Looking In The Mirror What Do You See?

As always, no one is obligated to answer these questions publicly. But I would like to encourage people to at least consider answering to themselves, honestly.

1) Ask yourself what is the ONE main reason you play this game.

2a) If you were to attend an event and found yourself up against the coach you would least like to lose a game against (for whatever reason you may have) how would you handle that loss if you got absolutely run over?

b) How would you handle yourself if you won that game?

3) How many people do you put out, and to what degree, when you leave for an EF outing? I.E., What burdens are you putting on your wife, husband, significant other, pets, etc., when/if you leave them to go play.

4a) When you return home from an EF outing do you feel the trip was worth it?

b) Is it more worth it if you win?

c) Is it less worth it if you lose?

5) This has less to do with playing EF but is much more important in my opinion.... Do you ever wonder if God gets more than a little discouraged with us due to our decisions and behaviors?

-Mike Pratt

[Kansas Bill]

Originally Posted by TheTweakFreak

As always, no one is obligated to answer these questions publicly. But I would like to encourage people to at least consider answering to themselves, honestly.

1) Ask yourself what is the ONE main reason you play this game.

2a) If you were to attend an event and found yourself up against the coach you would least like to lose a game against (for whatever reason you may have) how would you handle that loss if you got absolutely run over?

b) How would you handle yourself if you won that game?

3) How many people do you put out, and to what degree, when you leave for an EF outing? I.E., What burdens are you putting on your wife, husband, significant other, pets, etc., when/if you leave them to go play.

4a) When you return home from an EF outing do you feel the trip was worth it?

b) Is it more worth it if you win?

c) Is it less worth it if you lose?

5) This has less to do with playing EF but is much more important in my opinion.... Do you ever wonder if God gets more than a little discouraged with us due to our decisions and behaviors?

-Mike Pratt

1) I'm playing cuz I am having fun, and I like the company of the guys in my league/region. I never felt like I was 'missing out' when I played soley the solitaire game.. This is just extra.

2a) I hope that my opponents I've played, with would feel like I win games with dignity, and lose games with the same. I attempt to show little, if any, emotion, one way or another.. The yelling and denigrating are reserved for myself in the truck on the way home.. LOL.. (win OR lose)

3) I am single now.. Thank God.. And as far as the girlfriend down the street? You know, as much as I have been put out over the years countless times, I couldn't care less that she might have to do something for herself.. (I know, not the best of attitudes.. but I have given up too many other things)

4) Always glad to get home after the drive.. YEP.. It's always been worth it, win or lose.

5) I have been more than a little discouraged with my decisions... It's a good thing God is forgiving.. BUT.. As far as EF.. I think my conduct with my EF bretheren has been... OK.

1.) Because it's fun.

2A.) By shaking his hand and wishing him "good luck" in his next game.

2B.) By shaking his hand.

3.) If my wife joins me then my outings usually involve making arrangements for our pets. I usually get a friend to housesit, or I have to kennel our dogs.

4.) Yes the trips are normally worth it... win, lose, or draw. The only bad side is I'm usually beat when I get home, and it takes me a couple of days to recover.

5.) When I'm at any type of gathering, I try to conduct myself respectfully. On the one occasion when I didn't, I'm sure the Lord wasn't too pleased with me. But then again, neither was I.

- Don Smith

[WEIRDWOLF]

1) I play this game to 1 day beat Raiderman
(actually it's all about the fun to be had within competition)
2) I would take his men and stomp on them
(Wow, good game dude...you kicked my tushy...congrats and good luck in the next one cause you taught me something and it might come back at you!
3) I would spike my felt ball into his face while yelling...I OWN YOU!!!
(Thanks man, That was a great game...I have always respected your game and it was an honor to play you)
4) Honey...I'm home...naw it was no fun at all without you
(I can't wait to get to the next one)
4b) YES
(No...it's the same...just let me keep playing)
4c) YES
(No...it's the same...just let me keep playing)
5) My theory on God basically tells me that (He, It She) doesn't watch EF games so I am not concerned with my actions in regards to whether God is watching. However, I do know what is proper and how to act and anything I do negatively reflects on me and my upbringing so I try to watch myself and take responsibility for my actions.

[Coach K-LO]

Originally Posted by TheTweakFreak

As always, no one is obligated to answer these questions publicly. But I would like to encourage people to at least consider answering to themselves, honestly.

1) Ask yourself what is the ONE main reason you play this game.

2a) If you were to attend an event and found yourself up against the coach you would least like to lose a game against (for whatever reason you may have) how would you handle that loss if you got absolutely run over?

b) How would you handle yourself if you won that game?

3) How many people do you put out, and to what degree, when you leave for an EF outing? I.E., What burdens are you putting on your wife, husband, significant other, pets, etc., when/if you leave them to go play.

4a) When you return home from an EF outing do you feel the trip was worth it?

b) Is it more worth it if you win?

c) Is it less worth it if you lose?

5) This has less to do with playing EF but is much more important in my opinion.... Do you ever wonder if God gets more than a little discouraged with us due to our decisions and behaviors?

-Mike Pratt

Good ones........

1 - because I can't for real. Plus it is the best game ever and I still have fun.

2 - A) be graceful in a loss (man has this happened alot) and shake his hand
B) be gracefull in a win (man has this happened alot) and shake his hand

3 - Since my crew knows that is what I do, they are not 'putout' they just jump for joy cause I ain't home.......

4 - only one time did I think it was not worth it. Win or Lose it's all the same - EFL outing

5 - in a word: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Geno H]

Originally Posted by TheTweakFreak

As always, no one is obligated to answer these questions publicly. But I would like to encourage people to at least consider answering to themselves, honestly.

1) Ask yourself what is the ONE main reason you play this game.

