Newer trends vs. "old school"

Maniac

Maniac

2manyQ's
Silver Member
I am 59 years of age. I grew up when pool was "sort of" a gentlemans game. Things have changed. I watch my Dad grow older (he's nearly 90) and he refuses to move with progress. I always tell myself that I will NOT be like that. I don't listen to myself very well. I am like "that". There are a lot of things going on in the poolhalls today that used to be a rare occasion back when I was "cutting my teeth" in the parlors of yesteryear. I don't like it.

Some of the things are rather small. Some of them are imo, unforgivible.

Moving around constantly when the other person is down on the shot (especially when they are near/on the line of sight), excessive/loud talking from the non-shooter while in the chair (hell, if they're even IN the chair), these are the types of things I'm seeing more and more today that absolutely should not be tolerated. In my past, you sat in your chair, your were still, and you were quiet. I miss that. I still do it that way, but I wish the gesture was reciprocal.

In the last decade we have all witnessed the sharking method I call the "Racking Wars". Slows the game down, makes it boring to watch, and is just plain bad sportsmanship, imo. This is a middle-ground move, imo. Used to NEVER be an issue.

Some of the little things that I'm seeing today that shouldn't bother me but somewhat does is: When a shooter misses a shot, they not only stand at the table far too long after the balls have stopped rolling, but they have the audacity to pick up the chalk and stand there and chalk their cue before heading to the chair. WTF??? You missed, go sit your ass down and let your opponent take what you gave up. Here's another one that sticks in my craw (but shouldn't): If you beat someone in a game of pool and without a doubt it was because you got lucky rolls, slop, or some other form of luck by a LARGE margin as opposed to what your opponent got, don't strut around the poolhall like you just played the greatest match in your life without at least acknowledging to your opponent and to anyone who asks how you did that you got the rolls and that you probably wouldn't have won without them. Another trend I see a lot of lately (especially in leagues) is people trying to win off the table (rule police). Geez, just shoot pool and keep your nose out of the rule book.

Any 50+ year olds out there that see things changing for the worse? Let me hear from you about what trends in today's pool scene that you don't like.

Maniac (already dining on a little cheese with his whine :grin:)
 
I'm 52, we grew up with the same values, I agree with you 100% on this, that and why does the music have to be so loud, it's supposed to be background, not a freakin concert.:eek:
 
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The art of "dignity and respect" is being lost in most aspects of life. Second class seems to be the norm to the "I" generation.
 
You were supposed to end this with "GET OFF MY LAWN! DAMN kids....

Seriously though...

I agree with you. Pool is not a gentlemen's game anymore. I do see glimmers of it occasionally though.

I am 48 so not quite "that" old yet :D
 
Maniac:

You're ringing my bell with this thread! I'm not 50 yet (I'm on the sunset side of 40), but I've grown up in the same type of poolhalls (which are CLASSIC in the Northeast -- straight pool country), and the same behaviors irk the p*ss out of me.

A couple others:

* Wearing headphones while in a match -- especially turned-up so loud, that people on the other side of the table can identify the house boom-boom music being played.

* Loud/annoying cell phone ringtones, taking calls, and yacking on the cell phone while not only in the pool hall, but table-side while a match is going on.

* TXTing table-side -- I'm talking about the opponent here, in a live match, non-stop. It's one thing if you have to respond to an emergency TXT from work (heck, I have to do that at times, being the 24/7 "network security guy" and I'll excuse myself to my opponent). But it's quite another when it's obvious "chat" TXT that doesn't serve any purpose.

I can take slow opponents, attempts to shark, bad/poor sportsmanship -- I know how to deal with these things. But the 3 above will just about drive me to do a Willie Mays with the butt of the cue on your head if you do them at my table.

-Sean
 
I have a buddy who likes to text during matches and such. I think I am going to start texting him while he is at the table and see what happens. ;)

sfleinen said:
Maniac:

You're ringing my bell with this thread! I'm not 50 yet (I'm on the sunset side of 40), but I've grown up in the same type of poolhalls (which are CLASSIC in the Northeast -- straight pool country), and the same behaviors irk the p*ss out of me.

A couple others:

* Wearing headphones while in a match -- especially turned-up so loud, that people on the other side of the table can identify the house boom-boom music being played.

* Loud/annoying cell phone ringtones, taking calls, and yacking on the cell phone while not only in the pool hall, but table-side while a match is going on.

* TXTing table-side -- I'm talking about the opponent here, in a live match, non-stop. It's one thing if you have to respond to an emergency TXT from work (heck, I have to do that at times, being the 24/7 "network security guy" and I'll excuse myself to my opponent). But it's quite another when it's obvious "chat" TXT that doesn't serve any purpose.

I can take slow opponents, attempts to shark, bad/poor sportsmanship -- I know how to deal with these things. But the 3 above will just about drive me to do a Willie Mays with the butt of the cue on your head if you do them at my table.

-Sean
Click to expand...
 
Okie said:
I have a buddy who likes to text during matches and such. I think I am going to start texting him while he is at the table and see what happens. ;)
Click to expand...

