TimG

Goods and services would both be taxed, correct? What's to prevent unreported cash sales of items? Same for services.

No, I don't think so. If an opponent has a problem with an action of mine at the table, I would not mind at all if they spoke to the director afterward. In some cases the director will tell my opponent that they are wrong and and the matter will be resolved without me ever put in a position of needing to defend myself or explain my action. If the director thinks my opponent has a valid concern and then speaks to me about the matter, perhaps getting my side of the story, that's fine, too. I've had players speak to the director about something I've done at the table more than once. The director usually comes over to me and asks if I've psyched, I say I have, and the director makes some (let's assume) appropriate statement. That's much better than the opponents calling the director to the table. I've had the District recorder notify me that a recorder memo has been filed as the result of a psyche I made. In this particular case, the director was not notified. I had no problem with that.

Why would we assume otherwise.

How old was she when she had all these pre-relationship boyfriends? If they've been in separate states and haven't talked for the last 3 1/2 years, how does he know she hasn't had a boyfriend since? Maybe they have mutual friends (you?) who might have kept in touch with both, but that still doesn't mean news of a new boyfriend would get back to the hurt ex-boyfriend (or anyone else in the hometown high school crowd). [i can't believe I'm responding to this thread...]

There is no requirement that online bridge has to be played with self-alerts. But, I would also note that when bridge is played behind screens, there is some self-alerting going on.

The person has an opportunity to respond to the complaint (recorder form) if the Recorder deems it worthy of keeping on file. A form being filled out and submitted in no way means that any guilt has been assigned. A private conversation with the director may also result in the director telling me that there is no need for action, or the director might tell me that I am wrong. Whether a form is filed or not, whether the director speaks privately to the other party, or if I am told I am wrong, there has been no incident at the table which is nice for a couple of reason: the game is more cordial and the game is not slowed down.

What does the level of the event have to do with anything? I'm quite willing to overlook many things in a local event when the players involved aren't serious players. When non-serious players enter a real event, I think they should expect to be required to play by the serious event rules. And, if they don't, they should be educated...but not by me. By the director or recorder. I tell the director quietly after the round is over so that any education is done in a professional, friendly, and non-confrontational manner. If the director/recorder recognizes the player as a non-serious player, just out for the thrill of playing with the big guys, and decides not to do anything about it, that's their decision. Yes, of course, it would be nice if the same standards were used in all games. But, as you point out, shrugging it off is often the best course of action.

My post-round quiet talk with the director would include a request for a recorder form. Given the level of the event, the players involved should know better, but it is not for me to attempt to explain it to them. In a lesser event, against an unknown opponent, I would likely call the director at the time of the lead (though probably not in the case where they've lead a jack into my AKQTx suit -- I may not want to expose the situation too early in case she's led from Jx and will later continue the suit).

I suspect that you mean "hold your peace". Holding your "piece" at the bridge table might lead to disciplinary action. Then again, maybe that's what you're looking for.

Richard counts at the bridge table about as well as he counts in his lists! I agree with Frances, I would be reluctant to play on BBO, and I have plenty of experience playing online. Especially if I had to trade in my desktop for a laptop. Now, if you'd let me play from the comfort of my den, with music, food and attire of my choice, and my 21" monitor, I might sacrifice the real cards and in person experience.

It has been this way for many years, but depends upon the number of entries -- sometimes the event is completed over the two-day weekend. I've played in three finals (two flight B and one flight A) and each event was a one weekend event. New England is much smaller than some Districts making it more convenient than if you had teams from, say, Denver and Boise. The matches are often played at clubs or in someone's home (with a director available by phone). In the past, there has been a default time (usually a centrally located sectional) which the match must be played at if the teams cannot come to agreement on a time.

Where is this 30 question test?

Some psyches are allowed, some psyches are not. No matter how carefully he parsed it in this post, he was threatening to psyche repeatedly just to piss the opponents off, and I feel confident that's how they heard it. A threat to psyche is often far more effective than an actual psyche. And, if an opponents knows I have psyched from time to time and suggested to me that this means I am a cheat, I am more likely than ever to engage in a little gamesmanship.

I admit that my answer to a number of these questions would depend upon the opponents.

If a fine and highly ethical player thought it likely they were cheating, why was he playing on their team?

If this were true, then there would be no flying of national flags, singing of national anthems and the like. These things highlight our differences and in some cases can be detrimental to the "world coming together".

Well, I guess they've all been told. Some anonymous poster to the internet holds them in contempt.

If you are wondering this, perhaps you have missed one of the messages behind the sign. I wonder if there has ever been a president of which some Americans were not ashamed.

How about two water coolers: one moderated and one anything goes? I wonder which would be more frequented.

I still fail to see how it is a "psychic control" if its purpose is to allow responder to successfully field systemic bids.

Can you define "psychic control" for us? A psychic control is a systemic bid designed specifically to find out if pard has the values documented for their bid or has considerably less, thereby allowing the partnership a safety net they would not otherwise have. So if an opening bid promises 12+ Playing Points or 11-15 HCP or 9-14 HCP or whatever, and you play a method specifically designed to identify when partner has broken system and made a bid with considerably less than systemically agreed upon values, you are playing a psychic (as in psyche) control. If you have a systemic agreement to open with fewer than 12 or fewer than 9 or whatever, and you play a method that is designed to identify when partner has fewer that 12 or fewer than 9 or whatever, you are not playing a psychic control. You are simply playing a range finding convention in accordance with your systemic agreements. Drury is used (by some), not because of a tendency to psyche in 3rd seat, but rather because a partnership agree to open light in 3rd seat. The partnership agrees; there is an agreement. As such there is no psyche to control. I think "psychic control" is something of an oxymoron. The very presence of a "control" is evidence that the bid in question is not a psyche, but rather a part of the systemic agreements. The reason I asked you to define "psychic control" is that many people use it to describe treatments, such as Drury, that really don't have anything to do with a psyche. Very much like the old KS "controlled psyche" really wasn't a psyche, but rather a part of the systemic agreement. There are either/or type methods which are permitted in most events. A simple example is a Polish Club type 1C opening that could be either a weak NT, or any strong hand or any hand with 10+ points and clubs. Those who use this method will have available ways to sort things out. I suspect that if the 1C opening systemically included balanced hand of 7-9 HCP, and the same mechanisms were available to sort things out, may people would now call these methods a psychic control. In my opinion, incorrectly.

But, is it clear that the sign amounted to a "political demonstration"? If flag waving and anthem singing at the award ceremony does not amount to a political demonstration, I don't believe the sign does either.

Wasn't there flag waving and anthem singing done by any number of participants? How are these not "political statements"?

Can you define "psychic control" for us?

One wonders what these unspecified "extremely aggressive" actions are. One would also wonder about an "offensive by extremely defensive actions". Is that even possible?