Newer trends vs. "old school"

[VIProfessor]

I'm not yet 50 (almost!) but I also had the privilege, while I was in college, of getting a "poolhall education" in a Massachusetts poolroom where straight pool was the queen of games and there was no bar, no TV screens, etc...just pool tables, coffee, a soda machine and chips (which you'd BETTER wash your hands from before approaching Mr. Lisciotti's tables!).

Of course, talking, moving and other shark moves earned you a lecture and ostracism for the first couple offenses and expulsion after that! Coming from a bar pool origin it seemed SO severe initially (Poolbum can confirm, to my embarrassment, that when I first came up from St. Thomas and we first started playing together in the Student Center, I couldn't see why whistling while he was at the table was such a problem :embarrassed2, but I soon learned.

Now, those of us who value the etiquette of the game can only look in horrified wonder at the behavior of all too many poolroom residents. There is no question that it reflects the erosion of the values of respect and dignity that we see in society at large. Of course, we also cannot avoid the fact that when we speak to offenders about their antics, they can say," I've seen and heard of professionals doing it at major tournaments and they don't get banned, so who are you to tell me what to do?"

We need to clean up our act as pool players--from top to bottom, and we all have a role to play at our various levels.

 

[steev]

All this stuff boils down to one word for me: respect.

If someone is willing to do these things, it is straight up disrespect of me. I will let you know once, maybe more if we're friends. After that, you've gone and lost my respect. I won't show it by stooping to your level, but I have an entirely different view from there.

Once you've shown you have no respect, there are more 'ref' calls and no slack at all given. Just can't trust ya anymore...

-s

 

[fastone371]

I agree with everyone about the loud music thing, I can understand that people want to hear it well but when you can barely speak/listen to the person next to you I think thats a little louder than it needs to be. I was always under the impression that going to bars was a social thing but how can you socialize if you cant hear someone? These bars Im talking about dont even have dance floors, WTF?? 1 of my biggest pet peeves is people who put drinks on the pool table, are they really that dim that they do not realize that the moisture will damage or stain the table, cmon???

 

[dareads]

I'm only 38, but have "old school" ways. Which brings up another point, since when is common sense, manners, respect, and decency "old school" ?

I"ve learned to adjust to slow play, but the guy who stares at the straight in shot for 5 minutes when it's the only shot they have, he still makes me want to scream.

I've also got a buddy that doesn't respond well to other people being at the table while he is shooting. We had a guy do it during a league match. I was down on the last ball before the 8 and this d-bag walks up to the table and grabs the chalk. I stood up, looked at him, and said "don't worry, you won't miscue while I'm shooting"

As I've gotten older, I've come to realize that common sense isn't as common anymore.

 

[poolguy4u]

Yes...some things have changed. But when you were younger, you didn't notice everything that was going on around you. Now that you are older, your concentration isn't as good, your eyes isn't as good, you knees and back isn't as good.

Now instead of running out, you make excuses why you are missing.
Yes things have changed but for real, a lot is still the same.:smile:

Pool is still a game and shouldn't be so serious all the time. My girlfriend blames her misses on other people all the time. So when she is practicing now, I usually walk to the pocket she is shooting into and try and annoy her. Funny thing---when she is practicing, nothing bothers her and she makes balls. In a match, you better not be in her line of sight and if you are, you better hold your breath and sit still. :smile:

Some days small things bother me, but it is only because I don't practice enough. If I practice and playing good-----nothing bothers me.

 

[oldplayer]

this one makes me scream....the opponent, while shooting, answers his cell phone and carries on a conversation :angry: , rather than;
a. don't answer,
b. don't even turn it on
c. answer and immediately tell them he will call back WHEN IT IS NOT HIS TURN

 

[sfleinen]

this one makes me scream....the opponent, while shooting, answers his cell phone and carries on a conversation :angry: , rather than;
a. don't answer,
b. don't even turn it on
c. answer and immediately tell them he will call back WHEN IT IS NOT HIS TURN

Yup, that's when you wish the name on your cue's butt said "Louisville Slugger" on it, rather than what it says now. Or, you might not care anyway, and will do a "Mickey Mantle" on the side of your opponent's head regardless.

-Sean

 

[Snapshot9]

Irritations

The too loud music and the cellphones are two of mine too. One that irritates the hell out of me is when you are playing a handicapped tournament on the weekend (doesn't start till 10:30 pm), and they let some drunk bangers on the table next to you, or worse yet on both sides of you. They are loud, obnoxious, and they want everyone looking at them in case they make a decent shot. It is extremely hard to concentrate under those conditions.

 

[LAlouie]

Pool was never a "gentleman's game". Most of the annoying environment issues surround the gentrification of pool and the effort to bring in the weekend clients and pool leagues who spend money. Without them your room is dead and closed.

 

[Bill Yerd]

this one makes me scream....the opponent, while shooting, answers his cell phone and carries on a conversation :angry: , rather than;
a. don't answer,
b. don't even turn it on
c. answer and immediately tell them he will call back WHEN IT IS NOT HIS TURN

I'd rather have my opponent take a cell phone call when it is their turn than when it's my turn to shoot.
They arent distracting me while they're shooting.
I got a buddy that stands right next me while I'm shooting and makes loud phone calls or shouts across the room with a unimportant conversation while I'm shooting. He knows what he's doing. He try's to make it seem like an unintentional shark, but we both know better. He's the same guy that tells me to take my cue out of my hands while he's shooting because it makes it look like I might think I'll have another shot.

