The problem is that the majority of posters on this board refer to anyone who isn't playing with an advantage, as a ploppy. It doesn't matter if that person is the addicted gambler, who has been there every day for 2 years straight, or the person who wants to have fun at a Casino, 1 night of the year.
The term is tossed around too easily. In stories you read around here, the guy sitting at first base playing perfect strategy, flat betting, and losing 4 cents on his dollar is now a ploppy, not a gambler. He's probably losing less this way then he would going out for dinner and a movie, or going to a club.
I was a poker player online for 2 years making a living and quit for a while. I was playing basic strategy blackjack with discipline for a while and made a killing. Now I'm back to brick and mortar poker, and even though I don't play BJ anymore, every now and then while waiting for a seat I will shoot craps, obviously with no advantage. Am I up from this? Certainly not.
It seems to be generally accepted that there are now only 2 types of people in a Casino, AP's and Ploppies, nothing in between.
A ploppy is someone who has theories, rituals, is superstitious, and probably truly believes they can make money, despite losing time after time after time. To group the general gambler with these people imo is wrong.