[Daanz-dip] This has happened before folks

[CanberraDoug]

This item forwarded from Andrew Geraghty, as he was having issues posting his message.
Doug Stewart

----- Original Message ----- 
From: creativewords 
To: CanberraDoug 
Cc: daanz-dip at daanz.org.au 
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 11:25 PM
Subject: Re: [Daanz-dip] This has happened before folks


Gee, Jason,

Even *I* can't remember ever being president of the DAA, because I never was. Secretary, yes (hi Sean!). Despite what you may have read, it was I who wrote the original DAA Constitution -- I don't recall Andrew Cheevers adding a single word.

Anyway, it's hardly the point, is it? There is only one constant in the past decade of Australian Diplomacy and that is its inexorable and internecine march to self-destruction. Good work fellas, good to see some standards are being maintained.

I'll freely admit to being pleasantly surprised about a year ago in being personally invited back to the tournament circuit by one of the elder statesmen of the hobby and, along with Doug Stewart, being invited to run tournaments again. Perhaps there weren't enough punching bags available back then.

I have attended a few tournaments in the past couple of years. It's amusing to meet some people ("oh, YOU'RE Andrew Geraghty?) as if they expect me to have two heads, reptilian scales and, of course, one eye, although how I could maintain a balanced world view from its reported anatomical position is something of a mystery.

I'm not a DAANZ member for some reason -- mostly because I have had things to do and, while I enjoy the game and the challenge, I find myself reading misinformed rubbish bent on destroying the hobby, not building it up. It was ever so. If the people who have been alienated in the past decade are no loss to the hobby, then things must be going just great, right? Right.

I agree with the suggestion to scrap the Bismarck Cup -- the best players in the country know who they are and the hobby doesn't need a poisoned chalice whose machinations risk perverting tournament results, especially if the net result is detrimental to the hobby.

I cannot agree, however, that a Diplomacy event which excludes or is designed to exclude players is a good idea. This would be the exact opposite of the charter of DAANZ -- to foster the growth of Diplomacy at all levels. If it could be demonstrated, or even shown as possible, that such a move was orchestrated for the express purpose of denying certain junior players a chance to advance their BC standing, let alone personally targetted at any individual or family, then I am sure any even-handed DAANZ leadership would carefully weigh an application for BC affiliation against the destructive potential such a move might create.

If DAANZ can't stop the incessant bickering, then the only question is -- when the music stops, will there be enough players and chairs for a quorum at Diplomacy, much less the major multi-board tournaments we once had?

Andrew Geraghty

PS, I still don't understand what Jason was insinuating "had happened before" and in which I was allegedly involved? 





  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jason Whitby 
  To: daanz-dip at daanz.org.au 
  Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 8:35 PM
  Subject: [Daanz-dip] This has happened before folks

  I believe the hobby has seen this sort of thing before.  Does anyone else remember the time that
  Andrew Geraghty was President of the DAA?

  I am not currently a member of the DAANZ, so my view can easily be dismissed.  But I have been
  around for long enough to know where the various people involved in this current episode of soap
  opera are coming from.

  It is not anti-discriminatory to organise an age-restricted function.  I can't apply for home and
  contents insurance with Australian Pensioner's insurance because I am not old enough (can't recall
  if it is 55 or 60 or whatever).  I can't be a member of the U17 basketball team because I am no
  longer young enough.  Neither of these are cases of anti-discrimination.

  If Sean has disappeared from the hobby, that is a loss in my opinion.  But from the recent antics
  that I have heard about, Sean has lost the plot.

  I also recall a certain former member of the DAANZ exective, who I will say that I have a great
  deal of respect for, who like Sean had put an enormous amount of energy into the hobby.  There
  were also alleged dummy spits, walkouts, tantrums and such nonsense.  Losing this particular hobby
  member (temporarily, or whatever) was also a loss in my opinion.  But at the time, tempers had
  frayed too far and some space was required.  Eventually, time can heal this sort of bunk though.

  My hope would be that Sean one day will come around also, but at this point in time Sean needs to
  take some time away from the forefront.  Perspective.  That is what is needed here.



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