| |
BGonline.org Forums
How I wish I had more time to rant in general - I am not speaking on behalf of the USBGF
Posted By: Rich Munitz In Response To: How I wish I had more time to rant in general (Stick)
Date: Monday, 6 December 2010, at 5:25 p.m.
First of all, for some reason some people seem to have it in their minds that when I post MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION AS A PLAYER on this forum that I am speaking for the USBGF. I want to go on record that if I ever post on this forum, it is my own personal opinion as a player, which I am entitled to. If I ever have something to say on behalf of the USBGF, I will clearly state that. If I don't state that, don't assume it, because you'd be wrong. Many others who post here (like Stick) are directors of the USBGF, and are also entitled to state their own personal opinion as players or tournament directors. This is a public community forum intended for civil open discussion. I don't think anyone should feel constrained from expressing their opinions.
I agree with most of what Stick has said. Slow play is poison for tournaments, and my own personal preference for clock usage has been molded by my own personal experience with the effects of slow play - both having to suffer through such matches, and having to play at 3 AM as a result of it. I was also resistant at first because I was unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and felt rushed. But those feelings quickly vanished after a few matches. I remember going through the same set of issues of resistance with people when the usage of eye guards started to become required in racquetball. Been playing 20 years and like it this way, unfamiliar, uncomfortable, can't see as well, it fogs up, I don't need it - I'm a careful player, you name it. I was one of them too. Now, I can't play without it - I feel naked (and they have saved my eyes on multiple occasions).
I agree with what others have said that newcomers more than anyone will be most likely to never come back if this is what they experience as their first taste of tournament play. But I have also seen this happen countless times at local club tournaments. Slow play causes the newcomer to be stuck waiting until well after midnight and they don't come back again (I've heard people say this is the reason). I've seen it time and again - club directors don't want to change anything and risk upsetting the regulars, yet the conditions cause newcomers to not return. Yes, that bird-in-hand is nice to keep, but eventually the bird-in-hand dies or moves to Florida, and the two-in-the-bush have long since flown away.
Some say "the people pushing for clocks are a small but vocal group trying to impose their way on everyone else". That may have some truth to it, but if you consider who is doing a lot of that talking, it is exactly the group of people that are attending the most tournaments. These are the players in the best position to see the various effects of slow play and to see the big picture. These also tend to be some of the players that find themselves more frequently in later rounds of tournaments where they are more likely to experience the ripple effect of slow play on a tournament schedule first hand.
Let's also keep in mind that it is not just players that are strong proponents of clock usage. There are also an increasing number of tournament directors who are strong believers in mandatory clocks for running tournaments smoothly and on schedule. Chiva and Patrick Gibson come to mind. Patrick ran yet another quality event with mandatory clocks in the Open. He does an amazing job of running a 64 player field double elimination event with progressive consolation in 2 days. He clocks AND monitors. Nobody had any issue with the clocks - including the locals. Nobody complained. Nobody timed out. The event just ran like clockwork.
Anyway, I have very mixed feelings about attending Bill's CSI tournament. On the one hand, just as it is asserted that imposing clocks will drive people away, it is just as true that a failure to employ clocks is starting to drive people away. Neil for one has stated that he is going to be heavily influenced in his choice of tournaments to attend by clock policy. I am also in that camp. I have choices to make and simply cannot attend every tournament. Clock policy will be heavily influencing my decisions on which events to attend. In particular, I understand that moving towards mandatory clock usage at all events will be gradual, but I personally not very inclined to choose an event that has chosen to move in the direction from a more clock friendly policy to a less clock friendly policy - as the CSI is doing. This is my opinion. I am not "boycotting"; I am not encouraging others not to attend. This is how I feel and one of the factors that will guide my decisions. Directors should know that clock friendliness will encourage some people to attend and the reverse will discourage some people from attending. It is important that they know this because surely anyone who won't attend specifically because clocks are being used are making their reasons known. On the other hand, I really appreciate what Bill is trying to do at his event - trying to be innovative and bring an element of class back to this game. I always make the effort to be presentable at backgammon events and think others should too and really want to support Bill on this initiative - because I do believe it is good for backgammon, and while we don't agree on all things, Bill is as good for backgammon as anyone is - and I would like to attend the CSI for this reason. I said in my original post on that topic that I would not make a final decision until seeing the brochure in print and seeing everything it says. There are numerous truths in Bill's editorial rants as well. I remain undecided.
Backgammon is a great social game and we can't lose sight of that. But as I and others have shown consistently, you can play with a clock and a dice tube and have it videotaped, and still have fun banter between the players at the same time. And you can still fully enjoy the social aspects of tournaments between games and matches if you are that type of person. Ratings and the clock and whatever other devices might be used will never make backgammon into chess. It is the personalities that determine that, not the equipment and not the data.
| |
BGonline.org Forums is maintained by Stick with WebBBS 5.12.