Subject: Ethical players can have a fair shake vs. cheaters!
Date: Thu, 07 May 1998 10:29:09 PDT
From: "Jacob Day" <disbork@hotmail.com>
To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com

To whom it may concern:

Ethics Doppleganger (Summon Doppleganger) UU3
*/*.  At the beginning of each round of the tournament, Ethics
Doppleganger adopts the ethical attitude of target opponent.  However,
it still retains its colour, true blue.

I am an "ethical" player, as far as i am concerned--that is, not a
'passive' cheater, not an active cheater, not a practicioner of
gamesmanship, and generally the 'Ambassador Of Love' type vilified some
time ago on the Dojo.  (I can't even stand Black Vises.)  However, i
play regularly against people who are all of these things regularly--and
none of them have any advantage over me other than when they
legitimately do play better than I do, or are legitimately luckier than
I am.  The reason?

I have learned to swim with the sharks.

The big problem all of the ethical players have in MTG is they are hung
up on the concept of trying to force their opponents to play their way.
Nobody is ever going to be successful with that strategy.  What you must
ask yourself, is, am I willing to lose to an unethical opponent to
maintain my morals?

In general, my response is yes.  BUT, I am NOT willing to PAY money to
LOSE money to an unethical opponent.  SO:

I begin every game as an 'Ambassador Of Love'.

If my opponent is sportsmanlike, then I am sportsmanlike.

If my opponent is a gamesman, then I am a gamesman.

If my opponent is an asshole, then I am an asshole.

If my opponent is willing to 'passively' cheat, then so am I.

If my opponent is willing to ACTIVELY cheat, then I am willing to slash
his tires, steal his cards, and ruin his reputation through slander and
libel--if I can't get the bastard caught and banned in the first place.
(I'm too afraid to actually actively cheat in a PTQ.  I have a
reputation to maintain!)

>From a practical point, I must assume that every opponent is an
'Ambassador Of Love' until I see evidence that he is not, or hear from a
(trusted) friend to watch out for him.  But at any event involving
stakes, you can bet I pay very close attention to my opponents.

Sure--there may be people who believe that you shouldn't sink to the
level of the scum around you.  However, we live in a practical world.
Why should the assholes win all the time?  If your options are to deal
some justice back to someone who deserves it or to lose and whine
ineffectually about it, it's pretty clear to me which is the better
option.

The only problem I have with this system, is, I don't have the same
amount of practice that someone who has been unethical for a Long time
has.  This is why I come to the Dojo--every form of cheating and
unethical behaviour gets completely described and overanalyzed for me
here, and I know exactly what to look for at the next PTQ.

Send me your flames--I have Hydroblasts waiting.

Jacob Day (Ethics Doppleganger)

disbork@hotmail.com

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