Sociability

by David Stevenson

Do you chat to your opponents? Either privately or publicly? Do they like it? How about chatting to your partner, publicly of course? Do you get fed up with others asking you things?

Bridge is a mix between a game that can be played at various levels, and a game that can be quite sociable. Some people seem to talk all the time: others would wish that everyone would shut up! If you go into a bridge club some are deathly quiet, some can only be described as rowdy!

What is really needed is tolerance, both ways of course. If you like chatting, sound out the other players gently, and if they clearly do not, then do not keep pestering them. On the other hand, if you tend to be quiet, and find chatting spoils your concentration, please do not be nasty just because someone asks you where you are from. A polite answer is what is required, though you can add that you like a peaceful game.

What tends to happen in some cases is that the mix causes trouble. Some players are chatty, and take umbrage if the other players do not respond. On the other hand, players who are not chatty seem to be offended that others try to talk to them. So please be tolerant, remembering that others who play this game are more sociable or less sociable than you: it just means their approach to the game is different.

One of the advantages of the general games in OKB, as against tournament games, is that you get a small description of the game in the Lobby. Please respect it: if it says no chatting, do not go and chat. If it says friendly people only, you are not expected to join and refuse to speak. There is always a game more suited to you: if you cannot find one you can always serve.

Please remember to write to me with your problems. I am afraid I will not guarantee to answer each query personally, but I shall look at everything sent, and will write about some subjects submitted this way.

Editor's note:

• This article first appeared in the OKBridge Spectator in December 2006.
• If you want to send a problem, why not write direct to me, David Stevenson? I shall be pleased to hear from you!

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