Opponents with headphones

What is going to be next? People wearing Google Glass or 3D virtual reality devices because they find the pool hall surroundings unbearable? Sheesh said:
I'm sure you've seen some of the snooker matches on YT at the Crucible where some guy's cel is ringing, and the guy answers it ! The answer?... referee simply says "You! Out! Now!"... and they escort him out, toot sweet.

What's next?.... SERVICE ANIMALS :eek:
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Black-Balled said:
I think the context is completely different.

One is a federally protected matter, the other is headphones.
Click to expand...

Nobody needs ADA protection to choose not to use mitigating measures to compensate for their disability., just as no governing body can force one to employ them.

I cannot imagine the extent of distraction wearing hearing aids in his case could be. Only he possibly can.
 
Meucciplayer said:
Yep, different reason and Shane really can't hear. Thus he has those earphones and people who are in the same situation tell me those hearing aids can be quite a pita. For example in restaurants and bars with lots of background noise. I don't even want to imagine having to wear those.
Click to expand...

They don't want to be sharked. Different way to achieve the same thing. Sharking is a part of some people's game and thus they get upset when they can't use their moves.
 
The noise level in some pool rooms is high enough to be dangerous, particularly with long exposure. So wearing hearing protection of some type is such rooms is a good idea.
 
ChrisinNC said:
... Kind of like the opponent that is practicing shooting balls on the adjacent open table while you are at the table - the lack of respect and paying attention to your opponent while they have the table, during a match, just rubs me the wrong way.
Click to expand...

And, under WPA rules, it is an unsportsmanlike-conduct foul -- 6.17(e).
 
alstl said:
They don't want to be sharked. Different way to achieve the same thing. Sharking is a part of some people's game and thus they get upset when they can't use their moves.
Click to expand...

In over 90% of all cases where people are wearing headphones it has nothing to do with sharking. In those rare instances where the other guy tries to shark a player I fully understand when somebody IS using a headphone. But this is far from the norm and to fight sharking with headphones ... well, I don't mind. I like to talk friendly with people but never when they get down on the ball. If someone does not like to talk at all during a game - I am quick to notice and shut up for the entire match. So there is never a reason why somebody would need to wear a headphone playing me.

With Shane it may be a two-fold story. He is disabled. So he can use hearing aids and no sensible person should object. It is apparently also a fact that hearing aids are a lot different from normal hearing and background noise is a lot worse with those devices. We normal people probably can't imagine that and we should be happy that our hearing is still ok. So we should give him some slack.

OTOH Shane has - in recent times - showed some unsportsmanlike conduct. Like taking the cue ball in his hotel with him, like leaving gaps on purpose and so on. He also may gain some advantage by turning off his hearing aids without it being necessary. Still - it is a different case from somebody who doesn't need anything on or in his ears.
 
I play in some of the local tournaments, besides a league.
I don’t usually use headphones.
The problem is... both play loud music that i don’t care for.
The issue is the volume it is being played at.
Why do I have to listen to music that is hurting my ears?
 
There is a reason even loud talking was tradionally banned in libraries. Barroom 8 ball is one thing, but straight pool (like chess) is an intellectual game. The 50s era poolrooms where I learned to play were typically quiet as a tomb (except for occasional profanity following a miss). Now that those rooms are history, and players who want a game on full sized equipment must frequent ‘fern bars’ with loud jukeboxes, only people with superhuman focusing ability won’t likely suffer from distractions. I used to wear shooter’s foam earplugs out of desperation.
 
jimmyco said:
Source?



Clueless.
Click to expand...

68% of statistics are made up.

Of course shane thinks it beneficial to turn off/ down his hearing aides sometimes. How could it not be? There is something he doesn't want to hear and he no longer has to. The rest of us don't have that option.
 
Marcl3954 said:
I play in some of the local tournaments, besides a league.
I don’t usually use headphones.
The problem is... both play loud music that i don’t care for.
The issue is the volume it is being played at.
Why do I have to listen to music that is hurting my ears?
Click to expand...

foam earplugs, i see some people using them,
i use them at work
they keep the high pitch noises down, and you can still hear everything going on around
 
I've not read all the post but it sure does seem to be a big deal for the wrong reasons to some......JMO.

It really should matter "in general".

