[TimG]

barmar, on May 5 2008, 07:15 PM, said:

Even a token effort demonstrates that ACBL management is concerned and is trying.

I generally think of ACBL management to mean the CEO and Memphis staff, not the Board of Directors. This rule was put into place by the Board of Directors.

I think it is a pretty feeble attempt and if it is, as you suggest, a case of window dressing they ought to have done something less inconvenient for those playing in the events.

[barmar]

TimG, on May 5 2008, 08:41 PM, said:

barmar, on May 5 2008, 07:15 PM, said:

Even a token effort demonstrates that ACBL management is concerned and is trying.

I generally think of ACBL management to mean the CEO and Memphis staff, not the Board of Directors. This rule was put into place by the Board of Directors.

I have no idea what the division of responsibilities is between the Memphis staff and the BoD (I have similar confusion regarding ordinary companies -- I don't know the operational difference between a President and a CEO). I was using the term to refer collectively to all the people who are able to take actions affecting the league as a whole.

[matmat]

barmar, on May 5 2008, 07:15 PM, said:

Even a token effort demonstrates that ACBL management is concerned and is trying.

are you sure it's not a demonstration that they are concerned to look as if they're trying?

[jdonn]

barmar, on May 5 2008, 07:15 PM, said:

Doing nothing doesn't address the problem. Even a token effort demonstrates that ACBL management is concerned and is trying. "Don't do anything" suggests that they're just putting their head in the sand and ignoring the concerns.

Sorry, for a minute there I thought you were Hillary Clinton arguing in favor of her gas tax relief proposal. 'Who cares if anyone who knows diddly about the topic knows my proposal won't work, at least I'm trying! If you are doing nothing then shame on you since you aren't even trying.'

[barmar]

Touché, Josh....

As in the real world, really solving a problem is hard. Doing just enough to satisfy the people asking for relief, on the other hand, is more expedient.

[david_c]

barmar, on May 6 2008, 01:15 AM, said:

Doing nothing doesn't address the problem.

In my opinion this attitude is responsible for some of the worst decisions I've ever seen made.

Not all problems are easily addressable. Doing something for the sake of doing something just makes things worse.

[hrothgar]

barmar, on May 6 2008, 03:15 AM, said:

hrothgar, on May 4 2008, 03:18 PM, said:

barmar, on May 4 2008, 09:38 PM, said:

It seems unlikely that the BoD chose to do this capriciously -- the BoD is comprised of bridge players, who will themselves be subject to the rule.  There must have been concerns voiced that prompted it.  All we react to is the inconvenience, and the fascist attitude we feel from ACBL management.

There's been lots of whining, but few constructive alternatives suggested.

I think that there have been a number of constructive alternatives offered...

Most of them incorporate some element of the following: "Don't do anything"

Why in god's name would you ever want to introduce a cosmetic change that will do nothing to address the core problem but will significant inconvenience the membership?

Doing nothing doesn't address the problem. Even a token effort demonstrates that ACBL management is concerned and is trying. "Don't do anything" suggests that they're just putting their head in the sand and ignoring the concerns.

What do you think the "core problem" is? The core problem could be that there's a perception, probably unfounded, that electronic devices are being, or could be, used to cheat.

Comment 1: Needless to say, I very much agree with David C's comment that

Quote

Doing something for the sake of doing something just makes things worse

Comment 2: If the ACBL had just put forth a "token effort" I wouldn't care. I'd be amused. I'd probably view the efforts with distain. But I thats par for the course. However, this isn't a token effort. We're not all being asked to wear "Whip Inflation Now!" buttons or think positive thoughts.

The ACBL is banning players from carrying cell phones. From the sounds of things, the ACBL is investing in costly bug sweeping systems to track down offenders.

The organization is wasting time and money.
Its pissing off an important part of the membership base.
Its demonstrating once again how ineffectual the institution's decision making processes are.

Comment 3: For what its worth, I think that the core problem faced by the ACBL is that they are incapable of adjusting to change. This crops up in a few different areas.

