If you foul, but your opponent doesn't see it, should you call it on yourself?

nope..it's your job to be watching the game even when not at the table. I've missed fouls from not paying attention more then once and it's my fault not the shooters.
 
Depends

At league I will always call fouls even game losing ones. It has happened and crushed me but this build character and you play better because of it.

If a weaker player double taps the cueball. I let it slide. If its a stronger player it wouldnt happen in the first place. but id call it. they should know better. pragmatically. If you cant be bothered to watch your own game. dont be surprised if you get screwd alittle. human nature and all that.

At my home with the mates... Some things are fouls and some are not! For instance we have gentlemanrules such as accidentally tapping the cue ball at address is ok. You just must say 'that didnt happen' and it didnt. but you must shoot the slightly longer shot without repositioning hand etc. if you hit it hard you better blast it quick before it gets to far!

Accidentally moving balls is frowned upon and generally your opponent tells you to 'put them wherever you want asshole.

We play so much all the time tho. We dont count games. After an hour I could'nt tell you how many racks were played and who won past the last rack. we just play and mark time. Ive never cheated my friends and *know* the have never cheated. too many times i go relieve myself and I come back to cueball on a chalk. to which I always shake my head and say why? and the response is usually I got dumb for a moment. It happens.

Victory can be a fleeting. When you can unhitch your wagon from that star so to speak you can learn alot. calm in a positive environmen. Shoot hard shots. shots your bad at. stupid combos. jumps. masse. and other jackassery.

I guess what im trying to say is dont sweat the small shit and you free yourself to appreciate larger more important aspects of the game. momentary victory won through deceit does nothing for you.

and in a more relaxed environment it is my opinion that people who nitpick over small things are lame. play for the game. play for the companionship. if you want to play for victory go compete. or go practice. i play for fun.

This is as great a first post as I've ever read on here.

Welcome to the forums, Carbonbit!!!

Maniac
 
What a wonderful ethics lesson!:frown: By this logic you should do whatever it takes to win. I've read about people spitting on others tips when they weren't looking. If he's not watching his equipment it's his fault right?

How about slipping him a mickey? If he isn't watching his drink its his fault.

If he still wins wait for him in the parking lot with a gun and a ski mask. As long as you leave with the money, thats all that counts right? You may say that this is extreme and taking it too far, but really if you foul and don't call it you are cheating. It's that simple. Every time someone tries to cheat someone on a deal, they try to defend it by blaming the victim. "It's his own fault for being a sucker". I've seen that argument used in defending cue scams and other such stealing here on this very forum. Once you start rationalizing your actions this way it's a real slippery slope. Don't be that guy.

There is a VERY large difference between not admitting to an accidental fault, and to deliberatly attempting to harm someone. Your analogy is garbage. Here is a better questions.

If you were playing a game of pool in a bar for $5.00 dollars would you call a foul on yourself?

If you were playing a game of pool in a poolhall for $50,000 dollars would you call a foul on yourself?

If you hadn't eaten in 1 day would you attack someone for their food?

If you hadn't eaten in 6 days would you attack someone for their food?

#1 you can't REALLY answer these questions because you have no idea how you would act on the presibus. #2 Integrity in a very loose word, and can easily change based upon ones circumstances....

It is very easy to say "Omg duh you call a foul on yourself" when you are playing for $10 or maybe $100 dollars. But no one on this forum can defintivily say that would do it under any circumstances. The only players in the world that would and could play for $50,000 I am near positive would not call a foul on themselves, and there is a reason they are able to play for that kind of coin. Just as the saying goes "he didn't get rich by spending his money".
 
To win your ten thousand dollars I would like to see what you do in that spot. Talk is cheap. It doesn't cost you anything.

I don't think you would call a foul on yourself. If you could get away with it.

But we will never know the real answer.

It doesn't matter what I would do in that situation. Even if I didn't call a foul, it would still be wrong. I would be stealing 10000$ from my opponent.

If you can't play fair under those conditions, you shouldn't play for that amount of money.
 
It doesn't matter what I would do in that situation. Even if I didn't call a foul, it would still be wrong. I would be stealing 10000$ from my opponent.

If you can't play fair under those conditions, you shouldn't play for that amount of money.

Lol....

