cell phone policy

[hanp]

Maybe pitchers can have a time out and take a call on the mound.

Tiger could call his wife while lining up his putt.

How did we ever manage pre cell phones!

If you need a phone 24/7 go play millionaire and call a friend.

 

Sensible decision by the ACBL. End of story.

Very fair analogy. Obviously what everyone is suggesting is stopping play in the middle of the hand to take some calls.

 

We used to manage without prenatal care and electricity too. Want to play bridge with the lights out, assuming you survive being born?

 

Your story's ending sucks.

Cleary, prenatal care has not been a total success

we've been through this before. It's one thing to be completely focused during a session, it is quite another to not have access to your phone during the short lunch break to get in touch with friends, or to check in on an ill relative etc. I guess, though, that some people don't have lives outside of bridge. I feel sorry for them.

What's the last time you played in an open national event?

[matmat]

we've been through this before. It's one thing to be completely focused during a session, it is quite another to not have access to your phone during the short lunch break to get in touch with friends, or to check in on an ill relative etc. I guess, though, that some people don't have lives outside of bridge. I feel sorry for them.

What's the last time you played in an open national event?

i have a cell phone, i can't go.

[hanp]

:P

[Vilgan]

I was semi against the cell phone ban before, but after Houston I friggin hate it.

 

2 bad experiences:

 

1) I decided to be a "good boy" and check my cell phone for the Vanderbilt. Paid my 2 bucks, okay whatever. We used pretty much the whole time as it wasn't a cakewalk match, but we won so we got the evening off. I came out, eager to retrieve my cellphone, call the girlfriend, call friends to arrange dinner plans and the lady who was in charge of the cellphones was gone as was the box of phones. I had to come back at the start of the evening session to retrieve my phone. This was pretty aggravating.

 

2) Day 2 of the imp pairs, I talked to my partner as I arrived at the playing area about 40 minutes before game time. He said he was 15 minutes away and would see me at the playing area around 20 minutes before it starts. I left my phone in my car and headed into the hotel. 5 minutes till game time.. no sign. Game time starts... he is not here. 5 minutes into the round.. he has not arrived. Now, had I had my cellphone... I could have hopped out into the hall to find out where he was or what the problem was. It was 5 minutes into the round and I had no clue if he'd be another 1-2 minutes, 20 minutes, was in a wreck, whatever. That sick nervous/not being able to do anything but wait and hope feeling sucked. He ended up showing up 7 minutes into the round and we finished on time, but going back in time 15 years to the experience of not being able to call was really unpleasant.

 

So ya... the ban sucks. In the 2nd position.. had I ignored the ban and left the phone in my pocket I can't really tell my opponents brb, calling partner on my cell to see where he is.

[Mbodell]

In the North American pairs they enforced the cell phone ban but the directors took people's phones and bags for free at the front of the room behind the directors computer where they were entering scores. That seemed to work pretty well, and I think the free of charge bit helped people not feel too disgruntled.

[matmat]

1) I decided to be a "good boy" and check my cell phone for the Vanderbilt. Paid my 2 bucks, okay whatever. We used pretty much the whole time as it wasn't a cakewalk match, but we won so we got the evening off. I came out, eager to retrieve my cellphone, call the girlfriend, call friends to arrange dinner plans and the lady who was in charge of the cellphones was gone as was the box of phones. I had to come back at the start of the evening session to retrieve my phone. This was pretty aggravating.

hehe... if it were me i'd be screaming my head off and calling the cops.

[rbforster]

What's the last time you played in an open national event?

I imagine for many people it was 2-3 days ago, what with the Nationals just finishing up.

[JoAnneM]

When this phone ban thing first came up I assumed the $2 charge was because hotel security was going to run the booth, but with the host unit volunteers running the booth I can't see justifying a charge.

 

For one thing, who are these people taking care of the phones, and can I even trust them. For another thing, ACBL provides entertainment and hospitality money plus there is extra money raised. Setting up a booth and making a sign costs very little. Giving out some scrip or however volunteers are being rewarded also takes little away from the other committees. Seems like the $2 charge creates more illwill than the money earned.

 

And the phones not being available IMMEDIATELY after a session was outrageous.

[jillybean]

No one should be surprised at these problems. This is a ‘fix’ put in place after consistently failing to enforce the “turn your cell phone off when playing” rule and it obviously creates additional overheads, opportunities for error, frustration and cost.

