Martin Derbyshire · @MartyDerby
29th Nov 2016 from TwitLonger
I Am Sorry
It's about time I apologize. No one is forcing me to. It is sincere. This isn't coming out of any kind of censure from my employers. In fact, a decision has already been made to discontinue using me as a by-lined contract and live blogger on PokerNews. No apology is going to change that.
I've made some mistakes and I want to own up to them, learn from them and try to do better moving forward. I've written some hurtful and inflammatory things about poker players and the professional poker playing community. For that I am truly sorry. It's no excuse, but I let my desire to drive traffic, increase hits and rise to relevance as a columnist cloud my judgement, ability to empathize and understand how others may perceive my words.
I propagated extremist views in an effort to create heated debate and painted many good people in the poker community with a harsh brush to try and maintain a position as a lightning rod inside of it. I was overly critical without merit and insulting. I am truly sorry for all of this as well.
When people attacked me and my work on social media I lashed out at them, played the blame game and tried to defend myself by hiding behind the good name of PokerNews, my colleagues there and other work I've done that was considered more positive for the community. I would like to apologize for this as well.
The truth is I can't even stand behind many of the positions I've taken because they do not represent how I really feel. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the overwhelming majority of the people in poker. I greatly admire the spirit and dedication displayed by most professional players. I know that many players make a great contribution to society and their community, I've written about it countless times, and I applaud anyone who fights for the cause of social justice in whatever community they choose to live, work and play.
I didn't rip people off or physically harm anyone. I didn't write anything sexist, racist, defamatory, slanderous or libelous. But much of my rhetoric was blatantly disrespectful to the poker community and for that I feel the need to ask for forgiveness.
I could go on about how I’m being treated unfairly, that this is an overreaction, that the positive nature of the overwhelming majority of my work in poker is being ignored and that the gang-up mentality employed by many people in this case was as bad as anything I ever wrote. Instead, I will simply say goodbye, and good luck.
Marty Derbyshire