[blml] Disclosure f2f

[richard willey]

> [nige2]
> I agree with Stephanie that the EBU Orange book alert regulations
> implicitly define an unplayable system not too far removed from
> "Standard English". Hence, at least until there is a global standard,
> our local regulations would be simpler and better if they defined
> "Standard English" as a local "Standard" from which we disclosed
> departures. As previously explained, one advantage (of many) would be
> that beginners wouldn't need to alert or announce anything.

And here we see the one of the basic flaws with your proposal:

You are stating that it is beneficial that beginners won't need to
learn the alert / announcement system because it with be based on the
same system that they are learning.  You cite this as a basic
advantage for your system.  However, this is only a stop gap measure:
Long term, you argue that that alerts / announcements should be based
on deviations from some hypothetical "global standard" system.

This complete negates your initial position.  Lets assume that the
hypothetical global standard is based on North American methods.  (5
card majors, strong NT, yada, yada, yada).  This guarantees that every
one Poland (who is raised on Polish Club) and Great Britain (who is
raised on Acol) and even France will be forced to learn both their
local standard as well as the hypothetical global standard.

I admit:  A global standard, would in theory, provide some value to
players who travel frequently between different regulatory Zones.
However, I'd argue that the proposal fails on simple utilitarian
grounds.  The number of players who never play outside their own Zone
vastly out numbers those who do.  Why should we (dramatically)
inconvenience the 99% of Poles, Brits, Aussies, etc who are never
going to play a game in foreign country?  Place the burden where it
belongs:  Those players who want to compete internationally should be
the ones who need to spend time preparing.