A moral quandary?

[ex hibitionist]

This is your chance to play devil's advocate over a game of bar billiards. Play in a pub league, we were away last Wednesday, their best player is off sick, they are now two men short and one of them is an octogenarian who who manages to play well in spite of a slight dose of Parkinson's - this is shaky Dave, a lovely bloke. We're 3-0 up out of five, I'm playing the first of two dead rubbers against shaky Dave, I'm well up, playing meh, but his condition looks to be catching up with him finally after several mis-cues. The object ball hovers invitingly over the 20 point hole down the bottom in such a way that I know the cue ball can come off the cushion and back up the table for the 100 or 200 point hole - trouble of course if you know the game there's a sinister black peg behind the 200 hole and if you knock it over you lose all your points and allow almost certain defeat. I go for it, touch too hard as the cloth is playing a bit sticky, and knock over the black peg handing the game to Shaky even though I needn't take the risk cos I was clear, just a bit of generous bravado and the silver lining is a victory for the aforementioned Dave. I was then pilloried by my colleagues, raw shock was their expression, and told a repeat in a more competitive game would raise doubts about my dedication to the team. So guys was I right to risk the big shot and add a bit of fun to the evening, cheering up the old boy in the process, or did I let my pub team down. This is our version of the moral maze, I'd be most interested in your thoughts if you're still awake after reading this nonsense.😕

 

[Teddy Eagle]

This is your chance to play devil's advocate over a game of bar billiards. Play in a pub league, we were away last Wednesday, their best player is off sick, they are now two men short and one of them is an octogenarian who who manages to play well in spite of a slight dose of Parkinson's - this is shaky Dave, a lovely bloke. We're 3-0 up out of five, I'm playing the first of two dead rubbers against shaky Dave, I'm well up, playing meh, but his condition looks to be catching up with him finally after several mis-cues. The object ball hovers invitingly over the 20 point hole down the bottom in such a way that I know the cue ball can come off the cushion and back up the table for the 100 or 200 point hole - trouble of course if you know the game there's a sinister black peg behind the 200 hole and if you knock it over you lose all your points and allow almost certain defeat. I go for it, touch too hard as the cloth is playing a bit sticky, and knock over the black peg handing the game to Shaky even though I needn't take the risk cos I was clear, just a bit of generous bravado and the silver lining is a victory for the aforementioned Dave. I was then pilloried by my colleagues, raw shock was their expression, and told a repeat in a more competitive game would raise doubts about my dedication to the team. So guys was I right to risk the big shot and add a bit of fun to the evening, cheering up the old boy in the process, or did I let my pub team down. This is our version of the moral maze, I'd be most interested in your thoughts if you're still awake after reading this nonsense.😕

It was the right, and a nice, thing to do in the circumstances. Had your team needed the points it would have been a different story but why not let the other fellow enjoy his night a bit when the result is already decided.

 

[ex hibitionist]

It was the right, and a nice, thing to do in the circumstances. Had your team needed the points it would have been a different story but why not let the other fellow enjoy his night a bit when the result is already decided.

thank you, that is the correct answer, we did lose two points in the league though, and I didn't do it on purpose but I'd rather play like Higgins not Griffiths or Thorburn.

 

[beak]

I always go for it,win spectacular or lose with the thought that I gave it a go.Well done.

 

[Lanzo-Ad]

i would have kicked him in the Bollox.

 

[Teddy Eagle]

i would have kicked him in the Bollox.

If that was the penalty for knocking down the black peg it would be a very edgy game.

 

[ex hibitionist]

i would have kicked him in the Bollox.

I take it you mean I should have got a kick in the nads as punishment and not Dave as an extreme form of gamesmanship?

 

[Stirlingsays]

Anyone taking dead rubbers seriously in pub leagues is a train-spotter who likes a pint.

Even I like the odd Excel spreadsheet but some people are so uptight about the small stuff that it makes you wonder. It's not as if you deliberately lost.

 

[ASCPFC]

I often pretend to let people win. Usually depends on how many pints I've had.

 

[beak]

I often pretend to let people win. Usually depends on how many pints I've had.

So pints make prizes?

 

[Teddy Eagle]

I often pretend to let people win. Usually depends on how many pints I've had.

So do I and usually the score confirms the efficacy of this approach.

 

[ASCPFC]

So pints make prizes?

The ten pint luck of the draw. Sometimes brilliant, often obnoxious, sometimes atrocious. Take your pick.

 

[Stirlingsays]

I often pretend to let people win. Usually depends on how many pints I've had.

Same.

I have in fact never lost any contest in life.

It's just been a continuous steam of barely aware wins.

How this produced my current esteemed status of a nobody, I've never quite worked out.

Just like I can't quite get out of this strait jacket.

 

[Forest Hillbilly]

ExH did the right thing. I wouldn't have him in my billiards team, though. 👍

 

[McAhuna]

This is your chance to play devil's advocate over a game of bar billiards. Play in a pub league, we were away last Wednesday, their best player is off sick, they are now two men short and one of them is an octogenarian who who manages to play well in spite of a slight dose of Parkinson's - this is shaky Dave, a lovely bloke. We're 3-0 up out of five, I'm playing the first of two dead rubbers against shaky Dave, I'm well up, playing meh, but his condition looks to be catching up with him finally after several mis-cues. The object ball hovers invitingly over the 20 point hole down the bottom in such a way that I know the cue ball can come off the cushion and back up the table for the 100 or 200 point hole - trouble of course if you know the game there's a sinister black peg behind the 200 hole and if you knock it over you lose all your points and allow almost certain defeat. I go for it, touch too hard as the cloth is playing a bit sticky, and knock over the black peg handing the game to Shaky even though I needn't take the risk cos I was clear, just a bit of generous bravado and the silver lining is a victory for the aforementioned Dave. I was then pilloried by my colleagues, raw shock was their expression, and told a repeat in a more competitive game would raise doubts about my dedication to the team. So guys was I right to risk the big shot and add a bit of fun to the evening, cheering up the old boy in the process, or did I let my pub team down. This is our version of the moral maze, I'd be most interested in your thoughts if you're still awake after reading this nonsense.😕

It depends if the league operates a 'Goal difference' type rule.
I don't pretend to understand Bar Billiards, but is a 4-1 win worth more than a 3-2 win?
If the answer is Yes, then I am on your mates side.
If the answer is No, the I am your side.

 

[beak]

It depends if the league operates a 'Goal difference' type rule.
I don't pretend to understand Bar Billiards, but is a 4-1 win worth more than a 3-2 win?
If the answer is Yes, then I am on your mates side.
If the answer is No, the I am your side.

It is best to stay innocent an awful lot of mushrooms are involved and don't laugh a steady hand in a pub the rest is just big sticks ,balls and large holes.