[david_c]

We've made the front page! Here's the article:

http://news.bbc.co.u.../uk/7125077.stm

[FrancesHinden]

There was also an item in the news section of the Sunday Telegraph yesterday about BB@B - I can't find it online.

[hrothgar]

Am I the only one who found this article horrifying?

"If only things were like they were when I was young.
Young people today... The way they dress is bad enough. But, oh my, the way they bid. And that loud rock music they listen to"

[jdonn]

hrothgar, on Dec 3 2007, 01:57 PM, said:

Am I the only one who found this article horrifying?

"If only things were like they were when I was young.
Young people today... The way they dress is bad enough. But, oh my, the way they bid. And that loud rock music they listen to"

It doesn't horrify me, because I can't help but laugh and laugh...

[mike777]

My generation is the most to blame, sigh.

We can only hope hats and formal bridge attire comes back. I only hope the UK goes more strict and not less.

[paulg]

FrancesHinden, on Dec 3 2007, 07:52 PM, said:

There was also an item in the news section of the Sunday Telegraph yesterday about BB@B - I can't find it online.

Bridge tables hit by 'unpleasantness' (Telegraph)

My scrabble playing friends have been asking if their controlling body would wish to publicise their game with such headlines!

[han]

Very funny indeed. The game is being overrun by overly competitive players.

[mr1303]

This article sums up for me why I don't play face to face any more. If I want to play in shorts and a t-shirt, why shouldn't I? Especially when bridge clubs insist on having the heating on all year round.

And for what it's worth, my t-shirts are not smelly.

[mike777]

mr1303, on Dec 3 2007, 05:50 PM, said:

This article sums up for me why I don't play face to face any more. If I want to play in shorts and a t-shirt, why shouldn't I? Especially when bridge clubs insist on having the heating on all year round.

And for what it's worth, my t-shirts are not smelly.

I do not understand this post. You can and have been able to play in shorts, but you stopped going when this was allowed? In fact the rules still have not been changed but you stopped going?

To get back to your main question? Why should you play in whatever you want?
IF what you want should be the rule, fair enough.

btw there are many many types of clubs that are very popular with people under 30 that have very strict dress codes. Dress codes do not keep young people away or from wanting in!

[scoob]

if anything, i could use an excuse to put on a tie more often.

[cherdano]

First the sign, now even in England they don't wear ties at the bridge table anymore. This game is really on a steep downhill slope.

[hrothgar]

mike777, on Dec 4 2007, 02:40 AM, said:

mr1303, on Dec 3 2007, 05:50 PM, said:

This article sums up for me why I don't play face to face any more. If I want to play in shorts and a t-shirt, why shouldn't I? Especially when bridge clubs insist on having the heating on all year round.

And for what it's worth, my t-shirts are not smelly.

I do not understand this post. You can and have been able to play in shorts, but you stopped going when this was allowed? In fact the rules still have not been changed but you stopped going?

To get back to your main question? Why should you play in whatever you want?
IF what you want should be the rule, fair enough.

btw there are many many types of clubs that are very popular with people under 30 that have very strict dress codes. Dress codes do not keep young people away or from wanting in!

I can't speak for mr1303, however, here are my own thoughts:

I can and do play dress up when the situation demands. I often need to done a suit and tie for customer facing presentations. It is an expected part of my job, so I suck it up, put on the monkey suit, and don't bitch about it because I don't have a choice.

On occasion, I will eat out at fancy restaurants with fairly strict dress codes. Here, once again, I put on the monkey suit because its my only choice if I want to eat at a Michelin three star.

When it comes to bridge, I have plenty of other choices... There are a LOT of different leisure activities competing for my time, attention, and money. The vast majority of them don't require that I conform to an archaic dress code or ape the behavioral patterns of Brits from centuries long gone.

Moreover: Potentially the most significant issue facing bridge is that its considered obsolete. Its a game for old fogeys. Barely anyone plays under the age of 50 plays. (I was watching CNN at the gym the other morning. They were commenting about about the decline of Sears relative to Target, Dome Despot, etc. Some talking head noted that many people commented that Sears was where there parents used to shop, back in the dim recesses of time... Bridge is the "Sears" of gaming)

Do you really believe that forcing folks to wear a jacket and tie is going increase the games appeal? With who? I can't see many people under the age of 50 clamoring for this type of change. [Oh Goodie! Yet another chance to incur dry cleaning bills!] To the extent that the under 30 crowd frequent lots of clubs with very strict dress codes. However, I'm guessing that a lot more of them focus on leather, latex, and ball gags than suits and ties.

As for the old fogey's, they're the ones who abandoned the suit and ties to begin with...

[helene_t]

Interesting thought that dress influences behavior. How does this relate to Sabine Auken's book?

[SoTired]

the old shot-in-the-foot ploy

this is a joke right?

[sceptic]

URGENT MESSAGE to Tony Forrester

Quote

He criticised men of all ages who attended tournaments "in shorts, smelly T-shirts, sandals, no socks".

Do you seriously expect people to wear socks with their sandals, if so then you are possibly responsible for the down turn in good dress sense at bridge events

[FrancesHinden]

For once I'm going to defend the EBU here.
All this stuff about dress is Tony Forrester's personal comments. As one of the best English players he is obviously worth listening to, but there is certainly no (new) official policy on dress.

(There is an existing policy on dress but it's not particularly strict)

[hrothgar]

sceptic, on Dec 4 2007, 02:09 PM, said:

URGENT MESSAGE to Tony Forrester

Quote

He criticised men of all ages who attended tournaments "in shorts, smelly T-shirts, sandals, no socks".

Do you seriously expect people to wear socks with their sandals, if so then you are possibly responsible for the down turn in good dress sense at bridge events

Is there any kind of geographic relationship between socks and sandals?

Here in the US very few people seem to weak socks with sandals (or Tevas or whatever). I've noticed that in Germany the coverse seems true.

Personally, I prefer wearing socks with sandals (otherwise also those dust particles that get swept between your feet and the sandals turn into a nasty sweat paste). My mother is complete horrified by this fashion "statement" and constantly blows me ***** about it.

[Walddk]

FrancesHinden, on Dec 4 2007, 02:11 PM, said:

For once I'm going to defend the EBU here.
All this stuff about dress is Tony Forrester's personal comments. As one of the best English players he is obviously worth listening to, but there is certainly no (new) official policy on dress.

What's your point, Frances? Do you mean that Forrester is in a better position to talk and give advice about clothes just because he is one of England's best bridge players?

As far as I know he is not employed by any major fashion company.

Roland

[jtfanclub]

FrancesHinden, on Dec 4 2007, 07:11 AM, said:

(There is an existing policy on dress but it's not particularly strict)

No Bridge Buffs in England, then?

[scoob]

hrothgar, on Dec 4 2007, 07:00 AM, said:

Is there any kind of geographic relationship between socks and sandals?

Here in the US very few people seem to weak socks with sandals (or Tevas or whatever). I've noticed that in Germany the coverse seems true.

colder in germany - average summer temp is only 19C *brrr*