This forum is honestly a gigantic joke to me. Who are all these people hiding behind their computer screens that are these extraordinary gentlemen? Just the worlds moral gift to the world. Always doing the right thing no matter the circumstance....

You sir's are completely full of shit. I don't understand how or why you hold all hold your own and everyone elses pool games to some perfect standard when I gurantee for a fact that you do not hold the same standard to the rest of your life.
 
Lol....

This forum is honestly a gigantic joke to me. Who are all these people hiding behind their computer screens that are these extraordinary gentlemen? Just the worlds moral gift to the world. Always doing the right thing no matter the circumstance....

You sir's are completely full of shit. I don't understand how or why you hold all hold your own and everyone elses pool games to some perfect standard when I gurantee for a fact that you do not hold the same standard to the rest of your life.

What's your point? I said, it doesn't matter what I would do. Maybe I wouldn't call a foul and steal 10000$ from my opponent. I don't know. But that doesn't mean I think it's the right thing to do. I would probably regret it later.
 
What's your point? I said, it doesn't matter what I would do. Maybe I wouldn't call a foul and steal 10000$ from my opponent. I don't know. But that doesn't mean I think it's the right thing to do. I would probably regret it later.

My point was not so much directed at you... More so the numerous other people who have the simplest answer of "always otherwise its cheating."

The OP wants an honest answer... Not the answer that looks good on paper.
 
My point was not so much directed at you... More so the numerous other people who have the simplest answer of "always otherwise its cheating."

The OP wants an honest answer... Not the answer that looks good on paper.


I understand. The question was: "SHOULD you call it on yourself?" Simple answer: Yes!
WOULD you actually obey your own moral standards under all circumstances? That's a different question and not so easy to answer.
 
That's a bogus analogy. In a match, opponents are SUPPOSED to be watching the game...not their cue cases and break cues.

(-:

There's no written rule that says you're SUPPOSED to watch your equipment. But we both know it's wrong for me to steal your equipment, whether you watch it or not. I'm hoping we at least agree on that much.

If there is a written rule that says the guy in the chair is obligated to watch for signs of cheating... that does not automatically excuse the shooter to do whatever dishonest thing he can get away with, as long as it's hidden from view.

Given the choice between trying to convince people on this forum to play honestly and not cheat others, or encouraging everyone to watch like a hawk because the world's a harsh place and cheating is inevitable... I will choose the first one every time.

You don't expect me pick up trash after someone, apologize for their rude behavior, or make sure they don't drink to excess right? So why am I expected to be someone else's conscience at the pool table? That's their job.
 
Depends

At league I will always call fouls even game losing ones. It has happened and crushed me but this build character and you play better because of it.

If a weaker player double taps the cueball. I let it slide. If its a stronger player it wouldnt happen in the first place. but id call it. they should know better. pragmatically. If you cant be bothered to watch your own game. dont be surprised if you get screwd alittle. human nature and all that.

At my home with the mates... Some things are fouls and some are not! For instance we have gentlemanrules such as accidentally tapping the cue ball at address is ok. You just must say 'that didnt happen' and it didnt. but you must shoot the slightly longer shot without repositioning hand etc. if you hit it hard you better blast it quick before it gets to far!

Accidentally moving balls is frowned upon and generally your opponent tells you to 'put them wherever you want asshole.

We play so much all the time tho. We dont count games. After an hour I could'nt tell you how many racks were played and who won past the last rack. we just play and mark time. Ive never cheated my friends and *know* the have never cheated. too many times i go relieve myself and I come back to cueball on a chalk. to which I always shake my head and say why? and the response is usually I got dumb for a moment. It happens.

Victory can be a fleeting. When you can unhitch your wagon from that star so to speak you can learn alot. calm in a positive environmen. Shoot hard shots. shots your bad at. stupid combos. jumps. masse. and other jackassery.

I guess what im trying to say is dont sweat the small shit and you free yourself to appreciate larger more important aspects of the game. momentary victory won through deceit does nothing for you.

and in a more relaxed environment it is my opinion that people who nitpick over small things are lame. play for the game. play for the companionship. if you want to play for victory go compete. or go practice. i play for fun.

Well said & good for you.

