A curious auction

[jillybean]

ring ring

Turn that phone off please.

phone continues to ring, player searches for phone

 

Turn that phone off!

(hi, I can I call you back, I'm playing bridge right now)

 

15 minutes later

ring ring

If you don't turn that phone off and put it away, I will!

 

next session

 

ring ring

Turn that phone off!

 

Some of the most amusing moments at tournaments have been hearing the ring tones players have on their phones.

[pescetom]

It may surprise some here, but in general I agree with barmar and Mycroft and sanst: it's just a game. Also, if people don't call the director IAW Law 9B1, ie, they handle irregularities themselves, well, the director can't do much about things he doesn't know about, can he?

 

I do believe that organized tournaments and sanctioned club games should be played more strictly, but again if the players don't call, the director can't help. For that reason when the opportunity arises I try to teach them that they should call, that calling is not in itself an accusation of cheating, and that the director's main purpose is to help the game run smoothly, not to smack errant players on the knuckles.

 

I know I've consistently advocated more attention to procedural penalties than is usual, but that's because I strongly believe that constant warnings are worse than useless --- they result in contempt for the rules. That's how cheating gets its nose in the tent.

 

BTW, the Introduction to the Laws, and the Definitions, are part of the laws. So maybe the "purpose" paragraph doesn't have the force of law (whatever that means) but it's certainly part of the laws.

 

I agree with most of that, in particular calling the Director and also accepting the opponents' Director call with serenity.

For the rest, like mycroft I have been uncharacteristically silent, in part because I agree in principle with pilowsky rather than sanst and like to think I have partially resolved those issues in my own club (previously a real wild west), but I recognise how difficult (and variable by geography, organization and level of play) they are.

My experience is that new players can understand the laws (including thorny ones like 9 and 16) if they are taught to do so and that they will actively embrace them if duly supported by Directors. That's really no surprise, as like mycroft says the majority of pros are on the same wavelength despite the electricity bill, which must mean it is the only way for the game to make sense. Sure, it's just a game. But like all others, more fun and more dignified when played by rules, a bit of a waste of time otherwise.

[axman]

There's a difference between bridge and real life.

 

...

I know it may be heresy to say it, but bridge is just a ....

 

Bridge Player’s Creed

 

Bridge is a game and I will remember that its place in my life is that of a game. I will respect those who play and endeavor to be worthy of their respect. I will remember that which makes bridge so interesting is its limitation on the most human of all activities- communication. And in doing so I will always contribute my best and seek to conduct myself in a fair manner.

[sanst]

Just published on the internet: 70% of the Dutch club players find calling the director by one of the opponents unpleasant. Why they find it so:

• it’s an accusation of cheating (27%),
  
• it’s very aggressive (27%),
  
• unpleasant if done in an aggressive way, SB style (20%),
  
• it destroys the pleasant mood (20%),
  
• it’s done to get a better score.
  

Revealing but very disturbing results.

[pescetom]

Just published on the internet: 70% of the Dutch club players find calling the director by one of the opponents unpleasant. Why they find it so:

• it’s an accusation of cheating (27%),
  
• it’s very aggressive (27%),
  
• unpleasant if done in an aggressive way, SB style (20%),
  
• it destroys the pleasant mood (20%),
  
• it’s done to get a better score.
  

Revealing but very disturbing results.

It looks like there was no "other", otherwise I would expect more rational things like "concern that we may have done something wrong".

But the disturbing aspect is that 70% find a Director call unpleasant in the first place.

[jillybean]

Disturbing perhaps but hardly revealing or surprising.

[barmar]

Just published on the internet: 70% of the Dutch club players find calling the director by one of the opponents unpleasant.

87% of statistics are totally made up. Twice as many if they're published on the Internet.

[pilowsky]

87% of statistics are totally made up. Twice as many if they're published on the Internet.

 

That comes to 174% - proving your point.

[mycroft]

The only one I've ever given credence to is the survey of bridge players that determined that 90% of them were better than their partners.

[sanst]

87% of statistics are totally made up. Twice as many if they're published on the Internet.

It was nothing commercial, but a survey under club players. The numbers are indicative, but credible given the background. It was done by Rob Stravers and his coworkers, who run a very well read website and publications - free of charge - on bridge.