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BGonline.org Forums
Legal plays?? - Re:Kibitzers
Posted By: Chuck Bower In Response To: Legal plays?? - Re:Kibitzers (Timothy Chow)
Date: Tuesday, 22 February 2011, at 10:41 p.m.
Basically I'm in agreement with Timothy's reasons, but not Mary's.
Since Rob has broken the ice about beating horses (hope PETA isn't monitoring), I'll repeat something I've said many times before: rules written specifically to address cheating, (particularly when throwing the accidental rule breaker under the bus) have no place in BG. Someone hell-bent on cheating will ALWAYS find a way around the rules. Such rules make the honest person's life more difficult but with little accomplished.
Kibitzers don't have the best view. They don't have the best motivation. And many if not most won't know the rules no matter how well and detailed they are spelled out. Interfering will do more harm than good. A tournament official (whether called to the table or simply watching or passing by) is a different story. He DOES have skin in the game -- his reputation. He DOES know the rules. A director should speak up if he sees an illegal move.
And if want a mathematical handwaving, try this: suppose everyone has as good a view (kibs and players) and everyone has an x% chance of mis-reading the situation. There are ten spectators. Who is more likely to muck things up? And that's giving the kibs way more credit than they deserve.
The idea of punishing kibitzers after one or multiple offenses reminds me of the (good) old days when matches were clocked only after the entire bracket was impacted by the slow play.
Rob, you can't beat a dead horse if you've already let him through the open gate.
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