so...
i must make a clarification about my feelings about being in the top of the bottom division in albany. my lack of enthusiasm has less to do with ratings and more to do with the kind of game i like to play -- anyone who knows how much time i spent getting my ass kicked by considerably better players can understand that i would rather lose a challenging game than win an easy one. also, i find that the style of play in the middle and top divisions is more in keeping with what i enjoy most. finally, there are plenty of people in d3 in albany capable of giving me a good game.
there has been quite a lot of talk (angst?) about ratings these days. i'll admit that i got caught up in it to a certain extent...i'm not going to say that it isn't easy to lose patience, get frustrated, etc. people are constantly telling me that i am underrated, but i think it would be more accurate to say that i have potential to be rated higher. there are certainly people rated below me that are better players, and there are people who have peaked at points above me that i will likely surpass. it's the nature of the beast. ratings are ever-changing things representative of performance in tournaments, not necessarily skill, or word knowledge, and certainly not self-worth. we all have the right to pick and chose tournaments based on whatever criteria we chose -- it is your time and your money, spend both as you wish. but if rating is the ONLY criteria, disappointment is somewhat inevitable. i had a shitty ass tournament in north salem this past weekend, but i can't say i didn't have a good time, can't say it wasn't worth going. shitty games make the good games even better by comparison.
when i think about the people i like playing the most, regardless of skill, it is those who truly love the game and all it has to offer. i am thrilled to have found tournament scrabble, and am thankful for all my new friend who have been so welcoming and supportive. although i often wish i had found it sooner, i know this will always be a part of my life. i think most of us can say the same. as far as ratings go, know that if you are taking steps to improve, that you likely will, and your rating will eventually be reflective of this. in the meantime, try to ENJOY yourself a bit!
as an aside, i have been on the losing end of the games i have enjoyed playing the most. i think this says a lot...or at least hope it does.
there has been quite a lot of talk (angst?) about ratings these days. i'll admit that i got caught up in it to a certain extent...i'm not going to say that it isn't easy to lose patience, get frustrated, etc. people are constantly telling me that i am underrated, but i think it would be more accurate to say that i have potential to be rated higher. there are certainly people rated below me that are better players, and there are people who have peaked at points above me that i will likely surpass. it's the nature of the beast. ratings are ever-changing things representative of performance in tournaments, not necessarily skill, or word knowledge, and certainly not self-worth. we all have the right to pick and chose tournaments based on whatever criteria we chose -- it is your time and your money, spend both as you wish. but if rating is the ONLY criteria, disappointment is somewhat inevitable. i had a shitty ass tournament in north salem this past weekend, but i can't say i didn't have a good time, can't say it wasn't worth going. shitty games make the good games even better by comparison.
when i think about the people i like playing the most, regardless of skill, it is those who truly love the game and all it has to offer. i am thrilled to have found tournament scrabble, and am thankful for all my new friend who have been so welcoming and supportive. although i often wish i had found it sooner, i know this will always be a part of my life. i think most of us can say the same. as far as ratings go, know that if you are taking steps to improve, that you likely will, and your rating will eventually be reflective of this. in the meantime, try to ENJOY yourself a bit!
as an aside, i have been on the losing end of the games i have enjoyed playing the most. i think this says a lot...or at least hope it does.