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A New Argument for Clocks

Posted By: Tom Keith
Date: Monday, 2 April 2012, at 5:18 p.m.

In Response To: A New Argument for Clocks (Daniel Murphy)

I think there is an analogy between clocks in backgammon and speed limits on roads. You could avoid speed limits and just have a law that says "drive at a safe speed." But the problem is that different people have different views of what a safe speed is. Traffic is safest when everyone drives at about the same speed and speed limits help make that happen. Clocks perform a similar service in backgammon.

Maybe the confusion is over the word "ethical." Let's just say that players have two goals. One goal is to play the best you can; the other goal is keep the game fun and the tournament running on time. These goals conflict sometimes, and the use of clocks helps resolve the conflict.

Messages In This Thread

• A New Argument for Clocks
  Phil Simborg -- Thursday, 29 March 2012, at 2:04 a.m.
  • A New Argument for Clocks
    Bob Koca -- Thursday, 29 March 2012, at 3:32 a.m.
    • A New Argument for Clocks
      Phil Simborg -- Thursday, 29 March 2012, at 3:49 a.m.
  • A New Argument for Clocks
    Steve Mellen -- Thursday, 29 March 2012, at 4:33 a.m.
    • A New Argument for Clocks
      Phil Simborg -- Saturday, 31 March 2012, at 2:32 p.m.
      • A New Argument for Clocks
        Daniel Murphy -- Saturday, 31 March 2012, at 3:41 p.m.
        • A New Argument for Clocks
          Phil Simborg -- Monday, 2 April 2012, at 3:31 a.m.
          • A New Argument for Clocks
            Daniel Murphy -- Monday, 2 April 2012, at 4:32 a.m.
            • A New Argument for Clocks
              Tom Keith -- Monday, 2 April 2012, at 5:18 p.m.
  • A New Argument for Clocks
    Casper van der Tak -- Thursday, 29 March 2012, at 7:26 a.m.
  • A New Argument for Clocks
    Patrick De Wilde -- Thursday, 29 March 2012, at 8:54 a.m.
    • +1 *NM*
      Chiva Tafazzoli -- Thursday, 29 March 2012, at 9:28 a.m.
  • Questions for Mr. Simborg
    Paul Weaver -- Thursday, 29 March 2012, at 3:51 p.m.
    • Questions for Mr. Simborg
      David Rockwell -- Friday, 30 March 2012, at 1:13 a.m.
    • Questions for Mr. Simborg
      Phil Simborg -- Saturday, 31 March 2012, at 2:24 p.m.
      • Questions for Mr. Simborg
        higonefive -- Sunday, 1 April 2012, at 7:18 a.m.
  • A New Argument for Clocks
    leemo -- Friday, 30 March 2012, at 2:04 a.m.