Some of the bars in the Northeast, when they have their "Trivia" contest nights, employ a cell phone and wireless signal jammer to prevent cheating. I remember back in the days of radar jammers (ones used to defeat police speeding radar), there was a version -- later quickly outlawed -- that would take the incoming radar signal, invert it, and amplify it 100 times, sending it back to the source. This would literally fry the output stage of the radar gun, making it almost explode into flames.

I'd love to know if there's a version of a cell phone signal jammer that does precisely this -- I'd wire it up on my body, and have a pushbutton in my pocket to engage it. I'd love nothing more than to watch the cell phone {of one of these aforementioned jackwagons) billow smoke or burst into flame table-side.

I know, I'm pretty malicious in this regard, but that's how badly that crap pushes my buttons.
-Sean
 
I agree, Maniac. The times they are a changin'.
Why, just last week I was attempting a very delicate three-railer, when a fat woman walked by and farted whilst I was in mid-stroke.
Not only did the sound startle the hell out of me, but the smell made my knees buckle. Needless to say, I missed the shot and lost the game as a result.
But seriously. Playing with someone who is constantly on their cell phone, either talking or texting, really annoys the hell out of me. In my day, if you wanted to talk on the phone, you ponied up a dime and used the payphone up by the soda pop machine. If you were gone too long, someone at the table would yell out something like. "Get off the phone fer crissakes, you'll see her tonight!"
Man, I wish I had an ice cold Pepsi, in a 16 ounce bottle, with a bag of Planters peanuts poured down the neck. Pure heaven. :smile:
 
Im 26 and I also hate to see these things. Granted I got my pool education from old school players but I don't do it out of respect for the other person.

If I win I only want to win by my own ability. To be honest I get extremely pissed if I win because I was lucky because I know I should have lost.

I also do not ever want to win through sharking. I consider it a pussy move and anyone who does it has no right to be at the table with me.

When I play in a match that has any sort of importance I will always sit and wait my turn at the table. I find this is a very good time to sit and meditate as well.

The reality is that whatever your opponent does at the table should not affect your game in any way. You screwed up and missed a shot on your own unless it was a safety. Next time just don't **** up and you wont be sitting.
 
sfleinen said:
Some of the bars in the Northeast, when they have their "Trivia" contest nights, employ a cell phone and wireless signal jammer to prevent cheating. I remember back in the days of radar jammers (ones used to defeat police speeding radar), there was a version -- later quickly outlawed -- that would take the incoming radar signal, invert it, and amplify it 100 times, sending it back to the source. This would literally fry the output stage of the radar gun, making it almost explode into flames.

I'd love to know if there's a version of a cell phone signal jammer that does precisely this -- I'd wire it up on my body, and have a pushbutton in my pocket to engage it. I'd love nothing more than to watch the cell phone {of one of these aforementioned jackwagons) billow smoke or burst into flame table-side.

I know, I'm pretty malicious in this regard, but that's how badly that crap pushes my buttons.
-Sean
Click to expand...

Damn! And I was feeling a bit guilty about even thinking of sharking my opponent. You would blow up his dang phone! LOL

That would be funny as hell though!
 
Yea I am 47 and the cell phone users are the worst annoying ring tones, constant distractions, the hold up of the match and the loss of focus when you have one of these people on your team is amazing.

I agree with the other stuff to and as our world becomes more mechanized the following generations will have fewer interpersonal and face to face interactive skills. You can’t blame them as much as you would like to.

You just need to speak up; it isn’t about being a “fuddy-duddy”. I have told both students and partners “I am not going to teach/play with you unless you turn off your cell phone”. You have to be pretty bad before I will go this far but hey I am too sick of it.
 
As far as loud music,texting, etc. is concerned, I am in favor of pool halls doing whatever is necessary to keep people coming into the building. Too many have closed/converted already.

Intentional sharking is usually just a case of someone who hasn't had their butt kicked recently enough. :smile:
 
Amen brother !

Next time I play a certain individual I'm
gonna read a newspaper while he's shootin'.
We will see how much he likes it when I
don't pay attention to the game.

He wears ear buds and doesn't pay attention.
Maybe he's trying to shark me but it doesn't
work cause he always loses.

Maybe I'll shake.....I mean adjust the newspaper
a couple of times just to enhance his experience.

I hope the newspaper thing will start a dialog
about proper behavior while playing. If not so
be it, I'm still winnin'.
 
Maniac said:
I am 59 years of age. I grew up when pool was "sort of" a gentlemans game. Things have changed. I watch my Dad grow older (he's nearly 90) and he refuses to move with progress. I always tell myself that I will NOT be like that. I don't listen to myself very well. I am like "that". There are a lot of things going on in the poolhalls today that used to be a rare occasion back when I was "cutting my teeth" in the parlors of yesteryear. I don't like it.

Some of the things are rather small. Some of them are imo, unforgivible.

