Ethics Question

[ShootingArts]

sharking him

Of course you were sharking him. If the choice is between sharking someone or letting them cheat though, I favor sharking every time. With money on the line I have made it very obvious that I was watching close shots after one or two uncalled fouls by the other player. If this sharks them, so be it.

Hu

I'd like to expand on my last comment. If you know that your opponent cheats, then you have no choice but to watch him closely so that if he fouls, you can call him on it.

Yesterday, I was playing straight pool with a pretty good straight pool player. Two times while he was shooting, I thought I saw him accidentally nudge a neighboring ball with his cue. Both times I asked him did you just move a ball with your cue and he denied it. Since we were playing for fun I let it go. The lesson for me was to stand a little closer to the table when he is shooting a very difficult shot so that I can ensure that a foul wasn't committed. Interestingly, on the three other times when I stood closer to watch his shot, he missed. And no, I wasn't sharking him.

 

[PoolSharkAllen]

Of course you were sharking him. If the choice is between sharking someone or letting them cheat though, I favor sharking every time. With money on the line I have made it very obvious that I was watching close shots after one or two uncalled fouls by the other player. If this sharks them, so be it.

Hu

The reason why I said I wasn't sharking him was:
1. I made sure that I was not in his line-of-sight while he was shooting.
2. I was standing closer to the table but not so close as to be right on top of him.

If he misses a difficult shot because he knows I'm watching closely to see if he fouls, that's his problem. I wouldn't be watching him like a hawk if he wouldn't be trying to get away with cheating.

 

[ShootingArts]

we said exactly the same thing

We said exactly the same thing, only worded differently.

Hu

The reason why I said I wasn't sharking him was:
1. I made sure that I was not in his line-of-sight while he was shooting.
2. I was standing closer to the table but not so close as to be right on top of him.

If he misses a difficult shot because he knows I'm watching closely to see if he fouls, that's his problem. I wouldn't be watching him like a hawk if he wouldn't be trying to get away with cheating.

 

[PoolSharkAllen]

We said exactly the same thing, only worded differently.

Hu

Agreed!

 

[Alex Kanapilly]

I would pick up the ball and hand it to my opponent. I've been doing this for almost 20 years. Early on when I first started playing the game back in college, I did exactly what you described above and didn't call the foul on myself, I just didn't like the way it felt.

If my teamates gave me grief over it, I'd find another team.

Now I'm not above situational ethics... if my wife comes home from the hairdresser and asks how I think it looks, I'm probably going to say great no matter what I might really think

Alex

 

[billyjungle]

respect all,fear none,play fair

No win in pool or life is worth cheating to obtain....period.The "karma" we make always revisits us good or bad.




billy

 

[metal5d]

I did call the foul on myself. I was tempted not to just because this team always keeps us out of first place and I think if the situation had been reversed that they probably would not have called the foul on themselves. I always pay attention to my opponents when they shoot to make sure I don't get taken advantage of. I am suprised that no one has said "if there too stupid not to know that they have ball in hand, then its there own damn fault."

 

[Harvywallbanger]

I've seen tournament play to where a guy missed but his apponant was looking the other way or something and the shooter looked up, looked at the table and just kept shooting. He actually ran out as well.

 

[seanjonsean]

im in the apa league ,since im always out of focus i call a bad shot a foul lol ,but i try and call my fouls ,if ure the better player ull win no matter what ,destiny is destiny, i do hate sandbagging and peop who do it but hey what can u do .even if we mention it to our rep he ses something lik"i have to see it with my own eyes " that is not fair either.we were at the playoffs and the other team had fouled on us and they sed bring the rep ,when we went to him he simply sed "hey if u dont like it foerfeit and leave " so im not to concerned bout fouls anymore ....ps sory for the mispeling ..

 

[smittie1984]

I'll point it out. Mainly because I don't take league seriously. I rather not go to the Vegas nationals because I honestly feel that it should really be called "The Sandbagger Nationals".

I had an incident with one of the Sandbagging teams where I was tired because I've been up since 4am that day. I was playing 8ball and I was solids. I aimed for the stripe down table and nailed it perfect into the corner pocket. However as soon as I made contact with that ball they pointed it out and my opponent was already lining up for the shot.

It was my mistake but considering I pointed out a foul of mine to them earlier you would think they'd do the same. Infact they did a similar thing to my teamate who is a 2 and they put their best 4 against her.

So I would point it out.

 

[rossaroni]

I'd like to expand on my last comment. If you know that your opponent cheats, then you have no choice but to watch him closely so that if he fouls, you can call him on it.

Yesterday, I was playing straight pool with a pretty good straight pool player. Two times while he was shooting, I thought I saw him accidentally nudge a neighboring ball with his cue. Both times I asked him did you just move a ball with your cue and he denied it. Since we were playing for fun I let it go. The lesson for me was to stand a little closer to the table when he is shooting a very difficult shot so that I can ensure that a foul wasn't committed. Interestingly, on the three other times when I stood closer to watch his shot, he missed. And no, I wasn't sharking him.

