Subject: DCI judging criteria
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 21:00:57 -0400 (EDT)
From: ARIGON@webtv.net (JASON RAYBUCK)
To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com

    I was just reading Dan Gray's article on the cheating problems and
judging standards for the dci and wanted to throw my two cents in.  I
agree with how he is talking about setting up assumed criteria for
judges at each level of event but I can see another thing that could be
added to this.  Like he was saying each judge has his own judging style
and it is hard to write concrete rules for each violation but what if a
wider standard was put in place.  In our court system all crimes have a
minimum and maximum penalty and I think this could work i the magic
scene as well (and would also be based on the level of the tournament.
A system like this would at least make some one get penalized for a
mistake but would give the judges the lead way to make judgements about
the intent and vary the punishment to fit the situation.
     Everybody wants the judges to be perfect and this not going to
happen.  The slimy players out there are always going to find the
loophole.  All we can do as players is lodge a formal complaint when any
real problems acure and make suggestions how to fix them.  I know how it
feels.  I played in the grand prix Atlanta and got a warning because i
recieved a deck that was misregistered by you guessed it Mike Long.  I
was quite upset as you might guess but all I could do is lodge a
complaint and make a suggestion to Wizards how to fix the problem.
Magic is a great game that is expanding and evolving and the rules are
having a hard time keeping up in all respect but give DCI some time and
hopefully thing will workout


thanx for listening  Jason Raybuck

p.s.  some harsher rules need to be put in for conduct.  After watching
the world cup soccor and seeing how well the platers have to behave in
that event I think Magic players can have some more decorum.  I have
played some awfully fowl players in my time and wounder how they get off
with only warnings, if that.  Everyone is looking at the latest Mike
Long incedent but I think the one I heard about the other day where
while pitching a fit he hit the table and moved his life counter.  Now
it is pretty bad the fact he argued over what his life total was even
though his opponent had a correct total and the match was replayed, but
in my opinion he should have been given a game misconduct foul for
hitting the table in the first place.  I apologize if I do not have my
facts straight on this incedent but if that is the case just use this as
an example.