2a) If you were to attend an event and found yourself up against the coach you would least like to lose a game against (for whatever reason you may have) how would you handle that loss if you got absolutely run over?

b) How would you handle yourself if you won that game?

3) How many people do you put out, and to what degree, when you leave for an EF outing? I.E., What burdens are you putting on your wife, husband, significant other, pets, etc., when/if you leave them to go play.

4a) When you return home from an EF outing do you feel the trip was worth it?

b) Is it more worth it if you win?

c) Is it less worth it if you lose?

5) This has less to do with playing EF but is much more important in my opinion.... Do you ever wonder if God gets more than a little discouraged with us due to our decisions and behaviors?

-Mike Pratt

1.I play the game because I love it.
2.Internally I would be boiling.Externally I would shake his hand & tell him good game!
3.My wife supports it.I do it with my son! thats rewarding!
4.It is always worth it.
5.He has already forgiven us for our sins. He knows we will but expects the best from us.

We all know we want to win every time but...it is what we do with defeat that counts.TAKE IT LIKE A MAN.

Geno H

[RavennaAl]

I don't know about you guys, but when I look in the mirror, I see one heckuva good lookin' dude! But to answer your questions...

1) Because it's either play with my self or play with the wife!:rolleyes:

2a) I'ld scream and yell and kick the food table over

2b) I'ld scream and yell and kick the food table over and add "In your face!" to it.

3) I'm not predjudice, I put everybody out!

4a) Depends on whether or not the cost exceeded $9.47

4b) Yes... no... wait, I'm confused

4c) I'm still confused

5) I think God laughs at everything I do. Well, at least I know he shakes his head alot.......:o

1) Simply because I love the game. I enjoy it on many levels. I enjoy it more when I can share the enjoyment with others. Key word being enjoyment.

2a) Being highly competitive by nature, I would naturally be disappointed. Immediately I would offer congratulations to my opponent and thank him/her for the game/schooling/lesson. My disappointment would last anywhere from 20 seconds to about 20 minutes. I would then put it in proper perspective, get over it, and work on my weaknesses that led to the pummeling.

b) I do not gloat over wins but it does give me a small feeling of accomplishment. I immediately thank my opponent for the game.

3) I put out the wife, leaving her with 3 dogs, 3 cats and a teenager, 3 vehicles and 2 households to contend with. Additional burdens on her are wondering/worrying if I make it to and from safely.

4a) Yes. So far always yes. Even if things went down that were way beyond my level of tolerance I look at it as an investment.

b) Winning has some but little to do with it for me. Winning is not the main reason I go. It is on the list but it is down there quite a ways.

c) Same as above.

5) EF aside, I feel God does get frustrated with our decisions sometimes. I can't help but imagine God looking down and saying something like "I gave you a nice planet and you insist on ruining it. I gave you knowledge and the ability to choose. Yet you refuse to learn from your past mistakes and continue to make the same wrong choices. But I also feel God has a sense of humor too. Why else would God bless us with a sense of humor if God couldn't appreciate it. Doubt it? Then think about this (not my line. i am borrowing it). Look at the platypus. It's a mammal but lays eggs. It has a tail and fur like a beaver but posses the bill of a duck. It has venom like a snake but delivers it from its back claws. HEY DARWIN.... Figure that one out will ya!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!"

-Mike Pratt

Ask yourself what is the ONE main reason you play this game.
Because I enjoy it, and enjoy spending time with other’s who enjoy it too. Unlike a lot of you, there weren’t many kids in my neighborhood that played this game, so I played a lot of solitaire games. It was nice finding this community some 6-7 years ago and finding people still interested in the game.

If you were to attend an event and found yourself up against the coach you would least like to lose a game against (for whatever reason you may have) how would you handle that loss if you got absolutely run over?
Say, “good game man,” and shake hands, high five, pound it, whatever comes to mind at the time. (Those who have played me will recognize those words . . . lol)

How would you handle yourself if you won that game?
Say, “good game man,” and shake hands, high five, pound it, whatever comes to mind at the time. (This is more in the hypothetical . . . doesn't happen very often)

How many people do you put out, and to what degree, when you leave for an EF outing? I.E., What burdens are you putting on your wife, husband, significant other, pets, etc., when/if you leave them to go play.
I put out my dog (who hates it when I leave), and whoever is kind enough to watch after him while I’m gone.

When you return home from an EF outing do you feel the trip was worth it?
I have yet to feel that a trip was not worth it. The moment do, is the moment I start reevaluating the level of my participation in this hobby.

Is it more worth it if you win?
Not in the least, it’s about the people I spend time with while I’m there. Most times, I’m not playing anyways, but providing support for those who are.

Is it less worth it if you lose?
Same as above.

This has less to do with playing EF but is much more important in my opinion.... Do you ever wonder if God gets more than a little discouraged with us due to our decisions and behaviors?
I don’t know if God gets discouraged with us, or whether at this point he sort of expects there to be a number of chowderheads in the mix. I think he’s past the point of discouragement, I mean the last time he got fed up with us he made Noah build a boat and fill it with animals, then flooded the place. After that he realized it was useless to expect everyone to “get it” and that flooding the planet was a pretty drastic step. Besides, merely convincing folks to comply for fear of God’s wrath really flew in the face of the whole “free-will” thing. So now, He let’s us be us. It’s pure speculation, but I believe the joy He feels when one of us (mankind) finally gets it right, overshadows the disappointment he feels when the majority of us (mankind) gets it wrong. The thing to keep in mind, is that while He may not be standing in the corner giving us the evil eye and shaking a cautionary finger at us, He is aware of our actions, and at some point we will have to account to Him for each of our indiscretions. Some have a good attorney on retainer, the rest . . . . . .


Take care and God Bless,

Rich

[Rock Solid]

This was a great post from the early days.

RS