An Ugly Spectacle

[Bamboo Grove]

JW wrote

The fun league could have a rule of a mandatory 5 beer chang before play can commence. Pretty sure everyone would have a giggle then.

That hasn't been the rule yet? Cheers, I'll have to tell my players I've misled them then.

[Wanderlust]

If certain people don't like something call a meeting view your remarks to the people at the meeting and to the chairman of the pool league.

Unfortunately the meeting itself was the problem - the people who had an agenda dominated proceedings which is why I felt the need to come on here to have my voice heard.

Hiding behind fictitious names and airing wild accusations is unsportsmanlike at best and cowardly at worst.

Everything that I have written on here has also been said to the organisers, and although my user name on here is obviously not my real name I make no secret of my real identity. I also don't think any wild accusations have been made; just discussion as to why what happened at the meeting was not acceptable. The purpose of this thread was both to inform others who were not at the meeting what happened, and also to generate the sort of discussion it has.

HHAD is one of the better forums on Thailand and Thai living, I think the mods would agree that threads should not be used for personal attacks on individuals or bars.

Well you obviously haven't read properly - I am one of the mods, and have discussed the issue with the others. I have edited one of the posts made by someone else on here so that individuals names were not present as well. I also made it quite clear what sort of posts would be acceptable in the opening post:-

I would like to request that anyone who contributes to this thread does so within the rules of this forum so that this thread does not get locked/closed as have the previous ones started by others; this means no allegations against specific bars or individuals - it is the issue and not the perpetrators that needs discussing on here.

We have never used RINGERS in any game and nobody has been paid or paid off. I could list many incidents of unsportsmanlike behaviour, but that is for the pool league not a public forum.

I am very glad to hear that you are a sporting person and it is exactly the sort of attitude that is needed. I hope you have informed the organisers of the unsportsmanlike behaviour as well because it should be stamped out. They have in fact requested that they be informed in this thread.

As it turns out I think posting on here has served a useful purpose in that people who may not have felt able to comment due to not being invited to the meeting, fear of reprisals or whatever reason have been able to say what they think. I don't think anyone has been actually named apart from those who named themselves. Hopefully we are moving on now and getting things sorted out.

[JW]

Bamboo Grove, Sorry i forgot about your boys when i thought of that. Stil remember playing at yours a few months ago against the drunkest man in the world. That was a fun night! And hot dogs to boot

[tuktukmike]

tuktukmike wrote:
This comment sucks,

Getreal wrote.

The comments you have made regarding racism were made by the owner and captain of the 'edited by admin', they have been relegated so I think a little jealousy, they just are not good enough. They feel that the Pool League should consist only of farrang because they spend more, both own bars (edited by admin) which are a front for prostittution so are both hypopcrites.

I have known the owner of 'edited by admin' for many years and I regard him as one of the most decent guys around.

I was not at the meeting and do not play in the league, but I reall do not think this owner would act in this way.

Mike.

**Mike, this post has been edited for two reasons - one it does not appear in this thread but in another related one which has been locked, and two it was specifically stated at the beginning of the thread not to name any names. I do however agree with what you say about that owner, but he dumbfounded me at the meeting.


I can assure you the comments reflected the meeting, perhaps you do not the guy as well as you think, absolutely disgusting.
He is married to a Thai also, what must she think????

Do you have a concience????
-----------------------------------

I would never as a rule post a PM, but in this case i think is an exception.

I stand by my comments about the owner of the bar i mentioned.

This was also confirmed by scottie, In future please dont send me stupid PMs when the sender clearly knew nothing.

Its time this thread came to a close as it would seem that so many people just want to get on a soap box and spout rubbish.

Racism, crap. we all know this excists out here and 90% of the time not from (FARANGS). i rest my case.

Mike.

[Bamboo Grove]

Matters have now been discussed in more positive way. There have been very good comments how to improve the league in the future. Now, let all those concerned get in with their tasks and I'm sure all is well soon.
Thank's for your comments Farang, it was easier then with fewer teams and as it was the first league in town, only few people made negative comments about anything. The main problem back then were the rules as everyone wanted to have their preferred ones to be used. That is behind now and as time goes by there will surely be new kind of problems arising.
I second Jockey in what he suggested that only 1-3 persons should be allowed to make decisions after hearing the suggestions from players/captains/barowners. Democracy doesn't work in this kind of matters.
And, thanks, but I know Osmo will not be interested in being part of the committee.
See you all next season.

[Wanderlust]

tuktukmike wrote:

I would never as a rule post a PM, but in this case i think is an exception.

I stand by my comments about the owner of the bar i mentioned.

This was also confirmed by scottie, In future please dont send me stupid PMs when the sender clearly knew nothing.

Its time this thread came to a close as it would seem that so many people just want to get on a soap box and spout rubbish.

Racism, crap. we all know this excists out here and 90% of the time not from (FARANGS). i rest my case.

Mike.

