[DJNeill]

Hi all,
To what degree are cell phones allowed at the ACBL Nationals nowadays?

Thanks,
Dan

[awm]

As far as I know, the rule remains that cell phones are not allowed in the room of national events, or in the corridor just outside a national event. This is regardless of whether the phone is turned off, and whether you're a player or a kibitzer. This carries a full-board penalty, unless you have the chutzpah to talk the director down (which some pairs apparently do). Of course, there is always the "how would they know" question so in practice this just means draconian penalties for people with ringing phones and insufficient chutzpah.

Phones are still allowed in regional-level events, although the (rarely-enforced) penalty against ringing cell-phones remains on the books.

[jdonn]

Don't forget the booth set up outside the playing area, they will hold your phone for a session if you let them steal $2 from you. Apparently raising the entry fees during a terrible recession after consecutive years of making a surplus was not adequate.

[keylime]

I gotta admit, this is one of the most least favorite things now about playing bridge competitively. This does not sit well with me at all.

[blackshoe]

Simple solution: Don't go anywhere near a national event with a cell phone in your possession. Note that I'm not saying "leave your cell phone in your room".

Maybe when attendance at nationals drops by 75%, Memphis will get the message.

How do you assess a "full board penalty" against a kibitzer?

Hypothetical scenario: someone is walking by a national event, in the corridor outside. The cell phone in his pocket rings. He is immediately jumped by half a dozen ... what? security persons? directors? other ACBL employees? Hired thugs? He says "what the hell are you doing? Get away from me, or I'll call the cops!" It turns out he doesn't even know how to play bridge. Oops!

[barmar]

blackshoe, on Mar 10 2009, 09:11 AM, said:

Maybe when attendance at nationals drops by 75%, Memphis will get the message.

Has there been any significant drop-off in attendance that can be attributed to the ban? What percentage of attendees at the NABC even play in the national events that are affected?

[hanp]

In Dutch we call this a storm in a glass of water. Is there an equivalent English expression?

[blackshoe]

hanp, on Mar 10 2009, 04:32 PM, said:

In Dutch we call this a storm in a glass of water. Is there an equivalent English expression?

"Tempest in a teapot."

[RMB1]

blackshoe, on Mar 10 2009, 09:34 PM, said:

hanp, on Mar 10 2009, 04:32 PM, said:

In Dutch we call this a storm in a glass of water. Is there an equivalent English expression?

"Tempest in a teapot."

In English there is more than one equivalent because, in England, the equivalent is "a storm in a teacup".

Robin

[blackshoe]

I don't speak English, I speak 'Murican.

[jdonn]

barmar, on Mar 10 2009, 04:30 PM, said:

blackshoe, on Mar 10 2009, 09:11 AM, said:

Maybe when attendance at nationals drops by 75%, Memphis will get the message.

Has there been any significant drop-off in attendance that can be attributed to the ban? What percentage of attendees at the NABC even play in the national events that are affected?

I am not going to Houston for three reasons. I'm very busy, I don't want to pay for it, and the cell phone ban. I don't know how to quantify each one or whether I would go if only two of them were factors, but they are definitely each significant (say at least 5% of the reason). The cell phone ban is a smaller reason than the other two, but still had significance.

I am giving significant thought to not even renewing my ACBL membership. I am very unhappy with several things involving the ACBL, in particular the cell phone ban and increasing prices right now. I get all the bridge I want on BBO anyway, so my only motivation to go to tournaments at all is to see and play with my friends. If I do not renew I will write them a very thoughtful email explaining why.

[awm]

I think there's a sizable set of people who approach this by treating it as just a bigger penalty for ringing phones, since that is the de facto effect of the ban. They continue carrying their phones to events, but are extra careful to turn them off and put them away before playing. As long as none of these people are given actual penalties for carrying their phones, the attendance drop-off will be hardly noticeable. This is especially true because of the larger potential drop-off in attendance due to the bad economy (increased entry fees don't help either, but honestly the entry fees are a small percentage of the cost for most people traveling to nationals, relative to flights and hotels and food and such).

Now if ACBL started body searches for phones, or started assessing penalties based on rumors that someone had a phone (without the phone actually going off) then I would expect a much different response.

[keylime]

I would be ok, if the holding area was free of charge to bridge players. At least that way there would be a little grumbling, versus this approach.

I'm with Josh; I have some major concerns about how the ACBL is securing their income. I haven't in earnest thought about letting my membership lapse, but I'm not happy about the potential of having my sweetheart who doesn't know anything about bridge, get hassled by the ACBL officials for inadvertently using a cell phone in the lobby near the restrooms. One instance of that, and you'll see me assume that someone is attacking them, and the response will be immediate. Mark my words.

[quiddity]

jdonn, on Mar 10 2009, 04:59 PM, said:

If I do not renew I will write them a very thoughtful email explaining why.

This is just silly. Their iPhones will be checked in at the booth, so how can you possibly expect them to receive your email?

[jmcw]

Maybe pitchers can have a time out and take a call on the mound.
Tiger could call his wife while lining up his putt.
How did we ever manage pre cell phones!
If you need a phone 24/7 go play millionaire and call a friend.

Sensible decision by the ACBL. End of story.

[TimG]

jmcw, on Mar 13 2009, 09:20 PM, said:

End of story.

You heard him, no need to discuss this anymore. Anyone who disagrees is being unreasonable. Move along to some other issue.

[qwery_hi]

TimG, on Mar 13 2009, 06:54 PM, said:

jmcw, on Mar 13 2009, 09:20 PM, said:

End of story.

You heard him, no need to discuss this anymore. Anyone who disagrees is being unreasonable. Move along to some other issue.

All bow down to the wisdom of TimG. The Gods have spoken.

[TimG]

qwery_hi, on Mar 13 2009, 10:05 PM, said:

TimG, on Mar 13 2009, 06:54 PM, said:

jmcw, on Mar 13 2009, 09:20 PM, said:

End of story.

You heard him, no need to discuss this anymore. Anyone who disagrees is being unreasonable. Move along to some other issue.

All bow down to the wisdom of TimG. The Gods have spoken.

If you're going to pick on me, at least have the decency to do it at a site where I am not a member.

[qwery_hi]

TimG, on Mar 13 2009, 07:12 PM, said:

qwery_hi, on Mar 13 2009, 10:05 PM, said:

TimG, on Mar 13 2009, 06:54 PM, said:

jmcw, on Mar 13 2009, 09:20 PM, said:

End of story.

You heard him, no need to discuss this anymore. Anyone who disagrees is being unreasonable. Move along to some other issue.

All bow down to the wisdom of TimG. The Gods have spoken.

If you're going to pick on me, at least have the decency to do it at a site where I am not a member.

Your remark would have been funny if I had called you a cheat!

Want some cheese with that whine?

[jdonn]

jmcw, on Mar 13 2009, 09:20 PM, said:

Maybe pitchers can have a time out and take a call on the mound.
Tiger could call his wife while lining up his putt.
How did we ever manage pre cell phones!
If you need a phone 24/7 go play millionaire and call a friend.

Sensible decision by the ACBL. End of story.

Very fair analogy. Obviously what everyone is suggesting is stopping play in the middle of the hand to take some calls.

We used to manage without prenatal care and electricity too. Want to play bridge with the lights out, assuming you survive being born?

Your story's ending sucks.