 

Imo, the problem is not restricted to the use of cell phones but a trend towards ignoring the rules in general. It seems that we want to keep people happy and not scare anyone away by insisting they follow the rules and where necessary, penalizing them when they don’t. I’d think this would mean a few people are happy after avoiding a word with the TD or penalty while the majority who do try to follow the rules (and turn our cell phones off) are left frustrated and angry.

[H_KARLUK]

Say someone hired by th state. Carrying a pager. Do organizators really care public safety or they ignore and only want absolute silence during event?

[hanp]

What's the last time you played in an open national event?

I imagine for many people it was 2-3 days ago, what with the Nationals just finishing up.

Would you please not take my sentence out of context. Also, matmat's answer was much cleverer.

[barmar]

Say someone hired by th state. Carrying a pager. Do organizators really care public safety or they ignore and only want absolute silence during event?

Even before the cell phone ban, players were required to turn off their cell phones during the game (this is also true at smaller tournaments). So your question is not relevant.

 

If you want to play in a bridge tournament, you should swap on-call duties with a coworker, so they can take the page while you play. If you're indispensible, and have to be on-call 24x7, you're screwed and can't enter bridge tournaments. Public safety trumps leisure activities.

[matmat]

If you're indispensible, and have to be on-call 24x7, you're screwed and can't enter bridge tournaments. Public safety trumps leisure activities.

I think that's utter BS

 

Even if this obnoxious cell phone/electronics ban sticks around there has to be a provision for emergency workers, doctors, etc. If you happen to be the best brain surgeon in whatever city the nationals are at why should you be denied the pleasure of playing in the tournament?

[H_KARLUK]

Even before the cell phone ban, players were required to turn off their cell phones during the game (this is also true at smaller tournaments).  So your question is not relevant.

 

Most talented surgeons are able to operate during th case while listening music. Sorry, i cannot recognize Bridge game could be more serious and harder to fix than humanbeing anatomy. It is a race versus time element. One must hit correct keys at the precise moment while problem aroused.

 

Electronic devices ban might aim to serve fairplay. Really very good, I support wholeheartedly. If I remember correct a situation occurred in Europe some years ago and 2 famous european champion title owner players with their organisators caught while exchanging special cards only seen by some xray lenses. Surely that crew banned by both EBU and their official national authorities.

 

I hope th officials would think again about public safety. There are many emergency staff in this world and life is full of with surprises.

 

A communication center could establish like child care, accommodation, catering. I don't think " I am in a running important (!) hot tournament" stupid excuse is valid when emergency duty call received. I am against such players would be penalised.

[mike777]

If you're indispensible, and have to be on-call 24x7, you're screwed and can't enter bridge tournaments.  Public safety trumps leisure activities.

I think that's utter BS

 

Even if this obnoxious cell phone/electronics ban sticks around there has to be a provision for emergency workers, doctors, etc. If you happen to be the best brain surgeon in whatever city the nationals are at why should you be denied the pleasure of playing in the tournament?

I agree

 

Why should super rich docs be allowed to play with cellphone and not others.

 

Many many poor people do not play due to work issues..why let super rich.

 

Many many poor people do not get to play...if you are super rich 24 hour online cellphone player....too bad...

 

superrich =yougot a job

poor=you may not have job.

[peachy]

If you're indispensible, and have to be on-call 24x7, you're screwed and can't enter bridge tournaments.  Public safety trumps leisure activities.

I think that's utter BS

 

Even if this obnoxious cell phone/electronics ban sticks around there has to be a provision for emergency workers, doctors, etc. If you happen to be the best brain surgeon in whatever city the nationals are at why should you be denied the pleasure of playing in the tournament?

I agree with barmar. Nobody is on call 24/7. The doctor can arrange to be not on-call for the time he/she expects to be at a bridge tournament if bridge is a priority for that person. Nobody is that indispensable that they cannot have a few three-hour segments of time free, without being on call. Exceptions can surely be granted at TD's discretion, if an UNEXPECTED on-call situation occurs.

[H_KARLUK]

<snip>

Nobody is on call 24/7. 

<snip>

Nobody is that indispensable <snip>  Exceptions can surely be granted at TD's discretion, if an UNEXPECTED on-call situation occurs.

