'Woof,' a friend of mine said to a puppy. Woof. She wanted to speak to it, communicate with it, understand it. Most would think that that's rather silly - haha, they'd say, a girl talking (barking) to a dog. And I admit, it paints a funny picture. But I think the idea behind it is rather noble.
Have you ever looked at a dog, and wondered what it thought, what it felt? Dogs always seem to have a face filled with deep wisdom, especially when their bellies are rubbed. But how often do we peer into their world, into anybody else's world? How often do we sit back and watch the world from the eyes of another, feel what they feel, hear what they hear and see what they see - four legged or two?
I don't think often enough.
But so what? Well, I think perspective is really important. I think the more perspective you have, the better. I don't think knowing only your perspective will ever be enough. I think you can sometimes learn things that will make you feel very good when you can see things from other peoples' perspective. But mostly, you'll understand where everyone comes from. So when you want to know how to make someone happy, or not make them sad, you'll know, because you can see things from their perspective. (I've used the word 'perspective' a lot, I know. I'm just driving home a point!)
You know the beautiful thing about a game like Counter Strike? When you're alive, it's a first person shooter. When you die, you can see things from the third person point of view, OR, through the eyes of another. The perspective (I should probably do a count on how often I use this word) that gives you when you're alive next time is fascinating, things are - but they are through eyes not only your own. (Deep, I know)
In poker, if you limit your perspective to yourself, you'll never win. Playing your cards is hardly important, playing your players is the key (God, how old is this rhetoric) - you need to get into the mind of your opponent, understand why people do what they do, and only then can you exploit that and profit. And everybody likes profit, baby.
I'll tell you how. Ani used to play straightforwardly (I use the phrase 'used to' lightly - he plays differently now, but I can't really say any better), when he was nervous (big hand or weak hand), he'd whip out his cellphone and text someone - so you'd know when he was polarised.
Nishant, on the other hand, sometimes picks up his big value chips if he thinks you're going to bet (and doesn't want you to), which tells me it is a good time to bet.
And Raashid, oh Raashid, gets this evil glint in his eyes when he wants to pull off some hero bluff.
You don't see these things if you're only playing your cards, your hands, your tendencies. You need to understand the tendencies of others, every now and then. You need to step outside the confines of your mind, your eyes and see the world not as you, but rather, as the world sees itself.
So the next time you see a girl barking at a dog, don't rush to laugh and point. Instead, take your time, understand how awesome she is for trying to understand, communicate; and theeeenn laugh and point.
Have you ever looked at a dog, and wondered what it thought, what it felt? Dogs always seem to have a face filled with deep wisdom, especially when their bellies are rubbed. But how often do we peer into their world, into anybody else's world? How often do we sit back and watch the world from the eyes of another, feel what they feel, hear what they hear and see what they see - four legged or two?
I don't think often enough.
But so what? Well, I think perspective is really important. I think the more perspective you have, the better. I don't think knowing only your perspective will ever be enough. I think you can sometimes learn things that will make you feel very good when you can see things from other peoples' perspective. But mostly, you'll understand where everyone comes from. So when you want to know how to make someone happy, or not make them sad, you'll know, because you can see things from their perspective. (I've used the word 'perspective' a lot, I know. I'm just driving home a point!)
You know the beautiful thing about a game like Counter Strike? When you're alive, it's a first person shooter. When you die, you can see things from the third person point of view, OR, through the eyes of another. The perspective (I should probably do a count on how often I use this word) that gives you when you're alive next time is fascinating, things are - but they are through eyes not only your own. (Deep, I know)
In poker, if you limit your perspective to yourself, you'll never win. Playing your cards is hardly important, playing your players is the key (God, how old is this rhetoric) - you need to get into the mind of your opponent, understand why people do what they do, and only then can you exploit that and profit. And everybody likes profit, baby.
I'll tell you how. Ani used to play straightforwardly (I use the phrase 'used to' lightly - he plays differently now, but I can't really say any better), when he was nervous (big hand or weak hand), he'd whip out his cellphone and text someone - so you'd know when he was polarised.
Nishant, on the other hand, sometimes picks up his big value chips if he thinks you're going to bet (and doesn't want you to), which tells me it is a good time to bet.
And Raashid, oh Raashid, gets this evil glint in his eyes when he wants to pull off some hero bluff.
You don't see these things if you're only playing your cards, your hands, your tendencies. You need to understand the tendencies of others, every now and then. You need to step outside the confines of your mind, your eyes and see the world not as you, but rather, as the world sees itself.
So the next time you see a girl barking at a dog, don't rush to laugh and point. Instead, take your time, understand how awesome she is for trying to understand, communicate; and theeeenn laugh and point.
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