jmvr

I would like to add my remarks to this subject. It is my belief that kibitzers greatly contribute to the BBO site. There are MANY elderly people, ill people (just returning from surgery - or too ill to play), beginners, students, weaker players and the rest of us, who enjoy watching those people whom we know. I have been told that if I wanted to watch live bridge I could go to Vu-graph. Honestly, I am not interested in watching Vu-graph unless the US is playing or people I know. I have little interest in Iceland, Turkey, Poland, etc. competitions. Nothing against these people, please understand, but I am much more interested in observing friends, potential partners, and our experts that I believe I may learn from. I have made many, many friend on BBO - which I contribute to having been able to observe them, or having them observe me. Banning kibitzers has greatly impeded social interaction between bridge players, one of the reasons I believed this site was initiated. I personally would rather NOT gain master points then NOT be able to kibitz. I have been told that the reasoning was to stop people from cheating - I don’t think this stops anyone - I have no idea who wants to cheat - but I do know that stopping kibitzers does not eliminate telephone calls, MSN, Skype, two computers, couples in the same household playing at the same time, etc. Anyone who WANTS to cheat, will find a way. If winning is THAT important and having won, knowing you have not played fairly - then so be it - but why spoil the entire bridge adventure for the rest of us. I hope that BBO may find a better solution than banning kibitzers. When Fred plays anywhere on BBO there are thousands of US kibitzers, why is this? It is because we know him and enjoy watching him. Yesterday there were 789 people watching the Icelandic competitions, I counted the Americans who were watching, there were 7, seven out of 789 - something is wrong with that percentile. BBO please find a better solution. For those of you who agree with me, and those who do not, please add your comments. Thank you. Joanmarie von Richthofen