ATTENTTION: Pros, veterans, Moderators and Admins.

Please excuse me for being so direct in the title, but I really felt like I needed your attention. I am being driven crazy by a few things on the free board that have to be bothering you too. Can we put our minds together and create a couple of pages of �canned answers� for these people who are totally new and clueless. They are driving me crazy with their inappropriate questions. I think we all assume that a person will accept personal responsibility for eduKatin� themselves. This forum is so generous with it�s time I cannot imagine bugging you guys for something that is pure common sense.

I digress� Anyway, I would love to create a 1-page website for beginners and those just looking at the AP thing to see if it is for them. I am willing to donate $100 to the fund and I will even help coordinate this effort and help with some of the writing.

I would need help with a few Q & As, but nothing too time consuming. I am a �full-timer� and have a lot of projects. So, time is precious, but I feel this is really worthwhile. If for no reason than to make it pleasant to read the free boards again.

Mr. Lee obviously needs help. We could have directed him and anyone else to a page that would address several key issues.

1. If we teach our children(the new ones we are taking under our wing) that the best education is done through pain-staking research and an relentless drive to understand what ever they are trying to learn, we will be doing them a fine service.

2. This should include the suggestion that one should not post a question, until:

A) One has read two books by two different authors and still do not understand what they are saying. We can even give them a list and each of us comment on the order to read them. I have read over 20 books since this last May, I certainly have some advise and I know you do too.

B) Searched the forum archives for your �special question� In most cases it has been asked before. While you are doing the research, read EVERYTHING! I reading about stuff I do not understand. After a reading the past posts, I start getting a clear picture Actually, I have had only one question that was not addressed somewhere in print or in the archives. What an education I have received while looking for the answer to my �special question�.

C) Ask yourself. �Is this a commons sense question?� For example: Why do we Hit a Hard 16? Answer- Because it is mathematically correct or the computer says so. That is actually the answer to every question of why do we�

Obviously, I am not the only one frustrated with the �little ones�. Kids can be a real handful :-) I don�t know if this is something that BJ21 would be interested in adding in or if we can just like to an outside page, but It would be great to have the 10 most commonly asked beginner questions addressed on one place. We could just refer them to that area and the thread could die peacefully.

I was so frustrated that I had to say something. I did not want to be mean, so I diverted my energy to something constructive. I hope this is received in the spirit that it is meat to be�one of sincere appreciation and a strong desire to help. Thank you for your time and interest. I hope that I have no offended anyone with my metaphors and attempts at humor.

> Can we put our minds together and create a couple of pages
> of �canned answers� for these people who are totally new and
> clueless?

Excellent idea, but isn't that what the "links" section is for? It has links to several other sites that are dedicated introducing new players to the game. Many of them have FAQs and links to even more sites for anyone who is motivated to learn. Or someone could check out this site's BJ Glossary and BJ Reference sections. As a last resort they could search Google for card counting information. This all assumes that they do not want to visit their local library or order some books from Amazon.

The answers are already out there in many, many places. It is every player's responsibility to educate themselves. Just send me that $100 and I�ll point the newbies to the links section. =)

-Sonny-

> Mr. Lee obviously needs help. We could have directed him and anyone else to a page that would address several key issues.

Mr. Lee dosen't want help or direction, he just want's to gamble. This site, and others, have implored him to get some help on his own. As soon as it is clear he is trying, I'll be happy to help him as much as I am able. From what I can tell he has not read one single book on the game, much less spent any time trying to absorb it.

It wasn't that long ago I was asking the same dumb questions over and over until I got it. That is what a free board like this is gonna have to do. I have found that the people on the net will be very patient in dispensing information as long as they believe the poster is trying.

You should join something like GreenChip. I'm sure the background noise is WAY less .. if you stick to just learning blackjack.

Were you not new to this site yourself at one point? New to blackjack? New to counting? I was. And the posters on this site were enormously helpful. I had read, back in the early seventies, both thorp (not thorpe, i am told) and revere, and learned of many more very valuable texts. What's more i was cautioned about giving credibility to many others. And whereas i certainly did make use of the various links (which were more accessible at the time than they are now) and even was a green chip member for a while, i still was compelled to ask any number of stupid questions the answers for which i was unendingly grateful. The patience and encouragement and knowledge i received from bj21.com i have depended on for many years, and although i do not use it as regularly as i once did, i know that there will continually be players who will profit from the wonderful stories and trip reports and discussion of advantage play that i and so many of us enjoyed when we were starting out. I do hope that the 'newbies' will not be relegated to some side track where they cannot sit at the feet of not only regular and experienced players, but true experts, authors and researchers and professional players.

You should join something like GreenChip.

Videodude is a member of Greenchip.

Perhaps we should take the nebie and point out the link to blackjack school and ask him to come back after checking this out and then ask his questions?

I have read your post several times now and I can�t agree more. I was a bit harsh and I apologize to anyone who may have been offended. As I said, I do agree that a beginner does need to ask a lot of stupid questions. If you must ask some one for an easy answer, I believe that this forum is exactly the place to do that. Personally, I consider posting a question to this board and the other message boards as a �last resort� in many ways. I think we may often do a disservice to the newbie when we give them the answer to their question. I am not sure that they always need the answers that they are seeking; they need the ability to understand the underlying concepts, so the questions would be unnessary. I have noticed, often they are not asking the correct question. It is only after more learning that they realize what question they should have been asking.

If they have tried to understand or are unclear after trying to learn the area of study, by all means post a question. I believe that all potential message posters should search the archives to better themselves as well as save everyone else time and energy. So many questions have been asked and answered many times; we do seem to beat dead horses.

