who has just won a big pot making fun of the losing player? I suppose the anonymity of the Internet allows people to be braver than they would be in person. That's the only reason I can think of for people abusing each other at the poker tables.

Bad enough in the cases when the abusive guy is the loser, but far worse when he's won! Is it not good enough to be winning, without gloating and upsetting people?

There's more than one definition of "loser" -- these fools are definitely losers in the derogatory sense, if not the literal one.

Sure, it's easy to get upset when the poker gods turn their backs on us. What you must not do is let them taunt you into compounding the loss by going on tilt.

There's more than one reason to keep schtum if you are angry. As well as the danger of tilting, you are giving away free information. All the other players will change their view of you, based on your anger and turn it against you.

What does this mean? The answer is, they will interpret any aggression on your part as letting off steam. (This means it's a great idea to bet strongly with very good hands! But don't try to bluff.)

They will call you down because you have, in the chat box, told them that you are on tilt. Don't give freebies at the poker table! Always charge dollars for information.

When you start seeing red and want to vent at the idiot who's abusing you, remember that Bible quote: "The crackling of thorns under the pot." Just treat it as background static and get on with the more important job of winning back those dollars!

And if the chat is still getting you down, switch it off. "This too is meaningless." Once you have switched off the chat facility, nothing he says will affect you. In fact, it's quite fun to think of him beavering away, writing comment after comment that you'll never see!