a sociology problem?

I've been playing online poker for about seven years, and over that time i've noticed an unusual and somewhat disturbing trend in the table chat. It seems to me that i get accused of being gay (homosexual) unusually often. It's at least three times a week and usually when i'm winning. Don't get me wrong, i have no problem being called gay. I have many gay friends and they are wonderful people. It's just that i fail to see the connection between poker and sexual identity. I've come up with a few theories explaining the reason why so many online poker players are so quick to call one another gay, but i'd like to hear the thoughts of the ixgames membership on this subject. has anyone else noticed this trend? If so, what is the deal with it? I guess i am just amazed at how quickly "gay jokes" come up when a player is upset, on tilt, or otherwise commenting on play. Also, i think it's hilarious that so many online players think it's an INSULT to call someone "gay". i mean, if i were gay, i wouldn't be offended, and since i'm not, i'm still not offended. It's so often and so pervasive in my own experience that i'm thinking of doing a study and tracking it. In any case, i'm interested to hear your thoughts.

Till this day I have been called pretty much everything at a poker table.

Retard, noob, idiot, clown, fagg, gay, monkey.

So why do they call people these sort of names ?

I would say most of them have low social skills generally and I believe you have right when you refer to sociology but maybe not in the way I first thought of it.

I spend time with friends that wouldnt puke out words like that. I dont know if that mean anything but I relate the name callings to people in lower social classes.

You dont have to agree with me.

The words GAY and RETARD at the poker table have pretty much the same meaning. They dont see you as an homosexual, its just another word in their BRAINLESS vocabulary.

Great post by the way.

I've been playing online poker for about seven years, and over that time i've noticed an unusual and somewhat disturbing trend in the table chat. It seems to me that i get accused of being gay (homosexual) unusually often. It's at least three times a week and usually when i'm winning. Don't get me wrong, i have no problem being called gay. I have many gay friends and they are wonderful people. It's just that i fail to see the connection between poker and sexual identity. I've come up with a few theories explaining the reason why so many online poker players are so quick to call one another gay, but i'd like to hear the thoughts of the ixgames membership on this subject. has anyone else noticed this trend? If so, what is the deal with it? I guess i am just amazed at how quickly "gay jokes" come up when a player is upset, on tilt, or otherwise commenting on play. Also, i think it's hilarious that so many online players think it's an INSULT to call someone "gay". i mean, if i were gay, i wouldn't be offended, and since i'm not, i'm still not offended. It's so often and so pervasive in my own experience that i'm thinking of doing a study and tracking it. In any case, i'm interested to hear your thoughts.

I haven't noticed the trend because I generally turn off the chat in tourneys. Too many rude comments and all in all, a distraction.

I try to not make anything be personal,,, I might say "sick" or "unreal" if it was a bad beat. But not referring to a player. Just my thoughts

I never make any donk plays so I never get called any names..... NOT! :p
But I haven't noticed anything different than the usual insults.

What you have to realize is when younger people say gay they really aren't referring to your sexual identity. Its evolved into more of a curse word for them. Poker is filled with younger players especially online-many teens online. They really don't know why they say a word like that it just is something they have grown up with as a derogatory word. Ie. that's cool, that's gay. Why it is like that I don't know it just is. Honestly though I have been playing online since 2005 and I can't recall ever seeing anyone call someone gay. But I may just have never noticed it because to me, if I was called gay it would almost be like a joke because it is such a poor, immature insult to me its comical. I know if someone calls me gay they are probably some punk teen. So don't let it bother you. I really stay out of chat unless it is someone I know or I am trying to get under someone's skin because they are playing like a jerk. I really don't just chat with random ppl.

I never make any donk plays so I never get called any names..... NOT! :p
But I haven't noticed anything different than the usual insults.