Huh :blink: Nobody ? Oh I see, maybe "court order" or a letter signed by th governor office needed to prove that person granted to carry pager and is an indispensable one. Omg.

 

Sorry, i am unsure you know what means "public safety" :o

 

Would you like to hear "we are unable to reach th person you needed immediately. Most probably th electronic communication blocked in a bridge tournament" ?

 

Please !

[TimG]

Sorry, i am unsure you know what means "public safety" :)

Well, please explain what you mean by it.

 

I'm with those who think that the case of an individual who must carry a turned on pager or cell phone while playing bridge are very rare. I can't think of one off the top of my head.

[hrothgar]

Sorry, i am unsure you know what means "public safety"  :)

Well, please explain what you mean by it.

 

I'm with those who think that the case of an individual who must carry a turned on pager or cell phone while playing bridge are very rare. I can't think of one off the top of my head.

I know plenty of IT professionals whose contracts require that they are "on call" on nights and weekend.

 

The same goes for lots of folks in top tier technical support positions. This requirement is written directly into their job descriptions.

 

Many medical professionals are in the same boat.

 

I'm not sure how things work for folks in the military. Blackshoe is probably in a better position to comment.

[helene_t]

Exceptions can surely be granted at TD's discretion, if an UNEXPECTED on-call situation occurs.

They could give the phone number of the venue to those who might need to reach them.

 

A phone on vibrate mode, or at least a phone with the battery and/or SIM-card taken out and carried in a different pocket, should be allowed IMHO, especially if the event is not being vugraphed on BBO so that nobody outside the room can text the players with hand information. Of course someone could go to the toilet, assemble their phone and send a text to someone else who then go to the toilet, assemble their phone and read the text. But there are hundreds of such plots that can't be prevented anyway.

[H_KARLUK]

Sorry, i am unsure you know what means "public safety"  :)

Well, please explain what you mean by it.

 

I'm with those who think that the case of an individual who must carry a turned on pager or cell phone while playing bridge are very rare. I can't think of one off the top of my head.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Safety

[mtvesuvius]

I know that for people who are emergency workers, on call, or their mother is deathly ill etc... They can give their cell phone to the director and the director will keep it with him/her for the duration of the session, and letting the player know if it rings, this way the player has no cell phone, unless they are being called for an emergency. The director must also know that it is a true emergency, not that your brother wants to know where to go to dinner tonight. I know this because I have played with a few people who needed to be able to be reached in an emergency.

[TimG]

Sorry, i am unsure you know what means "public safety"   :)

Well, please explain what you mean by it.

 

I'm with those who think that the case of an individual who must carry a turned on pager or cell phone while playing bridge are very rare. I can't think of one off the top of my head.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Safety

From your link:

 

Frontline protection is typically provided by core emergency service organizations such as:

 

    * Police

    * Fire

    * Emergency medical services (EMS)

    * Security Agency

 

Additional organizations and job titles involved in public safety may include:

 

    * Animal control officers

    * Code enforcement officers

    * Consumer protection

    * Emergency telephone number system

    * Health inspectors

    * Parking enforcement officers

    * Police dispatchers

    * Prosecutors

    * Security officers

    * Utility inspectors

Are you seriously suggesting that the dog catcher should be on call while playing bridge? Or even a fireman? Maybe the ambulance is parked outside the playing site and the driver must leave whenever there is a call?

 

So, I once again ask you to explain what you mean by public safety. Because if this is it, you've got no case.

[ASkolnick]

I still say the "ban" is silly and the real purpose is to not getting cell phones ringing during tournament time. If it rings, you should be penalized, but it needs to be enforced througout.

 

As for communication, any reason someone couldn't write on a bathroom wall in some area and then erase it? I mean to think that this will reduce people who choose to cheat is nonsense.

 

And if you need to be called, put it on vibrate.

[blackshoe]

I'm not sure how things work for folks in the military. Blackshoe is probably in a better position to comment.

I would not expect that anyone who is in the military, is on duty, and is not required to be at his place of duty, would be at a bridge tournament. He'd be at home, or running short errands nearby. I would not expect anyone who is not on duty, but is required to be available for immediate recall, to be at a bridge tournament either. The first situation is not uncommon; I would expect the second to be rare. Someone who is not on duty and not required to be available for immediate recall will generally have a specific date and time to return to duty, and can do pretty much whatever he likes in the meantime.