Re: 2003 NAQT ICT to be held in Los Angeles

• From: mcoen_bu <no_reply_at_yahoogroups.com>
• Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 13:03:47 -0000
• Message-ID: <aojo3j+gpkb_at_...>

--- In quizbowl_at_y..., cooterchekov <no_reply_at_y...> wrote:
> --- In quizbowl_at_y..., mcoen_bu <no_reply_at_y...> wrote:
> Therefore, if a question is raised, there is, at 
> least as far as I can tell, absolutely no reason that that question 
> shouldn't be answered, or should be treated as "asinine". Good 
> questions deserve answering. 

I agree with the sentiment.  What was asinine in the original post 
was the "Chip-ish" comment.  A bit of a rush to pre-judgement, 
really, and perhaps not fair to an organization and individuals who 
are, from what I can tell, 180 degrees from "Chip-ish."


> Now, we don't yet know for certain whether NAQT's going to LA or 
> going to Myrtle Beach are good decisions. That doesn't mean we 
> can't speculate. What's more, the members of the QB community are, 
> pretty much by definition, not dumb. If a bunch of us raise an 
> eyebrow at something, it's probably worth examining.

True enough.  I just think that folks here are too quick to reject 
change based on the established way of doing things.  It's also one 
thing to ask questions and another to demand an explanation (that's 
more related to the ICT discussion, really, but it shows a level of 
entitlement that probably doesn't exist).


> Now, as far as the questions you raise go, my, and I presume many 
> others', experiences with Questions Unlimited, with CBI, and with 
> other such organizations show that yes, only tournaments run by 
> people who know what they're doing will work out well, and as near 
> as I can tell only QB players know what they're doing. 

I never participated in QU, but will take others experiences as 
presented.  I've found CBI, on a regional level, much improved over 
the last decade (thanks, in no small part, to greater numbers of 
former players being involved).  I may have more faith in NAQT than 
you, but I have a hard time seeing them devolving into either of 
these other organizations. At least on purpose!

> Do I think NAQT would really sever their college connection? Well, 
> I can't read their minds, but I do know that, given sufficient time
> and sufficient hubris, every possible decision, no matter how dumb, 
> will eventually be tried.

And lessons learned from that decision will inform future ones.  If 
this doesn't work, NAQT moves on. If it does, perhaps we've opened up 
a new way of doing things. 

Mark