Sherman's Turn.....

sherman · Nov 18, 2005

Well guys, it is my turn now. Many have posted similar posts in the past, and never did I think I would someday be one of them, but it has come to that. I am quitting gambling forever! I enjoy playing cards, betting on the football games & rolling dice very much, but my lack of control has cost me dearly. It is time for me to cut ALL ties with anything to do with gambling. It is the only way. I have told my Wife I was going to stop gambling many times before but never really tried, I have always been around it in one way or another. This time, I don't have a choice, everything must stop. No posting at gambling message boards, no Friday night poker games, not even a scratch ticket here and there. I can't risk it......

I am just 30 years old, and I have a Wife & 3 children I care about and Love very much, and I can no longer allow myself to put them in harms way. I have a chance to have a good life and don't want to see that go down the drain because I couldn't lay off playing online poker...

I am in no way writing for sympathy. I am writing for 2 reasons. One, since I have posted quite a bit here in the past 2 years, I thought it was appropriate to tell people I would no longer be around. And secondly, I wanted to thank THERX, it's staff and posters. For people that can control their gambling, THE PRESCRIPTION is a great place, offering much information, contests, friendship etc.

If you see me back here in a few months posting winners (or losers) that means I could not control myself. It also means I am probably divorced and don't see my kids regularly. Since that would kill me, don't count on that happening.....

I will probably come back here a little later just to say good bye to anyone that may respond to my thread, but after that, I must move on....

Thanx for the great time I had here guys, I will miss posting here very much.....I wish you all the best and good luck with all your bets and in life.....

Sherman

:103631605

Dante · Nov 18, 2005

umm...bye Sherman.... :icon_conf

I enjoyed your posts, sorry to see ya go not sure why you just can not take a break since your down and still post once in awhile
:icon_conf

best of luck

Fishhead · Nov 18, 2005

Sherman,

Respect your decision tremendously my friend.......and feel you are just that, a very good friend.

Guess posting to each other everyday for two years can do that.

Hope you stop by once in awhile to just shoot the breeze, if nothing else.

Take care,
-FISH-

ClipJoint · Nov 18, 2005

Congratulations on a great decision. :toast:

Journeyman · Nov 18, 2005

Take care Sherman

Posting can be just as addictive (for lack of a better word)... sometimes a couple week break can put it back in perspective though.

I'm sorry to hear you won't be around...I wish you the best of luck in your future!

trytrytry · Nov 18, 2005

sherm

Really respect that choice. There are other lifestyles out there to explore, give them a chance. You may have a personality that has a risk addiction, find something else risky to do that is not gambling.

:103631605

CapnHandi · Nov 18, 2005

You're doing the right thing Sherman. Family has to be #1.

And I agree the best way to do it is stay away from anything having to do with gambling although I'm sure we'll miss you at the Rx.

Check out Gambler's Anonymous for support.

Good luck!

sherman · Nov 18, 2005

Thanx much for the kind words guys. Yes I will be attending GA meetings. Maybe a little down the road it will be OK for me to stop in here and say hello, I don't know if that time will come, but I hope it does....

RobFunk · Nov 18, 2005

sherman said:
Thanx much for the kind words guys. Yes I will be attending GA meetings. Maybe a little down the road it will be OK for me to stop in here and say hello, I don't know if that time will come, but I hope it does....

Are you going to stop by a GA meeting and do what Pacino did in "two for the money" ?

LOL

Seriously Sherm, I wish you the best. I am 32 and have no kids, I realize having them can be a great thing and your comments about not putting your family in harm's way are touching.

Fishhead · Nov 18, 2005

sherman said:
Thanx much for the kind words guys. Yes I will be attending GA meetings. Maybe a little down the road it will be OK for me to stop in here and say hello, I don't know if that time will come, but I hope it does....

I know sometimes I have trouble answering emails swiftly, but if you EVER need anything, shoot me an email at Strutnut@aol.com

Again take care or yourself and what sounds like a great family!!

ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS Sherman!!

-FISH-

steeser · Nov 18, 2005

I once quit for about a 6 month period, when I felt like it was controlling my life. I lost a ton in one weekend and just felt I needed to do it.

After that stretch, I eventually came back, but came back much more disciplined. I also discovered poker, which I make some pretty serious coin at.

The truth is that I am a much happier person, doing what I love.

The down side at coming back is that my girlfriend did not support it. We tried to come to compromises and finally it just didn't work out, as she had seen the worst times and always felt it would happen again.

My new GF supports me in what I do, so everything is great now.

Good luck to ya, the key is finding other things to do to keep yourself busy.

vegasisstilldead · Nov 18, 2005

Sherman,

It takes alot to post what you just did. I have been there myself. The saying " We hurt the one's we love the most" is never as true as in situations like gambling. Last week my wife was flipping thru the channels and came across a old game on espn classic. My 4 year old got up and told my wife that she was going in her room because now daddy would be yelling at everyone.. Boy, that made me feel like a piece of crap:sad3:
Do what you have to do. Get away from this game. Every day you stay away the mental seperation from it grows and it is easier to forget about it. Try to immerse yourself with doing things with your kids and keep busy on the weekends especially.(if i could only practice what i preach!)
I always enjoyed "talking" with you and you are a great asset to this board. However, there are things more important then that. Good luck and you will be missed. You are doing the right thing though and i am sure everyone here from Mods to a 1st time poster will agree that someone leaving for a reason as you stated is understood.Good luck :103631605

5teamparlay · Nov 18, 2005

Sherm, take a much needed break. I've been here for 6 years and have seen much. Take a much needed break. I've seen some come back from posting the way you do to just a post here or there. The main reason I post at the forums for entertainment purposes period. In the past 2 years I have moved from Chicago where there were 8 casinos with 50 dice tables waiting for me to belly up to Fla where I'd have to drive 12 hours to the nearest real casino. (besides a trip to a local boat, I have not gambled in a casino in about 2 years, I used to go 3 times a week). I've gotten married and we have had a child. Each time I have had to reassess things. I'm sure many of us here have gone through the same things from being single guy living day to day and in bars 6 nights a week (7 on a good week)--to becoming a family man or gotten in a relationship with a little more responsibility.

