Human Politics
Bridge in Singapore has beceme such a political thing. Bridge is such a wonderful game, but at the same time, it hurts to see the negative impact of bridge.
I first learnt floating bridge when I was in primary 4 at RI. Following which, I was taught contract bridge by my uncle 3 years later. At that time, there was no Bridgebase online, and it was freaking hard just to find a decent bridge game to play. I started with bridgeplayerlive.com but it had no duplicate results; just rubber games or 1 pairs a day. Yes, that is 8 boards a day of duplicate results. After a year of 2 of that, there came BBO which is probably the best thing anyone can do for the game of bridge. One of the main reason that we are getting better and better youths in bridge is probably BBO. For many years, till I reached JC, the game of bridge was just that- a game of bridge, no human politics nothing. I had a list of favourite partners and could fully concentrate on the technical details of bridge, and appreciate the game for what it was. One computer screen, one internet connection, hours of bridge. Bridge took on a life of its own and it was always the thrilling feeling of making a lead which is the only lead which sets a slam, or making a highly technical declarer play which the other declarer could not do which kept me going.
Sadly, since JC, I have come to realise that bridge has many negative sides to it, and this comes primarily in human politics and addiction.
Addiction comes in all forms, not just in smoking, drugs or sex. I was(am) addicted to bridge, DOTA and WoW. In an instance, my holiday has ended, and it has been one very unproductive in terms of work. However, I must say that I have enjoyed myself a lot, having met many new people, whom sadly, I will be leaving behind (partly because they refuse to be packed into a suitcase and insist on a first class ticket).
It is the amount of politics in bridge which worries me. Just within the small NUS community, there is already so much politics going on. Is politics really unavoidable in any club? I do not believe so. In the University of Chicago bridge club, the members really enjoy playing there, 3 hours of bridge followed by a night at the nearby bar. It might be small; the bridge might not be good, but the point is, they enjoy the company and the game.
I feel sad when people fall out with each other over bridge, or when people cry over bridge. Bridge is supposed to be a competitive game which is fun, but somehow, as in all games, the emotions generated by it is very real.
New year resolution: To stop playing bridge, DOTA or WoW for at least a few months (unless of course Paw4 or Paw1 asks me to)
I first learnt floating bridge when I was in primary 4 at RI. Following which, I was taught contract bridge by my uncle 3 years later. At that time, there was no Bridgebase online, and it was freaking hard just to find a decent bridge game to play. I started with bridgeplayerlive.com but it had no duplicate results; just rubber games or 1 pairs a day. Yes, that is 8 boards a day of duplicate results. After a year of 2 of that, there came BBO which is probably the best thing anyone can do for the game of bridge. One of the main reason that we are getting better and better youths in bridge is probably BBO. For many years, till I reached JC, the game of bridge was just that- a game of bridge, no human politics nothing. I had a list of favourite partners and could fully concentrate on the technical details of bridge, and appreciate the game for what it was. One computer screen, one internet connection, hours of bridge. Bridge took on a life of its own and it was always the thrilling feeling of making a lead which is the only lead which sets a slam, or making a highly technical declarer play which the other declarer could not do which kept me going.
Sadly, since JC, I have come to realise that bridge has many negative sides to it, and this comes primarily in human politics and addiction.
Addiction comes in all forms, not just in smoking, drugs or sex. I was(am) addicted to bridge, DOTA and WoW. In an instance, my holiday has ended, and it has been one very unproductive in terms of work. However, I must say that I have enjoyed myself a lot, having met many new people, whom sadly, I will be leaving behind (partly because they refuse to be packed into a suitcase and insist on a first class ticket).
It is the amount of politics in bridge which worries me. Just within the small NUS community, there is already so much politics going on. Is politics really unavoidable in any club? I do not believe so. In the University of Chicago bridge club, the members really enjoy playing there, 3 hours of bridge followed by a night at the nearby bar. It might be small; the bridge might not be good, but the point is, they enjoy the company and the game.
I feel sad when people fall out with each other over bridge, or when people cry over bridge. Bridge is supposed to be a competitive game which is fun, but somehow, as in all games, the emotions generated by it is very real.
New year resolution: To stop playing bridge, DOTA or WoW for at least a few months (unless of course Paw4 or Paw1 asks me to)
posted by Anonymous at 2:13 AM
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