---After writing the above paragraphs, I realized that this is all opinion and value based. This means that it is subjective. Due to my eccentricities, I often find myself the only one with whatever particular opinion I am pontificating. I should not have made blanket value statements like such as �They are driving me crazy with their inappropriate questions. I think we all assume that a person accept personal responsibility for eduKatin� themselves. This forum is so generous with it�s time I cannot imagine bugging the experts for something that is pure common sense.� ---

It also appears as if I was being condescending in referring to newbie�s as �kids�. I was attempting humor, but it probably came across poorly.

I was just trying to suggest a format that would both accelerate the fledgling AP�s learning curve, while not trying the patience of those volunteering their valuable time to help. I may have passes some judgments that were based on my values and not necessarily what is best for all. I did not intend to censor anyone. I simply wanted people to think about their question and challenge themselves to find the answer through research and hard work. I believe that we can either just give an answer or we can give a means to answering this and other questions for ourselves. I may be different than anyone else in the way I learn, but I learn so much more when I am forced to do my own research instead of just getting random questions answered. Maybe I am projecting my personal choice for learning methods too much. I am a perfectionist and I push myself beyond my limits on a daily basis. I certainly do not need to project that!

I must be utterly mad, based on my obsession with advantage play. I have never heard of anyone who is so obsessed with becoming a professional advantage player. I sometimes loose sight of the fact that not everyone will be crazed about their education as I was and am. I have always been obsessive about my business ventures and hobbies. AP is both of these to me. This combination seems to make the obsession twice as strong. I should not have been so quick to judge those who are not like me.

I have worked incredibly hard to �get the big picture�. It has been extremely hard and I could not have done it without this and other message boards. I too love the stories and trip reports, the personalities and the comradery. I was not trying to exclude or relegate anyone. I too am undyingly grateful for the information that I have gained here.

I was always taught to read the all of the study materials and listen to the lecture, before beginning the Q&A session. So many questions are answered in the texts and lectures. I guess there are others that would prefer to do it in the reverse order. I just cannot relate. In all likelihood, neither is right or wrong, just different

Thank you for your opinion about my opinion. It did make me think.

I simply wanted to help refine the education process a little further, while steering newbie�s to information and research techniques that that were invaluable to me. I also wanted to be able to read the free boards again without all the �background noise�. I simply forgot that one man�s noise is another man�s music.

Red means the vehicle cannot be within the intersection, period. Green means it can. Amber means the signal will become red, and if the vehicle is within the intersection when the signal becomes red, then the driver is in violation. There was sentiment for a fourth color, so drivers could run the amber, and not be in violation. Given the cost to implement (in dollars and confusion) and, especially, the prospect of future agitation for a fifth color, the idea was (obviously) dropped.

Sometimes I wish that I would wait 24-hours to actually post what I have written. This is certainly one of those occasions. I should not have projected my choice and level of commitment to learning AP techniques. That was unfair. If you moderators want to bust this post, I will certainly understand. (Not that you need my permission) I am sorry for the outburst. I have not forgotten about how it was in the beginning, I just had a completely different approach. I am an unrelenting hard-ass about my education and training my mind. No one could demand more and push me more than I do myself. I just assume that everyone here on the free boards has the same drive; they just somehow don�t know where to start. That was naive, and I made a mistake. I will certainly be more cautious before I make anymore �suggestions�.

EVERYONE has the right to ask whatever he or she wants. I certainly do not want to discourage anyone from learning by asking questions.

I simply forgot: �One man�s music is another man�s noise.�

Unfortunately, I sure seem to have a lot of music stuck in my head.

Your post may have been a little mis-directed but your perception of Mr. Lee was accurate.

He shows up here and about the second post off his keyboard he is accusing some other new kid of being a troll, of being a liar, and disparaging the kid's lifestyle.

He posts here with one name and other places with other names.

His posts are choke full of a gambling mentality that he seems to prefer over actually learning to play well.

Still and yet, were he to show one sign he was interested in spending some time on his own learning to play, this place, and others would give him all the help he needs.

I just want to input my opinion.
It seems like you're frustrated by all the newbies that post on the "FREE" board.
Maybe you should try the Green Chip membership board I'm sure you'd find more seasoned players there.
Just a thought...

I am going to get it + blackbelt in blackjack 3rd edition. Is there a certain editon PB or are they all the same? Is there another book I should get? And Sunrunner, sure I have gambled in the past but I am committed to AP. I am not a robot like small wonder so I do make mistakes but I think I can become a good player after reading a few books and getting some hours in and investing in my br. My cover act is that I am a porno king on business and I will show them you with Mr. Ed.

And will try to learn about being a better player without asking questions. But I have two that I would like to ask right now.

1. What are the conditions at Feather Falls like? I don't have a cc so I can't suscribe to CB news now so that';s why I am asking. I heard the game is 5- 300 and h17, SD, da2, pen dealer dependant but they said it could be 1-4 hands but could it be more if you play one on one?

2. And how do I flip the cards over 2 at a time when I am practicing counting?

Wong's 1994 edition (the latest) is sold here for about $20. I doubt you'll find it at your local Barnes and Noble. Blackbelt in Blackjack 3 is another good choice; for sale here but I have actually seen it for sale in the big stores; you could probably have it in hand tonight.

Two excellent choices if you are playing HiLo.

Good luck.

And aliases aren't bad. One day in Vegas I'll be Jet li, the next day Tommy Lee, the next Jackie Chan. later I''ll be Harvard Wong but only when I can track shuffles and cut aces.

An alias or two is not all bad. But between here and there around the net, if the rest of us know who you are, don't you think casino mgmnt could figure it out .. if they cared to?

Good luck.

If you are trying to increas counting speed, just hold the deck face up and move the cards with your thumb. This speeds things up to where you can move the cards almost as fast as you can count them. PV