Is the Continuing Saga of Tony Bigcharles Finally Reaching a Breakpoint?
I have written several posts over the past year that have dealt with Tony in one way or another. However, as I anticipate the change of seasons, I also wonder what the near future will bring to Tony.
If you are not familiar with TBC, I suggest a quick read of a post I published last fall in an attempt to write a brief summary of the TBC situation.
Tony’s current status is that his “role” (his description of his gambling bankroll which is in reality very close to his net worth) is right at $800. It recently was below $700. However, As Tony’s monthly expenses (largely computer and cell phone charges) continue to come and his housing options become even more limited, he has almost run out of ways to keep himself afloat. His reluctance over the past year to take the steps necessary to apply for and receive government assistance has left him in a difficult situation.
Despite numerous friends who continually root for Tony and supply him with worthwhile life advice, Tony has chosen to go his own way, oftentimes making decisions that have resulted in the horrid situation he is in now. In the past, Tony has shown quite a knack for escaping a total bottoming out and has rebounded in one way or another. Now, however, it appears to be only a matter of time before Tony has absolutely no money at all.
Has Tony finally run out of time with his sockroll? Will a temporary reprieve at his mother's house allow him to build up his resources? Can a last ditch effort at applying for government assistance get him help before he contemplates returning to a life of homelessness, panhandling, and living totally on the edge?
The sockroll continues to decrease. The clock continues to run ...
posted by lightning36 at 1:52 PM
20 Comments:
I admit I read Tony's blog each day. The blog itself is interesting, but the comments (often 70-100 of them) are priceless. I wish him well.
OK, I went over to Winkpedia and they explained it to me:
Fixation is a concept originated by Sigmund Freud (1905) to denote the persistence of anachronistic sexual traits'.[1] Subsequently '"Fixation" acquired a broader connotation. With the development of theory of libidinal stages...the term came to mean a persistent attachment, not only to the specific instinctual aims of a particular era, but, instead, to the entire complex of self and object relation'[2] at that time.
More generally, it is the state in which an individual becomes obsessed with an attachment to another person, being or object (in human psychology): 'A strong attachment to a person or thing, especially such an attachment formed in childhood or infancy and manifested in immature or neurotic behavior that persists throughout life'.
Now all I need to do is figure out which party it applies too. Hmmmm. Let me see here....
Hi. I follow Tony's blog and most of those of Las Vegas poker players/poker related blogs. After reading this post,I am left with only one question---what is the point of this post?
Thoughts on this idea:
We chip in a buy him a plane ticket . . . to Australia . . . he moves in with Koala . . . Done.
Thank God for sickcallmggee, no one else wouldve spent all those hours waiting going to 3 different welfare offices, due to unforeseen problems. now all i can do is to wait on him to bring me to ssi and back to find out the status of the case (and get a letter for welfare) and then to return to welfare mar 13 to try and get the medical card.
after that, im supposed to find a dr who can diagnose me (who will get paid by medical somehow) in time for an atty to accept me as i appeal my denial for the 3rd hearing in front of a judge. finding the dr who will take on my case might be harder than getting the medical card, too bad a doctor isnt reading my blog and willing to take my ssi case, if a lawyer read the blog that would help too.
@ Pete P. Peters -- Actually, Mr. Peters, I have had a few serious thoughts about alternatives for Tony. The frustration, however, is that almost anything would only be a temporary solution at best. However, temporary would be better than nothing.
Not having known Tony for very long but knowing that he always finds a way to land on his feet, I am hoping his streak continues.
@sevencard2003 -- Tony, people had been encouraging you to take advantage of these services for months. As I recall, people had offered to help you make these connections, but you chose not to do it. I do not want to dwell on the past, however, as you need to be future oriented. I hope these things will work out for you. Trust your friends.
Not sure why Tony doesn't just suck it up, move back home with his mom for a few months, try and get some part time work, stash some cash, and then give the poker another shot. While I certainly don't know nearly the whole story, from what I've seen on FB, seems like his mom is willing to have him back. And, while Lyons might not have much opportunity for employment, I'd think some min-wage jobs would be available. Work for 3 or 4 months, and then get back to the grind.
Anyway, what do I know . . .
