From britdisc-owner@csv.warwick.ac.uk Tue Feb 27 08:30:49 2001 Received: (from daemon@localhost) by pansy.csv.warwick.ac.uk (8.10.1/8.9.3) id f1R8Qdi19185 for britdisc-outgoing; Tue, 27 Feb 2001 08:26:39 GMT Received: from snowdrop.csv.warwick.ac.uk (root@snowdrop [137.205.192.31]) by pansy.csv.warwick.ac.uk (8.10.1/8.9.3) with ESMTP id f1R8Qbh19174 for <britdisc-real@pansy.csv.warwick.ac.uk>; Tue, 27 Feb 2001 08:26:37 GMT Received: from mail.london-2.starlabs.net (mail.london-2.starlabs.net [212.125.75.4]) by snowdrop.csv.warwick.ac.uk (8.10.1/8.9.3) with SMTP id f1R8QaY02980 for <britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk>; Tue, 27 Feb 2001 08:26:37 GMT X-VirusChecked: Checked Received: (qmail 24309 invoked from network); 27 Feb 2001 08:01:34 -0000 Received: from mail.kbw.co.uk (HELO aurora.oyster.co.uk) (193.132.201.148) by server-33.tower-1.london-2.starlabs.net with SMTP; 27 Feb 2001 08:01:34 -0000 Received: by AURORA with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) id <1V2VQ4Q8>; Tue, 27 Feb 2001 08:26:30 -0000 Message-ID: <7165D5A55FC4D41184DB00D0B7B9E62D8DC32A@AURORA> From: Roger Thomson <Roger.Thomson@oyster.com> To: britdisc <britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Bringing the Game into Disrepute Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 08:26:30 -0000 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Sender: owner-britdisc@warwick.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Despite many people's ambivalence over the issue of drug-taking, surely there can be no objections to the fact that we shouldn't be seen to be advocating it through ANY official channels (which the position of Tournament Director constitutes). Team names are individual teams' choice and there's little we can do to stop them having other connotations, at this stage of the sport I don't think we're in a position to affect that (or would want to). But we could as a group insist that in future drugs should not be mentioned or alluded to by any of the official side of the sport. If we did that maybe people like Chris would have a little faith restored and would continue to bring new youngsters along. Would we want to think we'd prevented other people getting the enjoyment we all get out of the sport, just for the sake of giving out a red-eye bong or spliff-holder? I'm sure I'll be accused of hypocrisy, but aren't the best vicars ex-convicts? Cheers PieBoy (Bullfrog) -----Original Message----- From: Chris White [mailto:penguins@hove42.freeserve.co.uk] Sent: 26 February 2001 20:48 To: britdisc Subject: Re: Bringing the Game into Disrepute OK, didn't think I'd ever get into this sort of thing so quickly into setting up a team. (Still unregistered, sorry Ben and Kevin!) I run a school based team. We're trying to get it set up outside the school, but as yet, we're still a cosy school group. Had my team been at that event then it would have been the last event they (and the school) would have ever been to. (And that's not due to any feelings on my behalf) If you think I'm exaggerating then let me explain why. Any school based event has to have at least 2 teachers with it. The other would probably have felt a duty to report it, even if I didn't. There is also the fact the kids would have talked about it and it would be round the school in a matter of minutes. Any school trip (apart from the masses of paperwork) needs to have permission from both the headteacher and the governors. The head would have been bound to hear. I would have been called up to explain what happened. The governors would have been informed, and I would have probably faced some sort of disciplinary as a minimum, possibly more, especially if it was ever reported in a newspaper. 'Teacher takes students to drugs endorsing sports event' or something like that. It could ultimately cost me my job as a teacher, permanently. I know that sounds drastic, but that is how things work in teaching. It would have definitely cost me my probationary year at the school, I would probably have to look for a job at another school and go through my probationary year again, assuming a school would take someone who had failed a probationary year (far whatever reason). The head and the governors would then never endorse a team going to another tournament, and the training sessions would come to an end as well. (Sorry I realise that's a bit long) I'm sure that the people involved in the tournie didn't mean any harm by, though I don't think it's the sort of things I'd want, but at the end of the day everyone really needs to think about the whole game, the whole time. One of the biggest problems I've encountered (especially with starting the club up at school) is that for many people perception is reality. If they perceive that it is a drugs related sport then they will believe it really is (and I don't know why people feel that any sport should have drugs image due purely to the sport that it is). Again, such a thing can be deadly (job wise) to someone in the teaching profession. Just one 'headline', true or otherwise can ruin a career. Irrespective of whether or not I, or any of the students take drugs, I am now in the unenviable position where I will have to think twice about taking any of them to a tournament. As much as I have enjoyed ultimate whenever I've played it, it's not worth a job I've invested so much of my own time and money in. Sorry that this has been such a long note, and rather heavy at times. I dare say that some of you won't believe me (for whatever reasons you have), I can only assure you that what I have said is either reality or a real fear of what could easily happen. Chris "yes I'm Vanessa's brother b4 anyone else asks!!!" White ------------------------------------------------------------ Internet communications are not secure and therefore Oyster Partners Ltd does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this message. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Oyster Partners Ltd.