[pokerbids]

What a forum , what a site and what participation – Unbelievable. I took a moment away from reading just to think of what this site means to me.

Speaking as an ordinary bridge player I am struck wordless at the eminence of the crowd in here and the level of discussion. For a moment I forget whose side I am on in the current debate on in the water cooler. I just wanted to mention that never have I participated ever in my life where such a worldwide and eminent degree of participation exists. Through this thread and forum I have heard what my hero’s are saying – Yes gentlemen and ladies many of you are probably unknown to you all hero’s and heroines in your field. At least to me you are. Even though this is off topic in this thread I just wanted to say how fabulously amazed I am at the level of participation and the eminence of it. There are heads and high level officials of many bridge federation, there are a zillion of you who have represented many institutions and country’s even at very highest levels and I sometimes wonder if you realize the power of the forum and the site. The power of thought, of debate and of experience that you bring and open the eyes of a ordinary bridge player such as myself. I just wanted to comment on this aspect after reading the thread and the extremely appropriate comments of the head of the USB (even HE reads the forum!!! Wowww). It’s a gathering of unparalleled eminence and it is a privilege and honour for me just to read what you have to say. If I ever (well in my dreams) come to represent anything more than the poor lil social club I belong to my heart would burst with pride leave alone one’s country. I would say that this forum and site is truly the United Nation of bridge cept I daren’t really say that cause that will start a murderous chain of its own with everyone telling what an idiot I am for using the term United Nations and what a political thing that is and put me in front of a firing squad!!!

I felt it just appropriate to mention how impressed an ordinary bridge player as me is and how dazzled I am at this discussion and I just wonder if you yourselves realize the power of this forum. And naturally well done Fred and all of you who have contributed to the making of this site as well as the level of thought and power of expression that you all bring on here.

From an ordinary bedazzled bridge player – Thanks for just allowing me to read this stuff and hear you speak.

pokerbids

[Walddk]

I am impressed by the fact that you are impressed, pokerbids. We are all just ordinary people who like to express and share views, mostly regarding bridge related matters. Most of us don't know each other from real life, and occasionally we have fierce verbal battles. Nothing personal, just a heated debate.

A slight correction to your post. The president of the USBF is a *she*. Jan Martel is her name, and she is a nice person and a strong bridge player. I can understand the confusion. In Scandinavia and the Netherlands for example, Jan is a male's first name.

I suspect without knowing for sure that Jan (Martel) was named Janet by her parents.

Speaking of first names in USA for instance, I have always been wondering how you can know if Pat Henderson is a male or a female. Is Pat short for Patrick or Patricia? I guess you have to see the person first to tell.

Roland

[helene_t]

Yes agree, the level in this forum is extremely high. It is really fascinating to follow the discussions between the experts here.

[Walddk]

Just a pity that we're only 5,350 members given that BBO has around 150,000. Almost always do we see more guests than members. I wish they would become members and join the debates. I hope they know that this is for free too.

Roland

[mrdct]

pokerbids, on Oct 16 2007, 02:23 AM, said:

I just wanted to comment on this aspect after reading the thread and the extremely appropriate comments of the head of the USB (even HE reads the forum!!! Wowww).

She.

[mrdct]

Walddk, on Oct 16 2007, 04:42 AM, said:

Just a pity that we're only 5,350 members given that BBO has around 150,000.

Of which, on an obviously sound statistical basis, 11.2 +/- 1.8 at a 95% CI voted for the Big W.

[fifee]

Walddk, on Oct 16 2007, 03:10 AM, said:

Speaking of first names in USA for instance, I have always been wondering how you can know if Pat Henderson is a male or a female. Is Pat short for Patrick or Patricia? I guess you have to see the person first to tell.

Roland

I don't know Pat Henderson, but Roland could be referring to me. I have been called everything from Pat Henderson to Pam Anderson, the latter many times at bbo - mostly by males who were probably daydreaming.

Warm regards from Patricia Anderson, definitely female I think its easy to tell male from female even if you don't see pictures. The dynamic is the key.

[scoob]

Walddk, on Oct 16 2007, 03:42 AM, said:

Just a pity that we're only 5,350 members given that BBO has around 150,000. Almost always do we see more guests than members. I wish they would become members and join the debates. I hope they know that this is for free too.

Roland

perhaps the powers that be should start including a "top 5 forum posts" in the in-game ad rotations

[Rain]

scoob, on Oct 16 2007, 08:33 PM, said:

Walddk, on Oct 16 2007, 03:42 AM, said:

Just a pity that we're only 5,350 members given that BBO has around 150,000. Almost always do we see more guests than members. I wish they would become members and join the debates. I hope they know that this is for free too.

Roland

perhaps the powers that be should start including a "top 5 forum posts" in the in-game ad rotations

Top 5 based on what? # of views or...?

I can see highlighting a few forum posts, but it's unlikely what I find funny = your top 5 =D. But I can definitely see this....

[gwnn]

I always wanted to write something like this, but I'm not much of a writer.

[nickf]

Rain, on Oct 17 2007, 04:34 PM, said:

Top 5 based on what? # of views or...?

Probably top 5 based on either most number of cliches used or most jingoistic expressions.

Of course we may need to handicap some of the regular posters.

nickf
sydney

[barmar]

Walddk, on Oct 16 2007, 04:10 AM, said:

Speaking of first names in USA for instance, I have always been wondering how you can know if Pat Henderson is a male or a female. Is Pat short for Patrick or Patricia? I guess you have to see the person first to tell.

Unless they're a character on Saturday Night Live, in which case that doesn't help.

[Echognome]

Rain, on Oct 16 2007, 10:34 PM, said:

Top 5 based on what? # of views or...?

I can see highlighting a few forum posts, but it's unlikely what I find funny = your top 5 =D. But I can definitely see this....

Why not the top 5 most viewed or replied to threads this week/month/whatever that are bridge related?

[FrancesHinden]

fifee, on Oct 17 2007, 12:37 AM, said:

Warm regards from Patricia Anderson, definitely female I think its easy to tell male from female even if you don't see pictures. The dynamic is the key.

I always think I can tell, but when I first started person many (male) posters thought I was male, so perhaps it's not so easy.

Of course, it's statistically proven that 94.3% +/- 0.2% of internet bridge posters are male anyway.

[Trysalot]

I think the thing to do would be for BBO to put in a news item to appear at different times a day several times a week the way the announcements do about Robot Race and Money Bridge Tournaments giving prizes for the top scorers of 100 hands in a given month.

The message would be a brief description of Forums populated by 5,000+ of the BBO users and an invitation to click the link to log on as a guest and hopefully enjoy it and sign up. The link would go to a special guest log-on that has on that screen a simple description of how to get started exploring and another welcome and invitation to join.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Trysalot]

Thanks BBO for the quick response to my suggestion. I enjoyed seeing the log-on announcement tonight with links to three of the topics under discussion.

Sure do hope a lot of people are clicking those links. If you can tell how many newcomers visit in the next few days, please share the info with us.