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BGonline.org Forums
May I call a timeout here?
Posted By: Chuck Bower In Response To: recording of college matches (Bill Patterson)
Date: Monday, 2 May 2011, at 4:48 p.m.
I'm putting this post at the top of this thread so it will more likely be seen by those who still care about this issue. I could just have easily inserted it several other places.
It is clear to me that under the guise of the "should college players on their special SHG room be watched or have their matches recorded?" issue there are also some personal feuds (with multiple guilty parties) entering into this discussion. Does anyone REALLY feel that is appropriate here? Come on.
I think there is a simple compromise regarding this issue. From what I've read (both publicly and privately) the desire to RECORD matches has fallen by the wayside. What is left is a wish to kibitz. Although I'm not much of an online player, I'm pretty sure that kibitzing is fairly common and accepted, in general. It is certainly common and accepted in face-to-face competitions. But if there is concern that players might feel uncomfortable or self conscious being watched, there is an easy way to allay this concern that doesn't involve banning or changing the options of the site/room: simply ask permission to kibitz. An introduction wouldn't hurt, either. I doubt this is standard online etiquette (assuming these two words aren't contradictory) but if it's possible that you're kibitzing players who aren't accustomed to the practice and might feel uncomfortable, doesn't this seem like the responsible action?
A few months ago I had the chance to kibitz a match between two (very) youthful, rising stars of backgammon: Stephen Collins (grandson of Karen Davis) and Lyle Rubin (son of Jolie and David Rubin). I wasn't the only one watching. Both were engrossed in what was happening over the board -- I don't think either one noticed the kibitzers; I never saw either one look up at us. No one was recording. If I had seen a particularly insightful play I might have jotted it down with the purpose of praising one or both, but that didn't happen. I was just curious to see these two play, partly wondering about their skill levels but just as importantly to view their enthusiasm, mannerisms, and sportsmanship. You might call their match a 'novelty', which unfortunately probably says more about the current state of backgammon than anything about them in particular. It certainly didn't appear to me that any of us kibitzers caused any harm.
So I understand why someone might want to watch two non-expert players, when done with proper concern and respect.
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