It seems I've offended you and I apologise if that's the case. I know addiction in it's multiple forms is a serious issues. I have had and still have numerous gambling addicts and alcoholics in my family and close circles. I can see you're angry and that its a sensitive issue and I honestly understand that.
I'm not offended. I just don't think it's fair to go hammering the guy without fully acknowledging the pitfalls of gambling and addiction in general. Based on some of the things you've said in this thread, I don't think you have a proper understanding of it. It's one thing to have family and friends who are addicts, it's another thing entirely to understand how it affects people psychologically and behaviorally.
As I said in a previous post, it's all fine and well saying that Barton should have left the football alone and just gambled on something else instead in order to satisfy his urges. But again, with respect, the fact that you suggested that evidences that you don't fully understand the subject. Most addicts don't have the ability to be that controlled in their decision making. Even though they can still think rationally, it's important to understand that their behaviour is under the control of compulsion. It's a compulsive disease.
The poor souls who gamble their homes and marriages away know on a rational level that they are in fact risking their homes and their marriages. They recognize the enormity of the risk. They know they stand to lose everything they hold dear to them if it goes tits up. Yet they still do it. They still take the risk. As I say, rationale isn't in control. Compulsion is. Obviously I'm using an extreme example here but the point rings through: Its all fine and well saying he shouldn't have done it but for an addict like him that's much easier said than done
Joey Barton though, has proven multiple times what a bellend he is. Then he placed thousands of bets, including on games he and his team were involved in. Then he releases a statement saying "my integrity has never been in question" and that it's everyone else's fault.
I would definitely have more sympathy for the situation if it was someone without all the prior gambling and non-gambling related indiscretions.
Based on the number of times you've name-called him I think it's fairly obvious that you have a dislike for the guy. Which is fair enough. I've never particularly liked the guy either. That being said, I'm starting to get the impression your dislike for him is clouding your judgment on this. You've gone out of your way to put the boot in on him, haven't you? You've "constructed" things that paint him in as negative light as possible. You've made stuff up to make him look a c*nt. This being one in particular:
If he can mentally decide not to bet on games he's involved in then he has some control, and as the poster suggested should be able to extend that control to just gambling outside of football.
He's a tit.
^^^ There's no merit or substance to what you're saying there. You're just saying things for the sake of hammering the guy. As I say, I think your dislike for the guy is clouding your ability to see this for what it is. You're not in this thread to discuss a footballer being caught gambling. You're in here because you have a particular dislike for Joey Barton
And the guy's still a tit.
^^^ I'm right, aren't I ?
