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Volunteers help grow the game

Posted By: Michael Petch
Date: Friday, 1 July 2011, at 10:27 p.m.

In Response To: Volunteers help grow the game (Tom Keith)

Seeing as these examples come from someone promoting backgammon to younger children, it is what would concern me. This person is not alone. When people tried to convince me Hank was a cheater in the Mid 2000's there was a person (Not Phil) that suggested I give up Backgammon because it is pointless to play if it wasn't for money. They went on to say if money wasn't involved in backgammon they wouldn't bother playing. Interestingly enough this person is also a strong force in the USBGF as well.

Not the USBGF's fault but there are many individuals that I would be concerned are looking to increase the future pool of fish for money play (or potential sales) and may not have so altruistic motives. It is because I know what backgammon is about, and I know the types of people behind the scenes that I would be concerned as a parent.

This doesn't hold true at all for someone like Art Benjamin. If Art came up with a curriculum or supplemental material for Math (or other Discipline) teachers to introduce backgammon to their children - I am absolutely all for it as long as it is done to supplement the curriculum and keep kids engaged. I single out Art because I know over the years that his motives are not about Gambling, but teaching. If Art were the chair of the USBGF teaching committee, I might believe the motivations were more sincere.

Having volunteers engage parents and teacher's about Backgammon - I have no issue with. That leaves the teaching in the hands of those I pay to do it, and I don't have to be usually be concerned about possible hidden agendas of the Gamblers in the crowd.

Messages In This Thread

• Volunteers help grow the game
  Phil Simborg -- Friday, 1 July 2011, at 1:24 a.m.
  • Volunteers help grow the game
    Michael Petch -- Friday, 1 July 2011, at 3:23 a.m.
    • Volunteers help grow the game
      rory -- Friday, 1 July 2011, at 3:39 a.m.
      • Volunteers help grow the game
        rory -- Friday, 1 July 2011, at 3:41 a.m.
        • Volunteers help grow the game
          Michael Petch -- Friday, 1 July 2011, at 3:55 a.m.
          • Volunteers help grow the game
            Rich Munitz -- Sunday, 3 July 2011, at 2:59 p.m.
        • Volunteers help grow the game
          Michael Petch -- Friday, 1 July 2011, at 4:32 a.m.
          • Volunteers help grow the game
            Bob Koca -- Friday, 1 July 2011, at 4:49 a.m.
            • Volunteers help grow the game
              Michael Petch -- Friday, 1 July 2011, at 5:29 a.m.
          • Volunteers help grow the game
            Tom Keith -- Friday, 1 July 2011, at 1:20 p.m.
            • Volunteers help grow the game
              Michael Petch -- Friday, 1 July 2011, at 10:27 p.m.
              • Volunteers help grow the game
                Joe Russell -- Saturday, 2 July 2011, at 1:52 a.m.
      • Volunteers help grow the game
        Chiva Tafazzoli -- Friday, 1 July 2011, at 8:38 a.m.
        • Volunteers help grow the game
          Stick -- Friday, 1 July 2011, at 8:45 a.m.
          • Volunteers help grow the game
            Michael Petch -- Friday, 1 July 2011, at 8:50 a.m.
          • Volunteers help grow the game
            Chiva Tafazzoli -- Friday, 1 July 2011, at 6:42 p.m.
  • Volunteers help grow the game
    Vincent Foley -- Friday, 1 July 2011, at 1:55 p.m.
  • Volunteers help grow the game
    Michael Petch -- Saturday, 2 July 2011, at 4:52 a.m.
    • Volunteers help grow the game
      Steve Mellen -- Saturday, 2 July 2011, at 6:45 a.m.
      • Responded to Privately *NM*
        Michael Petch -- Saturday, 2 July 2011, at 8:26 a.m.
    • Volunteers help grow the game
      Bob Koca -- Saturday, 2 July 2011, at 3:52 p.m.
  • Volunteers help grow the game
    rew -- Saturday, 2 July 2011, at 7:18 p.m.
  • "maybe some gambling"
    mtuhtan -- Monday, 4 July 2011, at 6:42 a.m.