It appears that you are the one (once again) who is getting on his soap box - this thread has moved on, and as BG says is coming up with constructive suggestions as to how to improve things. For someone who complained about getting the PM because you have nothing to do with the pool league you seem to be showing an inordinate amount of interest in the thread. The member who sent it has been banned, and I edited the post you made of it to ensure the anonymity of the person in question. I also told you that I shared your views about them but witnessed a different side at that meeting. scottie has come on here and admitted that he was very drunk at the meeting, so is hardly in the best position to be used as backing for your opinion. Many others received this PM (including me) but have not made the song and dance about it you have.
I find your attitude extremely patronising as well - who are you to tell someone when a thread should come to a close? And your final statement could be grounds for banning you again, and is not at all welcome.

[Greedybar]

the top league reverts to the 8 teams that should be there by rank, and is not renamed to suit sponsors, and a format is made standard across all competitions and all leagues (i.e. we all play the same game!)

Seems sensible to me!

great posting's jockey

[Greedybar]

Seems sensible to me too.

About time a reply

[Greedybar]

As someone that has no connection at all with the pool league one thing is painfully obvious.
You all enjoy the social aspect of playing in the league as it is a way of meeting new people, visiting new bars and of course actually playing pool. I feel all this may have got a bit out of hand and perhaps certain people should have a meeting to clear the air.
Come on chaps were in Thailand and not cloudy drizzly Europe, lets raise a glass and rejoice....Hurrah.

Another great answer

[Greedybar]

So the Klu Klux Klan team have made an appoligy, about time.

I suggest Steve, Chris and Osmo now organise a meeting soon, lets clear the air and talk constructivly.

I will be making an advert in the Observer for all coments regarding Racism and Pool in Hua Hin, we must never forget this episode, leapords never change their spots.

w ehave missed a great oppotunity here, the farrang community needs to get the Thai community involved more with everything that we do, we are guests here lets make best use of it.

[Jaime]

I appreciate that this discussion has moved on, as wanderlust has mentioned but here's my tuppence worth from a remote perspective anyway.

During my last stay in Hua Hin I witnessed an extremely intense discussion in one of the bars concerning the running of the pool league. As a result, I remember saying after the discussion had ended and people had gone their separate ways that the pool league would be one thing that I would be sure to steer clear of if my wife finally managed to persuade me to live in Hua Hin as a full time ex-pat.

Seems like my reservations were justified. From the perspective of a non-resident, the ex-pat scene in Hua Hin can present itself as incestuous and spiteful. This topic is one of a number that has managed to do that since I have been a member of this forum.

Just a no-axe-to-grind observation from the outside looking in.

[Jim]

I played golf yesterday. It was a 3 ball playoff for the club champioship, 18 holes medal. It took 4 hours 15 minutes to go round and it poured with rain the whole way. I had one bad hole, shot 78 and didnt win. It was bloody miserable.

But at the end of the round, we were all friends, despite one guy being the reason it was so slow. It's just a game and we play it for fun. Life's too short.

One time at work a few months ago, a colleague down from London was complaining the toilet took too long to flush (a farang luxury I know). Someone told him his priorities in life were wrong if he was stressed about the time the bog takes to flush.

Jiame, I agree. It sounds like the rainy season can't come a day too soon.

[Wanderlust]

Jaime and Jim,
Thanks for your distant reflections on this, and you are right in many ways. What most of us pool players want is to do exactly as you say, and most of the time we can, but there are always some who want to stir the pot. Many times they are left alone with their spoons and they get what they want, but on this occasion I, and others, got fed up with it. I am sure the meetings every season at Jim's golf club can be equally heated and spiteful as some minor rule is debated. The Hua Hin Pool League is still a relatively young organisation and I am hoping that this situation will act as some sort of watershed, where we will establish a system that can avoid all the bickering and stupidity.
People will always find something to complain about and to be honest there's little we can do about that; sometimes when it is a genuine problem and everyone acknowledges it as such then it can be dealt with, but if it is anything else then the complainant either has to accept that nothing will be done and get on with it or stop participating. In this situation someone went canvassing to get backing for their views and ensured that the meeting was swayed in their direction, even though a real majority were not in favour. You could almost call it an attempted coup d'etat, and we shouldn't be getting into a mess like that - it's just a game and as you say, life is too short. I was ready to walk away from it, and will if I am not having fun, but I felt I owed it to others to inform them what happened. I guess part of me was hoping that something might be changed but I wasn't optimistic.
I do hope that I will get to play a friendly game of pool with you when you are next here, and I am sorry that this has soured your view of expat life in Hua Hin.

[Jim]

I used to live in a very small village here in England, which I hope was as petty, small-minded an incestuous as anywhere can get, so this small local incident with the pool hasn't changed any of my views of HH and we still can't wait til we can move over there.

My pool is crap, but I always enjoy playing. See you soon I hope.

Jim

[Burger]

Wanderlust wrote:

It appears that you are the one (once again) who is getting on his soap box

If he ever comes down off of it, he will see that Thailand isn't such a bad place after all

Burger