@lightning36 i felt like i was being true to my moral values, by trying to survive off gambling instead of off the taxpayers, and i feel like the world would be better if people with money took care of their feeble minded so they wouldnt need to depend on the taxpayers. i felt like i always need to hold myself up to a higher moral standard than others before God, and i feel i do that by not drinking, smoking, sleeping with women i wont marry or love instead of casually, and by agreeing with him that homosexuality is a sin. i also try to not lie unless im extremely desperate and in a bind.
@pete. i totally hate living there and id be bored stiff, the town is way too small. it was ok when i had my own housing and could play on pokerstars all day, but thats a 6 month to year wait and first id need to be on ssi and live in KS. also u are forgetting, if i was to have work there, id be able to save up NOThING, mom would take all of it in exchange for allowing me to live with them.
DONT expect any replies to comments, at least not for 20 hours. will be asleep
Pete i agree with you 100%, i have told Tony several times to go back home and regroup. Tony just needs a break from all forms of gambling, he is burnt out and tired.
sevencard2003 said...
"DONT expect any replies to comments, at least not for 20 hours. will be asleep"
You sleep for 20 hours????
no i sleep 8-10 hours, then as soon as i get up i want to "get to work" and once im done and relaxing in the room taking my first break then im ready to start posting.
I don't really get the point of this post? Cliff notes of Tony's post? Regardless, I think Tony will land on his feet. That doesn't mean it won't be tough and it won't suck but he'll survive. Unfortunately, he'll be miserably unhappy, as he has been since I've known him.
I've known him when he had over 10K and he was just as desperate for money and angry then as he is now. Believe it or not, money isn't really his biggest issue and yes I know he's practically homeless.
Lightbulb, hope you, your fam and esp your brother are doing well. xoxo
Wow -- a visit from VJ? I miss the old days when we communicated on a regular basis. I hope things are well with you, princess ... : o )
He actually went broke I think about three years ago. He will correct me if I'm wrong :). He went back to Kansas to his apt and grinded back up. He has done well considering he really has no source of income outside of gambling. I think what's hurt him the most outside of the obvious is that comps have really dried up and he's limited to where he can play and stay. Hopefully he gets some type of assistance and can at least cover housing expenses.
@Tatude I know that Tony has such unique ways of observing and understanding the world that he is oftentimes difficult to assist. It is just unfortunate that, despite the efforts of you and others, he would not get on the stick with the various government assistance programs. If he could learn to have a little patience he could possibly regroup in Kansas.
@tatude, no i havent gone broke in years. i was down to around $700 when i went to KS. (lucky for me, i still had my own apt to go to then, so i was in 100x better shape). not only that, i was getting SSI at the time. so i was much much better off than i am today. pokerstars was still around too, and i was able to play online from my apt and regroup. (thru pokerstars winnings autosent to my bank acct, and ssi checks). none of which are options today. this is why i feel i have so few options except to survive here in Jean. Sure i knew i was slow in trying to get govt assistance, but i wanted to make sure it was SSI instead of medical and food stamps, so i could live with my conscience in the eyes of my God. I dont see the world the same as the rest of u
Tony my mistake. I thought you had lost everything because you had been playing micro stakes. I did not know you well back then. I realize you see things different and you have to do what you want. I don't share your same views regarding God so I don't understand. I do know that you have some good people in your corner willing to help you and drive you around to get assistance. Folks like Vince, SI and Sickcall. There are folks who don't even get that much help from their own families. You are lucky to have people who wanna help you.
Lighting I agree. 100% that getting on govt assistance is probably the most important thing he needs to do. He needs a safety net especially as he gets older. Living on the street ain't fun. He thinks quite highly of you and your advice. He actually has made a number of improvements over the last few years. I'm not a patient person but for me I use a low key approach with him. Works best for me.
Lightning, the problem is that if you try to save the sinking anchor that is Tony, you risk being pulled under yourself. No, you won't go broke helping him, but you will spend a lot of time and energy (and potentially money) trying to fix something that just doesn't want to be fixed.
You are a good guy, L. Just remember that being compassionate is good, but trying to help someone who does not want to be helped (and has no direct connection to you) is not helping anyone.
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