What’s the problem?
One of our local clubs here is trying to bring in a Zero Tolerance behaviour policy,and is having, to say the least, a very hard time in doing so. One person is afraid his “enemies” will be reporting him just to get him in trouble, another that players will be reporting others for minuscule or imagined infractions, another that we must have “due process” with every complaint and take it to the supreme court for adjudication, another…….
Why do some people have such an incredibly difficult time with the concept that bridge should be an enjoyable game, and that there should be some recourse when something interferes with your enjoyment of the game? How can they look at their ever-shrinking club memberships, and the ever-growing number of people playing in non-sanctioned games, and the very large number of players in the 0-49 or 0-299 games who absolutely refuse to come out to the open games, and still maintain that it’s important for “business” to continue to cater to the ill-tempered and the large-egoed?
Folks, the game is dieing! The median age of ACBL players is now about 70, and in that group is a large number of people who won’t travel to tournaments and who increasingly don’t want to drive to night games. We need new players, and we’re not getting them because the perception is out there that they will be embarrassed and intimidated if they come out to play. If we can put a man on the moon, why can’t we offer folks an enjoyable game? What’s the problem?
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Seconded!
Oh God – do I ever agree!!
I played duplicate bridge briefly about 1971. I’m not a bad bridge player but I quit very quickly. I have never met a nastier, ruder group of people before or after. I came back about four years ago on the the assurance that the situation was better. It was somewhat better. I got active and we instituted zero tolerance. The club is now actually growing. Take these nasty people who believe that the game involves intimidation, rudeness, sarcasm and “win at all costs” and pitch them out onto the garbage pile. Lets play fun, spirited and competitive bridge!
Keep banging the drum!
Hit them in their pocket. Take masterpoints away!
It is definitely a kinder, friendlier duplicate world these days. The rude intimidators have either died off, left the game, or changed their ways. Our unit has grown in the past few years and we are having a good time at the games.