In response to Allen Tingley's column ("Internet poker shows compulsive side of gambling") on Internet poker I would like to make clear that Internet poker is no more compulsive than any other activity we engage in. I know people who are addicted to Instant Messenger and spend hours talking about nothing with their friends. There are people who play video games from the time they get up til they go to bed. Also Tingley is not gambling since he is not risking anything, he is playing for fake money. His column's headline should not include the word gambling. What he is doing is the same as someone playing a game of solitaire on their PC. His column makes it seem like Internet poker is interfering with people's day-to-day life. This may be true but so do many other distractions.

Please realize online poker isn't some terrible scheme that is going take all your time and money. If you have discipline and study up on poker you can enjoy Internet poker and make some money. I have been playing Internet poker and live poker for years and have never had a problem stopping and taking care of my responsibilities. If you have will power and self-control you can actually turn poker into a career.