jillybean, on 2023-June-03, 12:48, said:
Of course, removing all the laws is absurd. However, everyone at the club knows how to play the game and they understand the mechanics. Heavens, it's not like we are inundated with new players and the few that do come know how to play and learn the "rules" from observing and listening to other players. I'm sure the majority of players don't infringe the laws deliberately.
I have so far encountered only one pair of new players who infringed the laws deliberately (and severely to boot): after stern warning they stepped back into line, at first reluctantly and then with conviction, one of them is fast improving as a player and as pair they are now an example in terms of obedience and understanding of law. The problem in my experience is not the new players but the old ones, several of whom do infringe the laws more or less deliberately and have been used to doing so for decades. Maybe I'm just unlucky that we have a poor history of Directors and Presidents.
jillybean, on 2023-June-03, 12:48, said:
As Mycroft mentioned, it's a "well, they do it anyway approach". My LHO makes a bid which is alerted, partner forgets to ask so I will help them. I ask a question in the middle of my opponents keycard responses after the have had an uncontested auction to the 5 level and if a remark is made the response is usually "I AM allowed to ask a question about your bids!!"
Not sure where you want to go here. Asking to help partner is clearly wrong, but yes it's the sort of nonsense that unprincipled people will learn to assume they can get away with. Asking a question in the middle of opponents' keycard responses or control-bids (rather than "please can you explain the auction" at your turn when they have finished) is quite probably in the same category however.
jillybean, on 2023-June-03, 12:48, said:
Let's lower the bar for Clubs and Club Directors and play a nice game. If 99% of the calls are correct for mechanical errors, insufficient bids, LOOTS, BOOTS and revokes, everyone will be happy.
Again I'm not sure if you are ironic or what. Just a moment ago you thought that Laws 16 40 73 are the essence of the game.
A national director who I admire once told me "In the club common sense is important and you can close an eye on almost any law except for law 16, there you should not give an inch".