First: As I noted before, I find it incomprehensible that the ACBL has not adopted dealing machine; instead forcing competitors to play boards at different points in time. I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts that this is a political issue, primarily motivated by the fact that the Directors don't want to learn how to use any of those new fangled machines that those Europeans invented...

Second: The potential to use electronic devices for cheating has been well understood for years. The ACBL had every opportunity to take the bulls by the horns a few years back and develop a measured and timely policy. They preferred to stick their heads in the sand, pretend that nothing could go wrong, and now find themselves rushing to implement a half assed response.

[TimG]

hrothgar, on May 6 2008, 07:25 AM, said:

The organization is wasting time and money. 
Its pissing off an important part of the membership base.

For what it is worth, when I exchanged e-mails with Jay Baum (ACBL CEO) about this matter, he wrote: "This subject is not getting much attention (surprising)."

I would suggest writing to him. If you feel strongly, get your friends to write to him, too. His e-mail address is Jay.Baum(at)acbl.org.

[jdonn]

TimG, on May 6 2008, 08:14 AM, said:

hrothgar, on May 6 2008, 07:25 AM, said:

The organization is wasting time and money. 
Its pissing off an important part of the membership base.

For what it is worth, when I exchanged e-mails with Jay Baum (ACBL CEO) about this matter, he wrote: "This subject is not getting much attention (surprising)."

I would suggest writing to him. If you feel strongly, get your friends to write to him, too. His e-mail address is Jay.Baum(at)acbl.org.

the acbl website says ceo@acbl.org so I guess I'll send to both.

[pclayton]

In the end i think I will welcome the ban. Getting Kimied between sessions is impossible without a cell phone

[TimG]

pclayton, on May 6 2008, 02:12 PM, said:

In the end i think I will welcome the ban. Getting Kimied between sessions is impossible without a cell phone

I take it Kimie does not read this forum!

As far as the e-mail addresses, either will work.

[hrothgar]

I have just had an epiphany...

I never truly appreciated the true glory of the ACBL's cell phone ban.

Disposable cell phones are cheap.
They can be bought with cash... Meaning no paper trail...

Imagine the fun in purchasing a couple phones before a tournament and planting them on folks.

For extra special fun, arrange to have someone call one of said phones in the middle of an event.

For even more fun, pretend that someone else planted a cell phone on YOU

[JoAnneM]

I just read that there will be a fee for checking electronic devices at the NABC. Has that been mentioned here yet?

[Elianna]

JoAnneM, on Jun 5 2008, 01:07 PM, said:

I just read that there will be a fee for checking electronic devices at the NABC. Has that been mentioned here yet?

It was mentioned as a possibility. Do you have more specific information? Like if the cell phones will be secure, or just left unattended during the game?

This also seems like it might be a good money-making scheme for ACBL. Like, if they need money, you ban cell phones, then charge people a fee to hold the phones for them. Not that I'm accusing them of this.

[h2osmom]

I saw in in this month Bridge Bulletin, that cell phone checking will be available near play sites for a fee. I expected this. No mention of what the fee will be, and if it will apply each time a phone is checked.

I would be curious as to how many people have contacted ACBL about this, since Jay Baum had said that this isn't getting a lot of attention.

[blackshoe]

Well, I hadn't planned to go to a National any time soon anyway (can't afford it), but since I am not going to pay the ACBL for the privilege of losing my cell phone, I wouldn't go even if I could afford it. Scroom.

[TimG]

h2osmom, on Jun 5 2008, 04:25 PM, said:

I would be curious as to how many people have contacted ACBL about this, since Jay Baum had said that this isn't getting a lot of attention.

He also told me that there had been very little feedback. I wonder how many others he told the same thing.

[JoAnneM]

Page 11 June Bulletin, in yellow at the bottom. "ACBL to ban electronic devices in national events.......A check station will be available for a fee."

[matmat]

JoAnneM, on Jun 5 2008, 06:04 PM, said:

Page 11 June Bulletin, in yellow at the bottom. "ACBL to ban electronic devices in national events.......A check station will be available for a fee."

lol

so the whole point of the regulation was to get more revenue?