blackshoe, on Jun 7 2008, 02:01 PM, said:
I get the impression that Wolff thinks everybody cheats.
I've only met him a few times over many years and briefly at that, but I can't imagine he thinks "everyone cheats." Perhaps he thinks that it's important to eliminate possible ways in which improper conduct could occur.
As a non-participant in ACBL tourneys for about the last 20yrs, I don't have "a dog in this fight." After reading this thread I have a suggestion though. Running a tourney is in some sense like developing a new software product. Before you release your product to the market you run through a series of "beta tests," where real or potential customers test-drive the product before its general release.
The cell-phone ban is like a new software product (in some senses). I fully agree with the stated reasons for the ban, but I also agree with the posters who point out the problems with loss of access, etc.
My suggestion would be that at the summer nationals the ACBL should suspend the cell-phone ban
except for the last three rounds of the Spingold (quarters, semis and final). These are the rounds for which security is most important anyway, and there are only 8 (then 4 then 2) tables. If the ban works out OK it could gradually be expanded to other events at future nationals, while problems that occur could be ironed out before larger scale implementation.
-Bob