Best Regards,
 
Of course you don't say anything. Don't even know why you would ask the question. Any cheap move you can make is a good move. You should also try to move the coin a few extra times as well when you opponent isn't looking. And if you lose try to wiggle out of paying. No need for honor at all in anything you do in life.

:deadhorse:
 
I'd like pool to have the "higher standard" we see in pro golf than the lower standard we see in some other sports. Under my reading of the rules, however, I'm not imposing a higher standard, I'm just following the rules.

Both you & EagleMan have well thought out points. I agree with you & your desire for pocket billiards to elevate itself to the level of Golf & not just Pro Golf but Junior Golf as well. However EagleMan has some technically logical points & conclusions. Therefore the rules should be re-stated so as to take any ambiguity or loop holes out of the equation. I for one would not mind even a forfeiture of match for dishonoring the game as it was intended to be played, although wording & proof of such a rule might cause more problems than it would be attempting to fix.

I think Mr. Jewitt or someone else in position to do so should bring this to the attention of the parties that be for consideration.

I'm sure this problem was solved in a simple & immediate manner in the old west. The shooter fouled & did not call it on hinself & shot again. Then his opponent pulled a gun & shot his 'shot' & simply said he cheated. Hence the foul was called & the penalty immediately imposed.

I'm glad we don't live in the old west any longer, but sometimes I'm not so sure that we don't.

Best Regards,
 
What if your opponent fouls but doesnt know about it? There was once my friend was playing with another. Let's call them S and D.

They were playing small money game and D was down 4-1 in a race to 7 in 9 ball. S broke and potted the 1 on the break and continued potting the 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.. then only did he realize that he did not pot the 2 ball at ALL! D went on laughing and kept his mouth shut saying that he wanted S to do all the work so he did not have to worry about making so many mistakes.

Once S potted the 4 ball, the foul was OFF...i.e. all fouls are extinguished unless called PRIOR TO the next shot. Since balls 4-7 were potted in order, there was no subsequent foul.

(-:

EagleMan
 
Lol....

This forum is honestly a gigantic joke to me. Who are all these people hiding behind their computer screens that are these extraordinary gentlemen? Just the worlds moral gift to the world. Always doing the right thing no matter the circumstance....

You sir's are completely full of shit. I don't understand how or why you hold all hold your own and everyone elses pool games to some perfect standard when I gurantee for a fact that you do not hold the same standard to the rest of your life.

Talk about someone being full of $hit. YOU sir....cannot "guarantee for a fact" ANYTHING about anyone else's life except that they breathe, eat...and yes....$hit.

Dumb comment. And I'm sure the other members of this GREAT forum would join me in being pleased that we provide you with comic relief.

Cheers
 
There is a VERY large difference between not admitting to an accidental fault, and to deliberatly attempting to harm someone. Your analogy is garbage. Here is a better questions.

If you were playing a game of pool in a bar for $5.00 dollars would you call a foul on yourself?

If you were playing a game of pool in a poolhall for $50,000 dollars would you call a foul on yourself?

If you hadn't eaten in 1 day would you attack someone for their food?

If you hadn't eaten in 6 days would you attack someone for their food?

#1 you can't REALLY answer these questions because you have no idea how you would act on the presibus. #2 Integrity in a very loose word, and can easily change based upon ones circumstances....

It is very easy to say "Omg duh you call a foul on yourself" when you are playing for $10 or maybe $100 dollars. But no one on this forum can defintivily say that would do it under any circumstances. The only players in the world that would and could play for $50,000 I am near positive would not call a foul on themselves, and there is a reason they are able to play for that kind of coin. Just as the saying goes "he didn't get rich by spending his money".

Eddie May,

Your points are well made & you are correct that no one can guarantee what they would actually do given the reality of some hypothetical situations.

However there have been those that have said here & now that they would not call the foul on themselves hence they have made their decision regardless of the situation.

Then there are those, like myself, who say that they will not sell their honesty, honor & self dignity for any price.

However, as you say, if it came down to survival, who really knows what one would ultimately do. One who places value on such things as truth, honor, & dignity can only hope that their value system would not be altered by the desperation of a situation.

If truely tested, all one can really do is hope & pray that one will pass the test & prove themselves to be truly selfless.

Merry Christmas,
 
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