Dan Paymar wrote:
> Please tell me if I'm wrong on any of these points.
vpFae replied:
Based on my personal knowledge, the writings of BD and RS,
and my best guesses, I believe there's a good chance that
you're wrong (or it's impossible to judge) on all 5 points.
Semantics and the degree of literality applied to your points
are crucial factors.
>Please tell us whence that personal knowledge. And "personal
>knowledge" is meaningless without identifying yourself.
Since my initial disagreement with your assessments was
based on nitpicking and literal interpretations, I'll continue in
that vein and say that I don't think that personal knowledge
from anonymous sources is meaningless. It may be less
valuable, but certainly not meaningless.
As to my identity, I sign my posts "vpFae" which is part of
the Yahoo ID that I've recently started using on vpFREE.
It was explained the first time I used it as an abbreviation
for "vpFREE Administrator Emeritus". You and many others
know my true identity, but I haven't been using it online for a
couple of years and won't now.
>My humorous observations were based mostly on their writings,
>not on "best guesses."
I didn't see any indication that you intended your observations
to be humorous, and assumed they weren't since most/all of the
posts that you've made on vpFREE have seemed serious to me.
>If you think I'm wrong, please be specific.
OK.
> 1. Neither has ever created or published a playing strategy.
Since you now say you're wrong on this one, I won't expand on
your stipulation.
> 2. Both ignore the mathematics of Risk of Ruin in their own play.
Impossible to judge, since only they know what their bankrolls are
or were, and whether they consider ROR or not.
RS says that he considers ROR, and in BD's case, I don't consider
"taking a shot" to constitute a ROR violation. I doubt if BD ignores
ROR now.
> 3. Both play both sides of the fence.
RS doesn't play both sides of the fence. He isn't paid by casinos
and I'm not aware of any anti-player actions by him.
> 4. Both make big money off of their publications.
What is big money?
It's possible that BD makes big money from his publications and
products, but I don't believe that RS does. RS doesn't have vp
products, isn't paid by GT and I don't think he makes big money
from his book sales.
5. Both are very intelligent, yet they have little or no concern
about how their "work" affects other players.
I agree about their intelligence, but not with the rest of your point.
I don't know how concerned BD is, but RS says that he is very
concerned, and I know that he has been willing to meet personally
with anyone who wants more information on his systems.
vpFae