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zen in the art of backgammon

Posted By: Phil Simborg
Date: Saturday, 29 August 2009, at 4:10 a.m.

In Response To: zen in the art of backgammon (playBunny)

After expressing my opinion about what I think it takes to be a great player, I found it interesting that several people, including some top players, disagreed. Since what we are expressing here are strictly personal opinions made from personal observations, and not something that can be readily proven by scientific analysis, I think it's pretty obvious that everyone is entitled to their own opinions....it is not a matter of who is right or wrong, as it would be with a given backgammon play or cube decision which can be proven, to a reasonable degree of confidence, with enough rollouts (even then we can't be completely sure).

So if I believe that generally what is needed to be a great player includes a high IQ, excellent math skills, excellent gaming skills, and an excellent memory, I am neither right nor wrong...I am simply expressing an opinion.

When I read a response like the following: "Someone stating that it takes anything which can reasonably be called math skills has no fucking clue about what math is" and other statements in that vein, I can either just get angry with personal attacks of this nature, or simply laugh at the rudeness and stupidity of people who feel the need to attack the opinions of others in this manner.

Stick is provably a world class player, but he doesn't believe he necessarily has incredible math skills or an amazingly high I.Q. Maybe he's right, but I would wager a bet that if tested in both areas by an objective testing body, he would score extremely high in both areas compared to the average person, and even compared to the average backgammon player. I would make the same wager about anyone on the Giant list.

These are my beliefs, and they may be wrong. Others don't believe as I do, and they are entitled to their beliefs, and while I may debate what they say, I will not berate them or disqualify their opinions simply because they don't agree with mine.

This is not the first personal attack I have seen, against me, and others in this forum, where people disagreed with someone's opinion and instead of arguing the opinion, insulted the writer for having that opinion. This approach is not only rude and not conducive to comraderie and good will, but it is also a specious way to argue a point.

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