On Trash-Talking & Online Poker
May 26, 2009
No one talks more trash than an online poker player. The anonymity seems to build courage in a lot of players who would otherwise just thumb their noses behind your back. During live poker, you can just call the tournament director’s attention when a person’s trash-talking is going too far. Or, you can ask them to step outside. Either way, those options cause a lot of poker players to think twice before talking about how another player’s mother must look.
Online, however, it’s another matter. Like it or not, you’re going to get called names if you outplay another player. The moment you get lucky, for a few fleeting moments before the next cards are dealt, you’re going to be cussed out on the chat pane. You’re going to hear the nastiest and most immature comments. For a few seconds, you’re going to think that you’re playing against 10-year olds.
Should you care? Not really. As irritating as trash-talking online can be, it is usually brief and short. After all, online poker is a very fast game and more often than not, as soon as the cards are dealt, your opponent needs to focus on his cards. The best way to handle this is to just ignore the trash-talker. Or if he is steaming because of a previous hand, use this to your advantage. He is on tilt and he will start playing recklessly. You can even make a short but snide comeback just to put the other player on tilt even more. Whatever you choose to do, you should never ever let the trash-talking get under your skin. Otherwise, it is you who will lose focus and it is your game that will suffer.
If you do find the trash-talking is getting to you, then you should block the chat pane. Almost all online poker rooms have an option where with one click of a mouse, you can block the words of another player out. If the situation is making you uncomfortable and it is affecting your gameplay, shut the player out. Poker is a game of concentration and focus. Don’t allow yours to waver.
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