A moral question?

What about playing poker professionally? That is like lying, stealing pots, and hustling money from civilians too. Many of them a just as helpless as other retired pensioners.

if in the course of play you come to the conclusion that you have caused harm to someone by taking all their funds and they are old and on fixed income, (they may be acting dejected and maybe even teary eyed), in that case you may want to return some of the money you peeled from them.

Think of the goodwill this one act of kindness will generate.

Joe.

A lot of poker pros are trying to pass themselves off as moral giants.

I intentionally softplay the worst players in my home game , especially when they are losing heavily and keep trying to convince them that their luck is going to change , and yet I show no mercy on the better players.

Morally wrong?

As Joe states, you know the rules before you sit down. For people like you they would read your face and steal you blind, especially that little old man that looks like he is playing with the last bit of his food money. Ol' boys and women at the tables? Like swimmin' with the sharks. Learn to lie, steal, and be cruel, or don't play. When you get up at the end of the game shake hands and put your new persona away.

Never, ever trust a poker player.

I learned to play poker in the back rooms in the DC area and picked up on many tricks of the trade. The absolute worst is when someone comes in and says, "I've never played this game in my entire life before." That's your clue to get up and leave, otherwise, you can kiss your bankroll goodbye.

People will say and do just about anything to get in on a juicy game. For some, the stakes don't even matter as long as the fishing is good.

"For people like you they would read your face and steal you blind, especially that little old man that looks like he is playing with the last bit of his food money."

But I don't play with "little old man that looks like he is playing with the last bit of his food money". Except in tournaments, when I have to because that's where most of the money come from.
Most of the time I try to con my younger friends and their girlfriends while I clutter their judgement with some hash and alcohol in private games with no rake. They are quite rich by kids standard.