For better or Worse?

I've been thinking about what a friend said to me the other day. It was actually said to him by a friend, but "online poker is great because there is always another game one click away."

Is this really a good thing for poker?

If there is always another game, what makes one game worth your time or for any other player?

A donk can not care and play horrible, sometimes being rewarded and not having to deal with the humiliation. Also, if the person is rich and had a bad day, he can donk off while clicking around. On the other hand, someone who is unfamiliar with the game and doesn't have a bankroll, so goes into debt by doing echecks or 3rd parties. Online poker is a great way to practice, but I don't believe it is the way to learn. It's to easy to not care online. It blinks when it's your turn, tells you your hand, and transfer's your chips and your water to a different table.

This can be viewed as a good thing, for all of the money that is being stacked off. When you're at the tables in Vegas, you usually don't get into personal matters, or what a person needs and why they're there. This definately does not happen online.

What does remain constant is the question, does it improve the game or does it destroy it's history?

I honestly think that for the inspired player, it is a great resource. But for beginners, it could be their worst nightmare and addiction. I have never sat next to a friend by their computer when they are learning the game. I go with them and live the game through experience. To me, that is the only way to find out what your game is and how to overcome your flaws and improve your differences. You take accountability in all of these areas and know what it is like when you are called a 'donk' and when someone who you respect after months turns and looks at you and says, 'nice hand'