Hiatal Thoughts

[wantonhalo]

So far this has been a really good hiatus and I've been thinking about the role I want Scrabble to play in my life. I really like the game of Scrabble, and interesting positions truly captivate me...I LOVE LOVE LOVE discussing them and trying to find the best move. Studying words is often fun...though I prefer to do it sporadically rather than with

Comments

[wallydraigle]

In the short term, that's not a bad plan. I do think you should come back at some point down the road. You just know way too much at this point not to come back to tournaments eventually.

Maybe playing one smaller tournament a year would be practical as well.

[wantonhalo]

I don't understand why this should be a good argument for "coming back" eventually, at least in the short form it's been presented in. Just because I know something doesn't mean I shouldn't abandon use of that knowledge. If you mean to say that it is a "waste of knowledge", or something, I don't see why it should be. Sure, it's knowledge I won't use anymore, but if I feel the activity is not that good, there is no reason to use that knowledge. Besides, I will still be playing Scrabble, just not in tournaments.

All this being said, I would certainly not be opposed to coming back at some point, as perhaps I would've learned through other lenses how to be calmer about handling defeat and other roadblocks in tournaments. I strive to keep an open mind, and the option of playing tournaments is always there to me, just as the option of not playing them is.

[wallydraigle]

I don't think there's much of a question that you will get better at those things as you get older. For one thing, those attacks against Jerry and Lerman wouldn't happen because as you gain more experience, you won't feel lost, and you'll have experienced enough anomalies (both positive and negative) that it won't sting quite as much. Experience is a good teacher.

[chaithedog]

Noooo! Don't quit!

I agree that if you play, take it seriously. That will naturally entail disappointment when you don't play up to your standards.

I think you're a great sport and a great player. You've had meltdown moments-- lots of players have. But you're only 18, still one of the youngest players out there, and among the best. With time and experience, you'll be able to handle those disappointments better than you already do, and you'll be a better player for it as well.

Think back to the tournaments you've won or did really well in. Remember that time you found HEROINISM against Ray, among countless other moments of brilliance. That has to offset those 'IHTFG' moments.

If you do quit for the time being, do it to further your schooling, and not because of those moments of misery.

[wantonhalo]

I actually can't believe that I didn't even mention that a lot of the reason I want to play less is because I want to study and do math more intensely. I guess I was saying that when I mentioned not having enough time, but that's certainly a big thing. I've been doing a lot more math in the hiatal period, and it's been awesome.

I would like to reemphasize that I am not quitting Scrabble. I'm not playing tournaments, which is a different thing. I still want to play in club some. And with regard to those well done moments, I can still have those just as easily in casual play, say. Perhaps I am peculiar because I think very intensely in casual games...maybe even more intensely than tournaments since I have no reservations about using up energy. On a pedantic note, I played HEROINISM against Marie Tyler, not Ray Foley (hehe, I played BLOP that game too!)

[scrabblek8]

your use of hiatal makes me think of hernias rather than hiatuses.

[srockhop]

i'm ready for my break after the vegas tournament. unlike you, i don't like analyzing games.

[spherulitic]

I feel that the ability to control and channel your emotions at the right times is a huge part of being a great tournament Scrabble player.

So is having stupid amounts of free time. :)

Hope to see you over the board again someday.