LJ Idol Season 10, Week 3: "Brushback Pitch"

[copyright1983]

Game TheorySeveral years ago, during a National Scrabble Championship, I became a minor celebrity

Comments

[mamas_minion]

I think as long as you play the game within the rules you are not being too competitive. Also as long as you are not being a rules lawyer because that ruins the game for every body.

[copyright1983]

Well said. Thanks for reading!

[fannishliss]

love the punchline!

[copyright1983]

So do I. Thanks for reading!

[murielle]

I tend to play for fun, but I do like to win. To me, one of the most important issues is what kind of winner/loser are you. If you lose, do you stomp off shouting that the winner cheated? When you win do you congratulate the loser on a good game, or if they had a really bad run, tell them, sincerely, better luck next time. Good sportsmanship is something that seems largely, today, to have gone the way of the dodo bird. More's the pity.

I really enjoy your posts on Scrabble. I always learn something and they are always interesting and well written.

[copyright1983]

Oh, there's plenty more to be written on sportsmanship vs. gamesmanship. Maybe some other time.

Thanks for reading!

[halfshellvenus]

For some, the "spirit of the game" means playing by the most obvious rules, and if you know an obscure one and use it, it's only a problem if you win. Not if THEY win, if you win. ;)

That said, I am still peeved about the Olympic runner who dived to 3rd place over the woman who was actually poised to win 3rd place.

Down 4-7, though? I can see why you would have put cleverness and strategy in play.

[copyright1983]

I vaguely remember that Olympics incident--that's a tough one. I think it's the fact that the rules ARE obscure that makes things difficult. But at professional level, everyone should (in theory) know the rules backwards and forwards.

Thanks for reading!

[my_name_is_jenn]

Hey, as long as you play by the rules, what's the problem?

:)

[copyright1983]

Agreed. Thanks for reading!