[Thinkerbell]

Does table talk bother you while you're playing? Does a player get under your skin with constant yammering? Do you want to club Chatty Cathy over the head to shut her up?
Or do you turn a deaf ear to chit chat? Can you tune out the talk?

I personally prefer quiet--one of the reasons I love to play online. Not having to listen to other players complain about what they threw away in the last hand, or the tinny music coming from a headset is bliss to me.

How about you?

[Lytspeed]

Originally Posted by Thinkerbell

Does table talk bother you while you're playing? Does a player get under your skin with constant yammering? Do you want to club Chatty Cathy over the head to shut her up?
Or do you turn a deaf ear to chit chat? Can you tune out the talk?

I don't mind chit chat and table talk, but trash talk is really a problem for me. Interestingly, I can handle it better when it's directed at me than when it's directed at another player, especially if that player has done nothing wrong.

[TriptreysNJ]

I usually try to tune out the talk. But sometimes I dish out a little trash to get under peoples skin. I dunno. I think talking is part of the game.

[Thinkerbell]

I agree. I think crude or personally insulting trash talk is uncalled for and unprofessional. And the person who just prattles on and on (normally only a woman does this, I'm sorry to say) does tend to make me want to commit a violent act.
But I have to admit, if I think I can distract or get a player off his game I'll do it. I usually do it with humor. Get them laughing and their guard goes down.
I love the psychology of poker. Table talk is a part of that.

[Lytspeed]

Originally Posted by Thinkerbell

I agree. I think crude or personally insulting trash talk is uncalled for and unprofessional.

I played in a PokerStars play money tourney last night, and when my opponent sucked out a straight on the river to beat my king set and another player's two pair, I said "nh." He responded with "Sucka's" (sic). I didn't talk to him the rest of the game, but he started trash talking another player's favorite football team. We were all glad when he busted out.

[area206]

I don't mind table talk. If there was no table talk then it would be very boring. I like to hear what people are saying and wondering what they are thinking. Yes there are the loud and aggresive people, but i just mute them in my head and once they lose all there money then they are gone. Talking is somewhat part of poker so really it doesnt bug me. It might distract me a little, but i am learning more and more on how to play and talk at the same time, when playing live poker

[onabluff]

i dont mind it but wish they would shut the fk up

[sensei24]

If it's a good talk i have nothing against it.
But i saw many players that talk ugly at the tables when they lose a hand. that really bother me a little.

[Thinkerbell]

I know what you mean, Sensei. I've had players tear me a new one playing live because I beat them. (Might have something to do with the young bucks' egos being bruised due to losing to a woman.)
I find that irritating--any time you lose, take it like a man. It's so childish to get mad and rant. My advice to those people: play better next time.

[Arjonius]

I'm generally fairly good at tuning out table talk, but have to admit there are times when my mental filtering ability doesn't seem to be running at full strength. If I'm playing online, I'm often either multi-tabling or multi-tasking, so it's really easy to ignore the chat. Unfortunately, this does mean I can miss it when people try to talk to me.