League Play Ethics and Feelings - Thoughts...

[jasonlaus]

i have a younger brother Alex that is mentally handicapped, I have lived through a 1000 of these scenarios with every sport or game Alex could ever get his hands on... Watched him on the playground at school as well etc etc. Fact is, mentally handicapped children have a much more complicated social world to negotiate each day than you or I could ever imagine. It's based on the fact that most people don't really have a close relationship to them like that, and have nothing to associate it with. Essentially making a situation for the handicapped person where they are trying to (with less tools) learn to socially navigate the world, while at the same time, they get responses to them from total strangers that are all over the map.. much less consistent than how people treat you and me. Makes for a confusing world.

So..

My take on the op's topic.

Right about everything except that it's not a lose lose situation.


If you are championship or bust, this is probably not the team for you. If you draw more value out of the comraderie from meeting up to play with the team every week, get more value out of seeing this handicapped person smile than you do collecting cash at end of tourney, than this is probably the team for you.

As for the people that dump for my lil bro.. it's ok, we can handle being eliminated in the first round, he will remember that game of pool for YEARS and it will make him feel like he belongs in a way you can't imagine. Those people... I could kiss em.

Great post
Jason

 

[mikepage]

Player A absolutely loves being on a pool team and tries their hardest to win every match. Player A also is physically and mentally handicapped. The majority of player A's wins are due to opponents missing balls on purpose and dumping in order to make player A feel good on pool night. Winning is just thrilling to player A.

Player A's league handicap level is artificially too high due to their wins.

When playoffs and singles tournaments come around Player A gets crushed and doesn't understand why. Player A's team won't make it to the championships because player A gets crushed when it really counts.

So...best to let each week be exciting OR tell players to stop the dumping. There are a lot league nights so I leave it alone. What do you all think?

I think it is good player A is playing

and none of this is that big a deal..

and in time with exposure people will stop dumping to player A

and the world will be a better place...

 

[jasonlaus]

Sorry to all the guys I came off strong to. It just really upsets me that a simple act of kindness gets blown out of proportion. Again, sorry
Jason

 

[Blue Jam]

Depends what you play pool for. Some people see it purely as competition, and seek victory above all else. These people are the "pay the consequence of having someone like that on the team" group. Eurgh.

Other people, normal human beings, realise that the spectrum of human interaction allows for benefits to be felt and enjoyment to be had even where you aren't the one winning the game being played. These people are the "oh no, my last ball is tough, I hope I make it...." group who give out a few more chances when they meet someone who might appreciate them more than most. I would definitely be on this team, and if I came across Player A in a competition you can bet they would have a better win ratio against me than anyone else would. If my team-mates had a problem with that, it would be because I was in the wrong team.

Player A enriches the entire league (yes, their team and others who play them) he/she plays in, in orders of magnitude more than anyone from the "I respect them enough to give them my best game, every time" crew does. FACT.

 

[fastone371]

That is an unacceptable response. If he can't play to compete then he shouldn't play.

There are no participatuon trophies. If his team decides to use play a it is their choice and they will suffer the consequences.

If players are dumping to player A, then they should suffer theirs.

Really??? Its league, exactly how serious are people taking league when they play with with their phones during matches or have had a few (or a lot) of drinks? I think league is more social than competition, its also a great place to gain information from like minded people. League can be competitive but its more about gaining info about tournaments, who you can make games with, and just having a good time shooting pool against other people who enjoy the game. I save that win at all costs attitude for tournaments, not playing against one of my friends during league. If a challenged player will get a little joy in his life because he won a game of pool whats wrong with giving him the opportunity? Im not saying combo the 8 in on your first inning but maybe bank a ball that you would normally cut, take tougher shots than normal to give him more chances at the table. In the grand scheme of things laying down a little for one game or match is not really going to affect your handicap.