Dealing with expectation and critics

I have long been a fan of pub poker and how it promotes the game to new players. I also like how each league and each pub forms its own communities, yet in my opinion this can only work effectively if each player is willing to contribute to the game.

I write this out of frustration that I don't feel that people's roles are being taken seriously. Earlier tonight at my pub game I described my role as dealer and co-Tournament Director as thankless following a heated argument with a couple of fellow players over a ruling that threatened to get out of hand had I let it. Although some of those in the game disagreed, I feel that some in our league are taking my greater experience and expertise for granted and taking me to task over any errors or minor disagreements in the rules. I feel that I have set myself up for an unfair fall.

Why do I think it is thankless? Basically, any mistakes I may make as dealer or Tournament Director seem to be pounced upon and brought up time and again. One player told me he could remember 'five mistakes and misdeals in one week'. I must deal 100 hands a night, it's not like I mess up on purpose. Everybody makes mistakes, but I don't see anyone else in the room volunteering to deal, in fact it is assumed that I will do it. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind doing it; I just mind when the deck is handed to me without thought. Dealing is not a difficult skill, but is not easy to deal a whole three-hour game without mistakes, or stopping to think where you are at in a hand, and I wish people would stop to think themselves that without those willing to put themselves up to do the job, the tournaments would not run.

As it happens, the added responsibility and pressure has detracted from my own poker play and enjoyment of the whole experience to an extent where it has made me think long and hard about whether it is worth it. When so-called friends and fellow players don't appreciate your effort, maybe it is time to consider whether it is worthwhile.