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Why I Won't Close the Site
Let me recap recent developments. Last week Gerard readmitted me to spec at his table. This was unconditional: he asked me for no concessions and I offered none. I continued to publish hands as I normally do. Apparently this was too much for Gerard, who last night raved about my perfidy in the lobby for an hour, and at a table for several more. He provided several choice new epithets for the Insult Corner that I don't have the heart to add right now. He said that my site had driven all of his students away. He said that because of me he had lost all his income and would become homeless. He threatened to commit suicide. Finally Tuna suspended him for a week (but rescinded it later in the evening) because Gerard refused to stop or leave the lobby.
Wow. I wouldn't have believed it myself if I weren't there. Before I discuss my plans for the site, I want to clarify a few points. I hold no special grudge against Gerard. On the contrary, I am grateful to have been provided with hours of high entertainment. Although it occurred to me early on that he was worth writing about, I watched him for a long time first. At first he seemed merely deluded and quixotic. But I soon began to notice how unwilling he was to admit to a mistake, how many petty lies he told, and how nasty he was to his partners, especially the ones with low Lehmans. I started the Gee Chronicles because I thought it would be funny, and fun to write, and because he deserved it. Gerard peddles professional services. He gives lessons and promotes his bridge book. People pay, for reasons that I confess elude me, hard coin for his bridge expertise. Professionals are subject to criticism, even harsh criticism, of their professional abilities and qualifications. People who suggest that he "start the Aaron Chronicles" or that spectators mob my table miss this point. Anyone is welcome to categorize my blunders on the Internet or laugh at me in spec, but I do not hold myself out as a bridge professional. Every hand and every quote on the site is genuine and well-attested. The Gee Chronicles, with the exception of Dr. Robert, an obvious parody, are true. Gerard complains especially bitterly for this reason. As Mencken said, injustice is relatively easy to bear; it is justice that hurts. Gerard has some difficulty grasping the fact that the Internet is a little out of OKBridge's jurisdiction. Tuna Reus and John R. Mayne can't even police their own operation properly, let alone discipline one member for what he writes about another on the Internet. They can throw me out of OKBridge, if they like, since it's their private club, but not even the government can close down my site. So I certainly have the right to keep my site open. The question is, Should I? Until yesterday, anyone who thought not kept his opinion to himself, or at least didn't voice it to me. The feedback I have gotten from the Chronicles has been almost universally positive, which I didn't expect at all. In fact several of Gerard's "defenders" last night have praised the Gee Chronicles to me in private. So far as I can tell there are two arguments that I should close the site. The first is that if I don't stop he will quit. This takes several forms: "If he quits we won't be able to watch him," i.e., "Stop making fun of him on your site in public so we can make fun of him behind his back in private." I find this less than persuasive. Or: "He has so little in his life. Why do you want to take the one thing away that he enjoys?" But of course if he quits, because he can't brook a little public criticism, then it is he, not I, who took that thing away. The second is less an argument than a plea for mercy. It runs: "Gerard is old and sick. Why must you pick on him?" Sorry, but he isn't that old, and I have it on excellent authority that he isn't that sick either. I'm not denying any deathbed wishes here. He may be mad, however, judging from yesterday's outburst and several rather unhinged posts on my site (see here, for instance), and this gives me pause. However, he seems never actually to do anything drastic, and if he makes an exception in this case it would be so out of proportion to the offense that I don't think I could justly be held responsible. The Gee Chronicles is a satire, and like any decent satire it is intensely disliked by its object. I fail to see, however, why the object's feelings count for much in the matter. I still generally enjoy writing it. (Although the daily hand is becoming something of a grind: I'm cutting back to three hands a week.) My readers still enjoy reading it. Eventually I will become bored with the whole enterprise. In the meantime, the Chronicles will continue. Comments
Aaron's website, specifically the "Gee Chronicles," is full of the freshest and most
entertaining material about bridge that I have read in the last few years. Eddie Kantar
beware. Everytime I skip to this site to see a new hand analysis I am constantly rewarded
with wit, humor, and even sometimes astounded with Gerard's own comments that further cement
my opinion of Gerard as a person and a bridge player. I also get a bit of bridge education
when either Aaron or one of the commentators point out an angle I would not have thought of.
Aaron has a penchant for the written word. Aaron also is very good at analyzing bridge
hands. Of course there are technical errors once in a blue moon. But then again, Aaron
has never professed to be a bridge expert. Noting the glaring problems in many of the hands
Gerard plays does not take great expertise. Writing about them as well as Aaron does takes
a lot of expertise.
Some people have commented to me that Aaron should give Gerard a break. My response to
this is: Which Gerard is it that should be pandered to? Will the real Gerard please stand
up? What makes Gerard any more privileged than any other bridge player or expert that his
methods should not be considered and critiqued?
Gerard is the only one responsible for his own happiness in life. Gerard is shouting,
"I am a victim," because he is not taking responsibility to change his Okbridge situation.
Gerard has claimed (either to me in private or to the OKBridge community at large) to be:
1. an expert computer database designer, If OKBridge is mentally unhealthy for Gerard (making him suicidal) then I hope that
Gerard uses the intelligence he touts to figure out that he should stop using OKBridge
and see a mental health professional.
If the attention Gerard draws to himself on OKBridge is unsettling then perhaps Gerard
should use the sense God gave a goose to be quiet more often, quit claiming to be an expert,
and quit having tantrums on OKBridge.
If Gerard wants to indeed become a bridge expert then Gerard should learn from a
kindergartener to "Stop, Look and Listen." Being an expert requires:
1. Broad and specific knowledge, When Aaron does become bored with this enterprise I will still visit God of the Machine
site to read his other writings. In the meantime Aaron adds to my enjoyment and education of
this great game.
Gerard, use the intelligence you claim to have and start taking responsibility for changes
in your use and enjoyment of OKbridge. Quit claiming to be a victim when in actuality you
have created the entire situtaion you are currently in. Be smart and turn it around.
A little clue in case you don't have one ... Being humble, nice and quiet will be a good
start.
"They can throw me out of OKBridge, if they like, since it's their private club, but not
even the government can close down my site. "
I'm not so sure about that Aaron. It seems to me that they have closed down private web
sites in the past but I forget the reason or if they even offered one. I AM sure that it
wasn't for being critical of someone's bridge playing ability.
Perhaps all Gee or one of his friends would need to do to zap this site is to whisper in
the right ear that your site is being used by The Mossad or The Klan (or perhaps both) for
steganography.
Off the topic, if you've seen the remake of "Vanishing Point" there is a character in it
who hates and distrusts the government and keeps calling it "the Gee"! Sorry to say, that is
about the most entertaining part of the whole movie.
© 2002-2003 by Aaron Haspel. All rights reserved. |
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