 

[MCP]

The way we were

Greetings. I am new to the forum A couple of replys but mostly reading many of the threads? Anyway --- it is definitely a different scene today
I live in NYC and played in some of the great rooms in the 70s
Time Sq Billiards, McGirrs, Julian's, Etc: and there was a lot of action specially one pocket. when you were up to shoot your opponent gave your the respect he wanted your money but gave you the respect at the table.
If you were shooting at the show or main table the spectators new how to behave and understood this was a serious game. After the game was done a few nods of approval or next time you will get him. I haven't played for about 35 years and started to play again 2 years ago some thing that are different
1-everyone is an expert and wants to give advise
2-when you are shooting your opponent and his friends have ongoing conversations
3-the music is way way to loud
4-9 ball 9ball 9ball don't get me wrong I get the game and it's a good game but it seems that's all that people play --- how about some straight pool or my game one pocket
5-Sharking -- I was playing you guessed it 9 ball and had a long straight shot
And my opponent says just before I was to shoot--
(lots of green in front of you)
I am 56 and those were the good old days but these days will be the good old days for someone else. Pool is a beautiful game and I am gratful that I am playing again -- it's me and the table now that's the challenge.
MCP

 

[gcmortal]

* 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.

I don't see the problem with headphones if the listener is paying attention to the table, and no one else can hear the music. Too difficult for many people, agreed.

Sometimes I wear them to fight off the noise pollution of the house boom-boom music, heh.

 

[SCCues]

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

You couldn't have said it better!

James

 

[backplaying]

I grew up around the hustlers in the 70's, and they were the best at sharking. I also played alot in bars and you soon learned to play with guys following you around the table telling you your going to miss that shot. These people now that complain about every little thing while their playing is the biggest destraction there is. I 've seen a top player go over to someone and tell them not to talk and this player was listening with buds in, how strong is that, and this was at Tunica in the action room. I was playing a well known player on here who said it sharked him because someone said hi to me in a tournament match in Tunica.I have never in my life seen anything like the people now who complain about every little thing while they play. How about these guys who always have a excuse for why they lost, and it will never be because they got outplayed. It will be the smoke, they didn't feel good, they got lucky in one way or another. Some people don't understand there can be bad sportsmanship after the game has been played also. In my world criers are as bad as sharkers, and right up there with slow players!

 

[Pushout]

Yes...some things have changed. But when you were younger, you didn't notice everything that was going on around you. Now that you are older, your concentration isn't as good, your eyes isn't as good, you knees and back isn't as good.

Now instead of running out, you make excuses why you are missing.
Yes things have changed but for real, a lot is still the same.:smile:

I know you put a smilie in but I can't let this go. I play better at 63 than I ever did. I noticed everything going on around me when I was younger. I don't make excuses for missing, I no longer have to and to be honest, I seldom did. Sure, some of this stuff has been around forever but that still doesn't make it right. Some of it is intentional and some is, as has been said, just a lack of respect. Rant over for this morning!

 

[ceebee]

Great Idea... he'll get the message real quick.

I'm from the old school, I'll be 70 in September. I see all of the above & most everybody dresses like homeless folks. I play at Magoos in Tulsa & it's a nice place.

No one seems to respect anyone & they certainly don't respect the Game.

Won't be too long & I'll go away & let the bums have the place.

 

[SKILLZELITE]

The world looks very different now..

I do agree that some ppl lack billiard etiquette , but b!tch!ng about headphones , and texting is extreme,, could it be some of you are just making excuses as to why you may of lost that particular match ?!

:wink::grin:

 

[OneIron]

It's not just pool. It's everywhere. People have no manners or respect for others.

One example:

I see someone in a parking lot trying to walk across traffic. I stop and wave them across. They intentionally walk as slow as possible and never acknowledge me. It would never even occur to me to act like that.

Lack of class in pool is the symptom, not the disease. It's part of society. Entitlement mentality, I suppose...

 

[Diamond69]

why I lose

I love the thread and agree with much of the stuff here.

If I lose, it's generally because of 3 things.
1. My opponent was better
2. I shot poorly
3. My opponent had the pool gods with them (ie, they got the rolls, hooked me unintentionally, etc).

Because I agree with some of these issues does not mean I use them as an excuse. And I don't know that many people are. Pool is not golf. It is played in bars, pool rooms, etc that have a lot of activity going around. I played in a lot of "sharking" tournaments as a kid. Maybe that's why I don't use them as excuses.

 

[sfleinen]

[...]
I do agree that some ppl lack billiard etiquette , but b!tch!ng about headphones , and texting is extreme,, could it be some of you are just making excuses as to why you may of lost that particular match ?!

:wink::grin:

Nope, not at all. In fact, the matches that I'd been involved in where this kind of crap happened, I'd won the match -- I made it a specific mission to. But after the match was over, I didn't have that nice warm fuzzy feeling that I'd conquered evil, that one would normally get when overcoming adversity.

Nope. In fact, I was still mad, long after the match was over, that people can be *so* belligerently social- and courtesy-inept. Even my level-headed captain at the time (who was only ever interested in the "W" and was very dismissive about any post-match griping) said, "Sean, I don't know how you didn't end up cracking that guy on the side of the head with your cue. What a moron!"

The solution, for me, was to quit that league. (It was a local traveling league anyway, played on mostly barboxes, when I've traditionally played on big tables. No loss.)

-Sean