Does 6 Pocket provide for true generde neutrality in cue sports?
It's a little long but I hope you will read to the end!
First, LUXURY - thanks for bothering to have a "vision" in the first place. As is so often the case in industries that are sufferring and/or static, there are a unlimited number of nay sayers, or those who simply are unwilling to change the status quo. And far too few seeking ways to change the future for the better, much less anyone willing to take on the pain (personal and financial) which enevitably results from making those fundemental changes required to impact the industry in a mutualy beneficial way!
As a Director and the Co-Founder of 6 Pocket, Inc. I found this post had some interesting information and replys,.....and combined they bring up some compelling questions.
So the first is....."Are women really simply worse players than men or converslly, are men simply better?" And if the answer turns out to be yes, are the women and / or men willing to admit this is the "state of the sport"?
The surface evidence would suggest that it ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE, and that cue sports may well be the first sport which could easily be developed and promoted as "gender neutral"........especially in the professional ranks!
And so, in the development of the 6 Pocket business plans and strategies, one is to try to take advantage of this gender neutrality in terms of what it could do (if realized) to help "elevate" the social acceptability of cue sports in general.....well, no battle plan survies contact with the enemy! In fact we got a real eye opener as we tried to roll-out 6 Pocket to both "named" and avergage pro players. The consensus (although no one wanted to be quoted on it!) was:
The men think they are, well,...better.
The women (with the exception of the absolute best players in the world) think the men are better too. (Whatever happened to.... "I am woman hear me roar!" ?)
In trying to understand the reasons (other than "...that's just the way it is, and some things will never change...") the interviewees had, they seemed to combine into 3 groups...
1. Skill/shot creativity IN THE DEFENSIVE/SAFETY PLAY.
2. Stamina
3. Intimidation
The one that most surprised us was the stamina issue. As a "newbee" I guess I had no idea that sometimes matches can drag on and on and on as these purportedly "defensive battles" ensue. Sounds like watching a football game where the ball never makes is out side of the 40 yard lines.....While we're sure there's a contingent of cue sports enthusiasts to whom this kind of game is exciting, we can guarantee they are not the same people that companies like Ford, CITI, Accenture, Federal Expres, UPS, Budweiser, Yamaha, Cialis, Avon or Verizon Wireless, etc. etc. want to advertise to. No wonder there are few (if any) household name brand companies funelling huge advertising budgets into cue sports of any type, much less those relying on the old worn out formats of 8 and 9 ball.
As far as intimidation went...this came from the womens side and seemed to be focused to the defensive shot as well.
But upon further examination, it's really the first item that in fact drives the other 2!
So.....does getting rid of that one get rid all three?
Does getting rid of all three provide for a higher level of gender neutrality?
Does a higher level of gender neutrality help promote higher participation by national brand advertisers?
At 6 Pocket we believe the answer to be a RESOUNDING YES! Why? Well mostly becuase 6 Pocket provides no advantage for playing safe!
A purely offensive format (with no "community balls") 6 Pocket games at the professional level will play in under 2.5 hours (actually more likely to average 2 hours). Better yet, in tournaments you will only play once per day!
Remember in none of this time are the players "waiting" to play for more 7.5 minutes, stressing about the safe game, being hooked by their opponent, or suffering any anomosity building in that regard! (speaking to the imtimidation aspect above - now all you have to do is play your game and not worry about what your opponent is doing)
Now it's down to a purely offensive match where a win or loss is tied to nothing more than the individual players' pocketing skills!
Now women at all skill levels have a completely level field on which to engage AND BEAT men at the same level!
Gender neutrality mission accomplished!
Just one of the many reasons
6 Pocket is...The Future of Billiards!
