Be Careful Who You Ask
When someone asks me a question, I am happy to provide an answer. And when I don’t know the answer I am not ashamed to admit it and refer the person to some other source.
Some people are two-faced.
Some people think that they know everything and tell us things in such a way that we believe we are receiving the ‘true word’.
Many of those people Don’t Know That They Don’t Know. They are very dangerous. They cost us time and money and add to our frustrations. Some of the people that I am talking about have credentials and even wear uniforms that are associated with ‘knowing’.
It is unfortunate these days to have an abundance of Bernie Madoffs out there wearing all sorts of hats. It behooves us to do our homework and be diligent.
As far as the scrabble scene goes, I often witness newer players at clubs who turn to other players, instead of the club director, to field their questions. I often overhear misinformation being given. It really annoys me. I do what I can do to rectify things, but I’m certain I don’t hear everything.
If you want the interpretation of a rule, go to a sanctioned director or check with a member of the NASPA Rules Committee. They are accessible.