[hrothgar]

I'd like to echo the suggestion that the ACBL create some kind of public forum where people can discuss Director's rulings. These types of discussion forums provide one of the best resources imaginable that players and director's can use to educate themselves about the Laws and proprieties that govern the game. There is no substitue for being able to review or even participate in an organized discussion disecting different rulings.

Most of the real bridge organizations have an open review process for Appeals Committee rulings. For example, all of the EBU reviews are available at

http://www.blakjak.d....uk/appeals.htm

Adam Wildavsky maintains a directory of ACBL appeals committee reports from ACBL Nationals at http://www.tameware....am/bridge/laws/

There are similar archives available for WBF events, and the like.

Open commentary about the appeals process is an expected part of this game. I have no illusions that the quality of the discussions that we'd get in an Open Forum would rival what we see in these discussions. In general, the TDs and Appeals Committees for major events are first rate. My main concern is the ability to have open debate about these types of issues.

I've seen a number of comments in the past suggesting that some of the BBO Directors are uncomfortable seeing people pick apart their rulings. I'm sorry, but I don't have very much sympathy for this attitude... Anyone who deliberately puts themselves in a position where they are getting paid to judge others shouldn't be able to claim that they have qualms about letting third parties comment about their actions.

[keylime]

Per my blog, I'm going to give the ACBL games a test drive again. I have heard enough positive indicators from members to give it a fair shot. I'm free at the 9, 10:15 and 2am games currently. Any bites?

[Gweny]

Quote

Maybe it migt be in the intest of ACBL BBO to open up their own forums for members who play in the ACBL BBO games. I dont mean here on these forums but a seperate forum just like Homebase Club has their own forum. And it would be great for the ACBL BBO to publicize the forum if they ever start it. Probably about 50% of the responders to posts about acbl bbo games are by regular forum members who never play in acbl bbo games.

Dear pigpenz you have nailed it!

This particular forum started out as a forum for people WHO DIRECT tournaments in BBO. It did not take long before the harsh and non constructive comments of some chased 99% of the people that could have benefited greatly from having a forum to discuss rulings, procedures and software to improve td-ing in BBO.

I greatly admire Jilly for sticking with it in here - most of us stopped because of the amount of non constructive yap yap we would get from the non td-ing experts if we were foolish enough to show our "ignorance" in this forum.

I suspect you are right about an ACBL forum and until we can figure out a way to make it a forum for the people who DO play there then acbl@bridgebase.com, or gweny@bridgebase.com will have to do for now.

As for one of the previous posters that suggested that mailing things to acbl@bbo was just "wrong" if I was the td about whom the player was complaining since I would be the one reading the email - this is also just "wrong" on several levels. First it makes a false assumption that I am the only one reading the mail. Second it makes another serious error in assuming that I would rather round file something than look for a way to improve my ACBL directing skills.

I have no illusions about directing ACBL games in BBO. I am pretty sure that most club tds do not look out over their tournaments and see people who are peers of Fred sitting in their games on a daily basis. When I see such players in tournaments I am directing I take a deep breath and immediately scan the lobby to see who is available to consult if I have to make a ruling involving people who CAN and DO play and win in national and international events. Thank you very much to my mentors who come to my aid on a sticky hand or ruling question.

Perhaps there are arrogant demigods that assume they have the solution to every single ruling that will come up in the course of an ACBL tournament but it is not me nor any other td on the ACBL team. Since I/we know I/we am not perfect, and have not one spec of ego involved in defending a ruling I/we am happy to get feedback if I/we screw up - that is how you learn new things and improve your skills.

Moreover, we take our jobs very seriously. We owe it to Fred, our customers, and friends that play in the games we direct to do the best we can. We do not like seeing bad rulings but we all know they can and will happen. We want to learn from the experience and hopefully not repeat a transgression.

[helene_t]

Maybe there would be a niche for more serious online tourneys, whether ACBL or otherwise, with TDs with higher qualifications as well as ACs. FWIW, I think it's more likely to grow out of HomeBase Club than comming from ACBL.

But it's not going to happen overnight. While the BBO TD interface is getting better and better, in some respects it's still a far cry of F2F communication. This is largely inherent to computer interfaces. Some day we'll all be wearing virtual reality suits while playing on BBO, transmitting 5-sense signals (maybe 6-sense including direct brain stimulation), combining the best from computer interaction with the best from F2F interaction.

The lack of non-verbal clues from the players as well as language barriers makes the TD's work difficult.

TDs with higher qualifications would make the entry fees much higher.

ACs would face severe obstackles. Players log out before the AC can contact them to ask questions. Recruiting AC members that are available in real time and organizing the communication between them would not be trivial. It will not be sound business for BBO develop software for facilating AC meetings, Even if all the practical problems are solved, I don't see any reason to expect the ACs decisions to be (much) better than those of the TDs.

[hotShot]

helene_t, on Jan 3 2007, 02:30 PM, said:

Even if all the practical problems are solved, I don't see any reason to expect the ACs decisions to be (much) better than those of the TDs.

There are 2 main reasons that make AC's decisions better than TD decisions.

1) They have much more time to make a decision!

2) 3 people are less likely to overlook something important.