As some of you know, I'm taking classes out at a community college. Well in between classes, I have about an hour that I usually spend in the library on the Internet...making my moves in turn based... maybe playing on live for a bit... ya know.
Well today I was online, making my moves... and the librarian came up to me and said, NO GAMES ALLOWED ON THE COMPUTERS!!.
I gave her a curious look as she walked away... So I thought to myself... No problem I guess... I'll just spend this time reading some articles and news about chess. So I do that.
I started reading about the dragon variation of the sicilian from black... when she came back and said "I SAID NO GAMES". I looked at her, and said "I'm not playing any games ma'am". And she pointed to the diagram in the text and said "Thats a chess board, and chess is a game, no games".
I tried to plead my case, that I was not infact 'playing' chess, but simply reading about it... and last I checked reading was ok in the library.
Long story short, I got angry and left the library before I made a scene infront of the other 100+ students.
As I angrily marched away, I recalled myself glancing at the guy's computer who was sitting next to me, and remembered that he was on an "NFL" website. It only made me more angry to think that the librarian told me I couldn't READ about games... and football is clearly a game.
I almost went back in there to make the point that if reading scores or updates on a football or basketball game is ok, then how can you tell me I can't read about chess... but thought better of it.
They wouldn't understand anyway.
Fortuanetly, there is an upstairs, with computers as well, and such shall be the place where I resume my game. Thanks for reading. Any comments? I'd appreciate it.
Joe
Complain to her superior. Librarians who walk around with nothing to do are usually just volunteers.
It annoys me that all the chess sites are banned under "games" in the library near my chess club =/. Somewhat strange since people play chess in it regularly, and they have chess books.
They actually allow the playing of chess in the library but not online NM? Talk about didactic.
Even though I don't use them personally, I'm glad they don't have such rules at my local library.
Its probably good that you didn't go back to confront the librarian while still angry. If it were me I would get abreast of the rules exactly as they read. And talk to this person about the infraction on her part. It may well turn out to be a misunderstanding, as these things so often are.
If the rules in your library genuinenly ban game-playing on their computers (and reading about games as well!) - then phishcake5's suggestion of familiarising yourself with the rules is a good starting point.
Next, I would suggest making a case that the rules be changed to not only allow chess, but to encourage it. To make a solid business case for your proposal:
Or you could just play chess upstairs!
That used to happen at my old school. The Librarian would get real mad at me if I ever played chess during my study hall. I had to like have a document open and also have chess running so I could minimize the other. I hate discrimination in chess.
Haha, I'm fairly suprised by the reaction that this post received. However, I am, at the same time, genuinly thankful for your suggestions and comments.
I must agree that it is very awkward to have chess books on the shelves, (and a chess reference book as well!), and to allow live games to take place... but yet condemn the study of the game on the computer.
After cooling off and giving it some thought, I may think that some of the reasons she was telling me "no games" is that it was because the library was fairly busy, and she was thinking that if someone needed to type a paper or something, they should be able to get the computer, and not have to wait for someone else to get up, while I play 'games'. In addition to this though, I AM currently writing a book report on "Behind Deep Blue", so my research of chess material is rightly justified (if I wanted to go there, that is).
Also, concerning her second "no games" comment, I must agree with vermeer1!! Very good point that you brought up.
I will definetly look into the exact regulations for online use of the computers... and let you guys know how it turns out. Trust me, I'm far from over it, I will definetly get an answer.... I still have about a year there, haha! Until then though, I will continue my play upstairs.
Thanks again.
Is it safe to return to the library yet?
She's intimidated. :p It really does sound like an insane powertrip if she allows others to check football scores.
Maybe she got hurt as a kid in a tragic chess playing accident and now hate chess?
Seriously though she sounds weird.
she is biased because chess requires intellect, any idiot can follow football... she probably can't comprehend how awesome chess is and therefore she hates it
it's your free time you should use it the way you want. people like that just pick on others becaue they have no life and it makes them feel superior. i would say it's not a game its a sport. she probaly was stupid and didn't know how to play chess. like the people who get insylted by biligal people they say this is america you need to speak english.
As a professor at a college with a limited number of computers, I can understand the need to have such a policy, but it does sound as though she went way too far.
If you wanted to be snarky about it, you could grab all of the books the library has on games and sports and bring them to her and ask that they be removed. On second thought, that might not be a good idea, but it would make your point.
what college is this?
The librarian needs to get a life and open her ears a bit more to other people's words, but I think it's just something that'll have to be lived with. Our libraian was a cowbag for telling you to stop playing games but usually its a case of internet safety against viruses that they do it, and to help promote "a good study" atmosphere. It doesn't look fantastic if kids are playing kitten cannon on flashgamesandviruses.com when they should be doing homework. Furthermore, that kid could point to your screen and say "but so-and-so's playing games miss!" like a little snotty-school brat. Just use the upstairs computers, thats what we did in school. What really annoyed me was that the library assistants that were fellow students were just as arsy as the librarian!
keep playing mate :P
It makes sense in an anti-virus sort of way to not play games, but to not be able to study chess is probably not the rule.
I had a similar situation; these were computer rooms and not a library. Oddly enough, one of my "friends" who also played occasional chess (we had an open workshop at the university main hall every week for 5 hours or so) rounded a couple of us playing chess in the computers to "talk" to the person in charge of the computer lab.
It was odd because I was a chess team member representing the University, and I respected not playing during peak hours (lab is busy at those) - plus we'd done it for a couple of years without complaints. After a chat with the lab "chief", we just were told that if we're warned not to play on a given occassion if warned.
Even more stupid was my case in high school when the principal got mad at us for playing games of chance in the school cafeteria... truly amazing, the ignorance of that woman.
My advice - talk to the people in charge. You'll at least get something clear, and act accordingly. If you're intent on pushing for inclusion, gather a group of fellow library users that support your position and note down other precedents here (like being able to consult NFL.com or somesuch).
I have a similar problem, I substitute teach and each day I get about a two hour break for grading and preparing lessons, but I'm a substitute I don't have papers to grade or lessons to prepare. What I would like to do is play or study chess but the school blocked all the sites with chess on it.
are you serious? wow, i would keep on reading JUST to piss her off.
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