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Finally someone is addressing the issue

Posted By: Chuck Bower
Date: Wednesday, 20 May 2015, at 12:17 a.m.

In Response To: The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective (Perry Gartner)

It is clear to me that the association of 'gambling' and 'backgammon' breeds negative feelings in some. But is the problem with backgammon or is it with the antiquated puritan view of 'gambling'?

Only a hypocrite or a dolt who has ever looked at the US stock market (or any stock market for that matter), commodities markets, insurance companies, real estate markets, investment banks, commercial banks,... would conclude that wagering when skill is involved in games such as backgammon, poker, bridge, horse racing, popular sports,... is 'evil' but "investing" in these other markets is acceptable, even commendable. Yet that seems to be what an unbelievable fraction of the US population feels.

Why are we in the backgammon community pandering to this attitude?

Backgammon is a game of skill and as such can be enjoyable and challenging in and of itself, without wagering. But it also lends itself to putting one's money where one's confidence lies.

Why do these two apparently inherent properties have to be at odds? Why do those who prefer one to the other have to be at odds? And why do those of us who see the value of both have to be tortured by the thoughts, writings, and actions of those who feel that polarization is the right approach?

There was a thread a while back whose subject line was the challenge "What backgammon needs is...". The flipside of that is "what backgammon doesn't need is..." and my finish to that sentence is "...people who sincerely want the game to grow and flourish taking petty sides against their perceived adversaries who also want the game to prosper but just have a different view of how to proceed."

There is room for both philosophies/approaches/directions. If we are to succeed, there is no room for egotistical infighting.

Messages In This Thread

• The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective
  Bill Riles -- Tuesday, 19 May 2015, at 12:21 a.m.
  • The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective
    Trunky -- Tuesday, 19 May 2015, at 11:26 a.m.
    • The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective
      Fatboy -- Wednesday, 20 May 2015, at 7:37 p.m.
      • The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective
        Stick -- Wednesday, 20 May 2015, at 10:58 p.m.
  • The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective
    rew -- Tuesday, 19 May 2015, at 11:49 a.m.
    • The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective
      Bill Patterson -- Tuesday, 19 May 2015, at 2:07 p.m.
      • The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective
        Phil simborg -- Tuesday, 19 May 2015, at 8:13 p.m.
      • The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective
        Adam Torkelson -- Tuesday, 19 May 2015, at 9:33 p.m.
  • The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective
    Casper Van der Tak -- Tuesday, 19 May 2015, at 2:35 p.m.
  • The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective
    Perry Gartner -- Tuesday, 19 May 2015, at 11:11 p.m.
    • Finally someone is addressing the issue
      Chuck Bower -- Wednesday, 20 May 2015, at 12:17 a.m.
      • Finally someone is addressing the issue
        Robert Wachtel -- Wednesday, 20 May 2015, at 3:15 p.m.
      • Finally someone is addressing the issue
        Fatboy -- Wednesday, 20 May 2015, at 7:22 p.m.
      • Finally someone is addressing the issue
        Casper Van der Tak -- Wednesday, 20 May 2015, at 10:02 p.m.
    • The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective
      rew -- Wednesday, 20 May 2015, at 5:31 a.m.
      • The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective
        Stick -- Wednesday, 20 May 2015, at 5:59 a.m.
        • The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective
          Fatboy -- Wednesday, 20 May 2015, at 7:23 p.m.
      • The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective
        Fatboy -- Wednesday, 20 May 2015, at 7:15 p.m.
  • The Resurgence of Backgammon -- Another Perspective
    Frank Berger -- Sunday, 24 May 2015, at 9:23 a.m.