Hopefully after a while you can come and say hi to your friends on occasion or respond to an occasional Red Sox thread.

Tulsa · Nov 18, 2005

After all the positive re-inforcement we've given you within the last week, I know it was very difficult for you to say, "I have to go."

You know what? That is the best thing you can do for yourself and your family if it is what you know you need to do. I like you and I will miss you. What a well-written good-bye that is.

We all change jobs over life and most even change careers through life and hobbies are no different. This is not an abnormal thing to do and I'm glad you didn't just disappear without saying something. Sherman, you don't have a problem. The fact that you made the above post means that you see the direction you need to go. This may help other people see a new direction to travel as well.

My advice to you is to immediately IMMEDIATELY (with your wife's help) find a place (online is a good start) where you can participate with people doing something different than you did here but with the interaction you enjoyed. You won't have 10k posts but you have to start somewhere....or find a local community activity that you can participate in and 'replace' your time spent on here with something healthy that you can grow to enjoy.

Like Clip Joint said, you've made a great decision. You are a true man. God bless you and thanks for what you've given us. Fare Well. tulsa

Roxygurl · Nov 18, 2005

your stronger than you think by posting this sherman. if your really done then i want to thank you for being the great friend that you are.the rx is weakened by your departure. the rx is here to help those who need it and your post may save someone else having the same feelings as you but dont understand them. you have my email sherman i hope you stay in touch.be well:howdy:

Dubpoet · Nov 18, 2005

Good Luck! Maybe invest in some gambling related stocks like IGT so you can profit while laying off.

wilheim · Nov 18, 2005

Best of luck Sherman, if you ever plan on being on Cape Cod feel free to email me beforhand at wilheim@therx.com. I would be glad to meet you...

Don't be a total stranger, wil...:toast:

Dante · Nov 18, 2005

steeser said:
I once quit for about a 6 month period, when I felt like it was controlling my life. I lost a ton in one weekend and just felt I needed to do it.

After that stretch, I eventually came back, but came back much more disciplined. I also discovered poker, which I make some pretty serious coin at.

The truth is that I am a much happier person, doing what I love.

The down side at coming back is that my girlfriend did not support it. We tried to come to compromises and finally it just didn't work out, as she had seen the worst times and always felt it would happen again.

My new GF supports me in what I do, so everything is great now.

Good luck to ya, the key is finding other things to do to keep yourself busy.

I see your point Steeser...I have always belived one should NEVER take gambing more serious then recreational its just not worth the TOLL it takes on your body when you lose the huge$$ and you DO lose if your doing this as a daily grind those years people lose doing this 24/7 can never be gotten back.

do it for fun or do not do it

but thats just my opinion and how I keep myself sane

JimmyHoffa · Nov 18, 2005

Sherman,

While I support your decision to retire from gambling and posting I think there is a lesson in your story for the masses. It is a lesson in CONTROL. Everything in life needs to be balanced. Equal parts family, friends, work AND recreation. I'm on the same trip you're on with the wife and kids. However, maybe it's because I'm some years older than you or for whatever reason, I've been able to keep my hands in gambling and posting without compromising family because I've been able to balance my time.

If you went back and looked at what caused you to become unbalanced I would guess it would be the Poker. For whatever reason, when I used to play online poker it would eat my time like nothing else. And, the bad beats in poker sure seemed to eat me up far more than a bad beat in a game. When gambling sports you can take yourself away from the screen to bandage a child's scraped knee but this is not as easily done with on-line poker. Not too easy to say wait as the knee drips blood on the carpet when you're holding pocket aces compared to viewing a lazy 1-1 baseball game in the 4th inning.

Anyway... Best of luck Sherman and if you do find your way back to the forums and games my suggestion to you would be to come back without the poker.

Jimmy

Dante · Nov 18, 2005

Jimmy Hoffa said:
Sherman,

While I support your decision to retire from gambling and posting I think there is a lesson in your story for the masses. It is a lesson in CONTROL. Everything in life needs to be balanced. Equal parts family, friends, work AND recreation. I'm on the same trip you're on with the wife and kids. However, maybe it's because I'm some years older than you or for whatever reason, I've been able to keep my hands in gambling and posting without compromising family because I've been able to balance my time.

If you went back and looked at what caused you to become unbalanced I would guess it would be the Poker. For whatever reason, when I used to play online poker it would eat my time like nothing else. And, the bad beats in poker sure seemed to eat me up far more than a bad beat in a game. When gambling sports you can take yourself away from the screen to bandage a child's scraped knee but this is not as easily done with on-line poker. Not too easy to say wait as the knee drips blood on the carpet when you're holding pocket aces compared to viewing a lazy 1-1 baseball game in the 4th inning.

Anyway... Best of luck Sherman and if you do find your way back to the forums and games my suggestion to you would be to come back without the poker.

Jimmy

Jim, your BEST post to date and right on the money...one should NEVER get to the point of losing control...they should be backing off or taking a break LONG before they get to the desperate mode or the I QUIT cold turkey card IMO