comments at the table

[com...@edmonds.wednet.edu]

Id like to point out that many of the discussions about comments at the
table have been made by folks who play in regular partnerships. When I
play with my regular pd, for whom I have ruined bridge games for 25 years,
I say very little. When I botch a hand, he makes no comment or maybe on
rare occasions, *You suck, pd * or *npspf* (no problem, stupid
porkface), which over long experience I have come to understand means,
*no problem, pd* .

With a new pd, this is an entirely different situation. Many of the inane
compliments are meant to be friendly and supportive which is very
important with someone you have just met 10 minutes ago via computer and
are going to be involved with in a highly competitive venture. I dont
think that the comments are generally intended to be gloating. I
frequently compliment partner on inferior, bad and even occaionally
moronic plays. Good try pd, I say as I am gagging on my beverage or
throwing objects across the room. It frequently seems to improve their
play.

It is terrible to form a table and have an opponents misplay be greeted by
his partners question- Why didnt you play the DQ pd? What are the
possible answers to this question?

A. I suck pard
B. I am stupid pd
C. I am an alien pd
D. I am traitor to our partnership and am trying to get a poor score
E. I am a poor bridge player, pd, but from now on I will play at world
championship level
F. I am a good bridge player who made a mistake and will play better from
now on
G. Fuck you pd (and disconnect)

So I guess I am saying that we should be somewhat tolerant of new
partnerships trying to glue their partnership together with silly
compliments or comments. I think that rarely are they meant to be
insulting.

Gil Comeau

--
Relayed from the OKbridge discussion list (dis...@okbridge.com)
OKbridge -- Bridge on the Internet -- http://www.okbridge.com

[big...@idt.net]

I think Gil is righton the money here. I was one of the contributors who
described a longterm partnership situation. On reading his post, I realized I
tend to do the same thing as Gil when playing with a new partner. I go out of
my way to say something supportive, rather than be critical or just silent.
In truth, a stony silence from across the table can be quite intimidating when
you have just gone down on a hand and aren't sure if you misplayed it or not;
it's rather comforting to hear "nice try" or "bad luck" from your CHO.

Irv

[XKM...@prodigy.com]

Gil,
I really enjoy your sense of humor. And I agree with you. It can be very
disconcerting when playing with a pickup partner to have your pd sit there
in stony silence. A kind word can go a long way. And kindness from opps
also goes a long way. Last night on the second hand with a new pd I ended
up in a contract which was CLEARLY a bidding misunderstanding. After taking
the first 5 or 6 tricks, the server skipped the hand with a comment to the
effect that he didn't want a good score from such an obvious mistake. He
was a gentleman, as was my partner. I commend them both. It would be nice
to see this attitude as the rule, rather than the exception.

rleene

rleene

[bi...@cshore.com]

The very humorous Gil wrote:

[ROFL snip]

>So I guess I am saying that we should be somewhat tolerant of new
>partnerships trying to glue their partnership together with silly
>compliments or comments. I think that rarely are they meant to be
>insulting.

All true and well said. It really doesn't hurt so much to be tolerant
even of not-so-new partnerships trying to stay glued together with a
few social niceties. :)

still chuckling,

Bill S.
aka Griffins

[jam...@west.net]

> So I guess I am saying that we should be somewhat tolerant of new
> partnerships trying to glue their partnership together with silly
> compliments or comments. I think that rarely are they meant to be
> insulting.
>

> Gil Comeau
Another to laff at...Helen