Sure, if your gonna push then it's not your fault if someone does not hear you because of headphones. That is their loss and should be end of story.

On the other hand, when I do choose to wear mine I make sure my opponent is ok with them, otherwise they stay in my bag. Key word: agreement. It means a lot.

Then again, you will "always" have the player that talks to you while shooting on purpose in order to "try" and throw you out of concentration etc..etc.. THAT IS WHEN I PUT MINE ON AND DON'T GIVE A CHIT WHAT THEY THINK.

Otherwise, "POOL" would be better off if "EVERYONE" was old school and respectful no matter if they was just hittin-em around, tourney or $1000 sets.

Situation should not matter. Respect is respect but we don't live in that world anymore.

Young men walk by elderly people trying to load groceries into their cars on a regular basis everywhere you go.

Few months back, I saw little old lady. She was having hard time handling her walker, cart and pocketbook etc all at same time.

Long story short:

I see a 20 something young man stop his car, get out and load her car.

I sit and watched and as soon as he was finished I pulled up to him and gave him $40. He didn't want it but I insisted so he accepted.

I know it's off topic but that is what we're talking here.

Respect, where and when the line should be followed or crossed.

Rake
 
Runner said:
I'm sure you've seen some of the snooker matches on YT at the Crucible where some guy's cel is ringing, and the guy answers it ! The answer?... referee simply says "You! Out! Now!"... and they escort him out, toot sweet.

What's next?.... SERVICE ANIMALS :eek:
Click to expand...
I'm with you Runner!

tashworth19191 said:
I practice by my with headphones, but would never play an opponent with headphones.
Click to expand...
Perfect. Nice job.
.....
I will say. Earl was justified wearing them against Sigel a few months back! Mike was acting like a jerk.
Made Earl look like a perfect gentleman. Lol
 
Last edited:
Black-Balled said:
68% of statistics are made up.

Of course shane thinks it beneficial to turn off/ down his hearing aides sometimes. How could it not be? There is something he doesn't want to hear and he no longer has to. The rest of us don't have that option.
Click to expand...

In school I was learndeded that 68.3% of statistics are made up depending on the poopulation.

Then again, that is only 80% true.
 
Sorry - I'm not being facetious, but I really don't see the big deal with wearing them. I'll shake your hand before and after the match, but with the exception of the lag, I'm playing the table and would rather stay focused on that. It's not that I'm trying to be disrespectful, but social hour is for another time.
 
pab said:
Sorry - I'm not being facetious, but I really don't see the big deal with wearing them. I'll shake your hand before and after the match, but with the exception of the lag, I'm playing the table and would rather stay focused on that. It's not that I'm trying to be disrespectful, but social hour is for another time.
Click to expand...

I guess it’s all about tradition. There are many sports where no human opponent is involved. Billiards is not one of them. I could see when ‘noise cancelling’ headphones might be justified (in our modern world), but in a playing situation where unavoidable super-obtrusive noise conditions is not a real issue, YOU ARE PLAYING AN OPPONENT. Billiards IS a social game. Misanthropes should find another sport. Interaction with your opponent IS a traditional part of the game.
 
DynoDan said:
I guess it’s all about tradition. There are many sports where no human opponent is involved. Billiards is not one of them. I could see when ‘noise cancelling’ headphones might be justified (in our modern world), but in a playing situation where unavoidable super-obtrusive noise conditions is not a real issue, YOU ARE PLAYING AN OPPONENT. Billiards IS a social game. Misanthropes should find another sport. Interaction with your opponent IS a traditional part of the game.
Click to expand...

That said, I often will not speak to an opponent during a match, other than to say the occasional "Nice shot!" I tend to concentrate on the game rather than the opponent. One reason I don't wish to play leagues, they are TOO DAMN social about the game.
 
Pushout said:
That said, I often will not speak to an opponent during a match, other than to say the occasional "Nice shot!" I tend to concentrate on the game rather than the opponent. One reason I don't wish to play leagues, they are TOO DAMN social about the game.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I'd rather not play league as well, but around here you have to play league if you want to participate in some of the better tournaments. Take the good with the bad, I guess.
 
pab said:
Agreed. I'd rather not play league as well, but around here you have to play league if you want to participate in some of the better tournaments. Take the good with the bad, I guess.
Click to expand...

Are you allowed to wear headphones in league and tournaments?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top