--- In quizbowl_at_yahoogroups.com, "Emil Thomas Chuck" <etchuck_at_y...> wrote: > Once upon a time, I think CBI had such an open-mike session at their > Nationals. I doubt they do it anymore, but maybe someone would > enlighten me if they do still do it. Someone more knowledgable than > me can recall what happened. Having been at the 1997 CBI NCT at Montclair State (and I think that may have been the only open-mike session), it wasn't the most pleasant or constructive experience. IIRC, much of the reason for having the meeting was the formation of NAQT, the legal claims being made by CBCI over certain aspects of the game, and the bitterness that fomented in many circuit qb'ers. The senior people from CBCI were there (Richard Reid, Mary Oberembt, Dr. Decker, etc) and moderated the discussion. Most of the players who spoke were those who were most opposed to the politics or CBCI and/or the different attributes of CBI (vs. circuit) gameplay. Some players (whose program deaffiliated from CBI after that year) complained about the exclusion (since repealed) of HBCUs from circuit tournaments and some of the other decisions/choices made by CBCI. A circuit qb'er/staffer took exception to a comment made by a CBCI official that circuit players should remember that CBI is just a game. Someone else challenged the basis of CBCI's (then current) legal claims. Another tournament staffer (who was affiliated with NAQT) audiotaped the meeting because he wanted to have everything on record in case of legal action. All in all, it was a fairly unpleasant experience, and an unproductive hour. Other than those who came out of idle curiosity, most everyone entered (and left, for that matter) either defensive or accusatory and unhappy. I don't really recommend that others try this again. Even without the bitterness of format wars, I think that the discussion will be dominated by the loudest and those who have the largest axe to grind.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0: Sat 12 Feb 2022 12:30:47 AM EST EST