I did not think that nudging the ball was a foul. If he did not mean to do it, maybe he did not realize it. What if he said he did nudge it a little? Would you have told him it was a foul and that it was your shoot? The worse I ever saw was at hill-hill a player missed the 9 and threw it in the pocket. The other player was not really paying attention, but something did not seem right about the ball going in, but he did not see it.

 

[Wally in Cincy]

I play league, and I'll tell you this; It totally, 100% depends on what team it is we are playing. I don't have to go into details, but some teams are high on sportsmanship, some are far from it. But that's just me.

Now if the guy is a jackass and I know 100% for sure he is a lowlife than if I didn't tell him I would loose no sleep over it.

I have to admit this is the way I view it.


If I am playing an opponent or a team that exhibits sportsmanship I will always call a foul on myself even though my captain *****es at me for doing it.

If I am playing someone who is an a-hole I say if they did not see it , it did not happen.

 

[Koop]

FWIW I'd call it on myself.
Last Monday my opponent was about to knock the 8 ball down while he still had a ball on the table. Wins are nice but I can't win that way. Still beat him 5-1 and that was his only win but I know he appreciated the honesty and hopefully it will rub off should he ever be in the same position.

Koop

 

[Bob Jewett]

... Yesterday, I was playing straight pool with a pretty good straight pool player. Two times while he was shooting, I thought I saw him accidentally nudge a neighboring ball with his cue. ...

Most people play "cue ball fouls only" at straight pool. If you're going to call all fouls, then I think both players have to be ready to call fouls on themselves. If not, then the non-shooter certainly has the right and maybe the duty to stand closer on problem shots.

 

[PoolSharkAllen]

I did not think that nudging the ball was a foul. If he did not mean to do it, maybe he did not realize it. What if he said he did nudge it a little? Would you have told him it was a foul and that it was your shoot? The worse I ever saw was at hill-hill a player missed the 9 and threw it in the pocket. The other player was not really paying attention, but something did not seem right about the ball going in, but he did not see it.

Strictly speaking, accidentally contacting another ball with your cue stick, the bridge or your hand is a foul. Sometimes the player shooting may be unaware that a foul has occured because the accidental contact was so slight he didn't even notice it.

Incidentally, on accidental hand fouls, some 8 and 9-ball leagues do allow the opposing player the choice of repositioning the ball back to the original position or leaving it where it is. I prefer ball-in-hand when the opponent has a hand foul.

 

[Purdman]

FWIW I'd call it on myself.
Last Monday my opponent was about to knock the 8 ball down while he still had a ball on the table. Wins are nice but I can't win that way. Still beat him 5-1 and that was his only win but I know he appreciated the honesty and hopefully it will rub off should he ever be in the same position.

Koop

I love ya Koop. I ain't lying either. We are either teaching or learning. Rub off my arse! Enlightenment is what it is!!! Pure and simple. I hope to meet you one day my brother. Twist up a big fatty, drink some beers and I will show ya how to have fun playing pool! Keep up the good work!
Purdman

 

[rossaroni]

Strictly speaking, accidentally contacting another ball with your cue stick, the bridge or your hand is a foul. Sometimes the player shooting may be unaware that a foul has occured because the accidental contact was so slight he didn't even notice it.

Incidentally, on accidental hand fouls, some 8 and 9-ball leagues do allow the opposing player the choice of repositioning the ball back to the original position or leaving it where it is. I prefer ball-in-hand when the opponent has a hand foul.

The only time I hear about all ball fouls is usually in pro tournaments. Like you said, I think the majority of tournaments play cue ball foul only. Even if it were all ball fouls, I don't think I would call a small thing like that. Would you actually call a foul on someone if there shirt touched a ball? Like you said before, you were playing for fun. If your opponent touched the balls on purpose to benefit himself that's one thing. (maybe he was knocking them closer to the pockets!!) Don't take it so serious!!!

 

[Koop]

I love ya Koop. I ain't lying either. We are either teaching or learning. Rub off my arse! Enlightenment is what it is!!! Pure and simple. I hope to meet you one day my brother. Twist up a big fatty, drink some beers and I will show ya how to have fun playing pool! Keep up the good work!
Purdman

Purdman, it's a date

You get your arse to Valley Forge next year and the first two are on me.

 

[Purdman]

Purdman, it's a date

You get your arse to Valley Forge next year and the first two are on me.

Lord willing and the creek don't rise I will be there. I am going to make my reservation tomorrow. I'll turn on the light for ya!
Purd

 

[butterflycues]

foul

I am just curious to see what others would do in this situation. You are playing your bitter rivals in the league. This is the team that always wins the league and keeps your team in second place. You try a shot and no ball hits a rail. Your opponent was watching the shot and says nothing about a foul. Do you call the foul on yourself (knowing that he will run out with ball-in-hand) or do you say nothing and let him take the hard shot that is left on the table? Who's responsibility is it to call the foul?

I call the foul. But then I have a consience. Butterflycues