Moving around constantly when the other person is down on the shot (especially when they are near/on the line of sight), excessive/loud talking from the non-shooter while in the chair (hell, if they're even IN the chair), these are the types of things I'm seeing more and more today that absolutely should not be tolerated. In my past, you sat in your chair, your were still, and you were quiet. I miss that. I still do it that way, but I wish the gesture was reciprocal.

In the last decade we have all witnessed the sharking method I call the "Racking Wars". Slows the game down, makes it boring to watch, and is just plain bad sportsmanship, imo. This is a middle-ground move, imo. Used to NEVER be an issue.

Some of the little things that I'm seeing today that shouldn't bother me but somewhat does is: When a shooter misses a shot, they not only stand at the table far too long after the balls have stopped rolling, but they have the audacity to pick up the chalk and stand there and chalk their cue before heading to the chair. WTF??? You missed, go sit your ass down and let your opponent take what you gave up. Here's another one that sticks in my craw (but shouldn't): If you beat someone in a game of pool and without a doubt it was because you got lucky rolls, slop, or some other form of luck by a LARGE margin as opposed to what your opponent got, don't strut around the poolhall like you just played the greatest match in your life without at least acknowledging to your opponent and to anyone who asks how you did that you got the rolls and that you probably wouldn't have won without them. Another trend I see a lot of lately (especially in leagues) is people trying to win off the table (rule police). Geez, just shoot pool and keep your nose out of the rule book.

Any 50+ year olds out there that see things changing for the worse? Let me hear from you about what trends in today's pool scene that you don't like.

Maniac (already dining on a little cheese with his whine :grin:)
Click to expand...


Lingering at the table after a miss is a peave of mine too. When you miss a shot, just go to your seat and wait till it's your turn to shoot.

Oh, here's another one: After missing/playing a safety, getting to the other side of the table and seeing if they hooked me. Grrrr...does it matter? It's still my turn, if I don't hit the object ball you will get BIH. If I do hit it, then I either shoot again or it will be your turn. But geez!! If you play a safe or miss, go sit down and wait for your tuen. DON'T LINGER AT THE TABLE!!

Here's one that actually happened a couple years ago during a APA city championship. Yes, sadly I did play in APA Masters a couple times :sorry:. Anyhoo, we were playing against the only team that had a chance of beating us. It was the 1st game and my opponent left me a long straight in with the cue ball 1 inch from the rail. While I was taking a couple practice strokes, he was chalking his cue. I don't mean a light brushing of the chalk across the tip, this was a corkscrew, squeaky kind of chalking. EEEE GADS!! I had to stand, look right at his eyes and tell him, "why are you chalking? You may not need it again!" Yes, I was a lil pissed. It was a race to 7 and I doubt I was going to run the set, but I did beat him 7 to 1 after that.

So, I guess chalking while your opponent shoots is on my list also.

BTW, I'm 49.....been playing 43 years and when I miss, I go to my seat.
 
Agree

I agree with your points as well.

It is rude and unsportsmanlike to stand at the table after your turn has ended, as is chalking your cue, or standing in the line of sight of the player on the table.

Something I find very annoying is the volume level of the music played at some halls. I actually stopped going to the hall closest to me for that very reason.
 
I think you have a nostalgic view of the past. Rude players and shark moves have always existed. Today we may have more potential sharking with the introduction of the cell phone, but we also have a sharking defense with headphones.

Also, don't forget about the benefits of today:

The internet has all but eliminated the road player/hustler.

Equipment today is far more consistent than it used to be. Cues, tips, balls, cloth, rails, everything.

Instructional material is much much more plentiful and accurate than it used to be. Today, without leaving your house, you can learn more about the game than nearly anyone knew 50 years ago. You can also watch high defintion video of nearly any professional player you want on the internet, as much as you want. In the old days you would have to travel to the site of a major tournament to see that quality of play.
 
I'm in my 30's and i agree with everything you've said. Whats even worst is older people who try to act young.

I play most of my pool with my father, he's 64 and always on his ****ing iPhone. I don't even own a cell phone, if you don't reach me at home then try later or don't, i don't care.
 
But since this thread is also turning into a list of pet peeves, here's one of mine:

As you walk away from the table at the end of your inning, don't grab the chalk. You're going to sit down. You don't need to chalk before sitting. Leave the chalk for the player coming to the table. I don't want to have to walk halfway around the table to get to the other piece of chalk just because you are afraid of miscuing while you plop your fat a-- into your chair.

<rant over>
 
For 64 years I've simply called it sportsmanship. It's sorely lacking not only in competitive events, but most don't even carry over a modicum of the social graces in their daily lives.

I'm so old school, I would never even consider putting anything but bllue/green cloth on my old school Anniversary, nor using anything but blue chalk.

I think when He invented the game, that's the way He intended it...:wink:
 
I'm 63 so what do you think? I saw a lot of what you're talking about even when I started playing seriously but not from the serious players, mostly not, anyhow:rolleyes: It's just gotten worse over the years and more prevalent than some people apparently think. I'm glad that there seems to be more and more interest in Straight Pool again and it may make a difference. I don't know, I feel pretty jaded lately, notice very few posts by me in the main forum anymore.
 
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