Stronghold rant...

[alicen]

Originally Posted by cj3958

Can we please stop this "you can't blame the ref" culture. I know they have an impossible task and it is very hard to make every call right, but there are definitely times where people can say that the refs screwed up and made a lot of bad calls. That isn't to say they aren't trying, or they weren't prepared, but it is to say that the refs are not as good as would be expected of a normal sport. The GDC can design games that are easier to ref or require more training etc. to fix this problem. Also, some people are not in the position to just "get up and grab a ref shirt", for example they may be actually competing, or have a day job. Just because someone criticizes a group as a whole doesn't mean they can do better themselves. I can't play professional football but I sure as hell can say that U of M's kicker screwed up on the last play of the game vs. MSU and tried to kick the ball instead of falling on it leading to a MSU win on the last play of the game.

Please stop allowing anyone to even have a discussion about the quality of reffing, because it clearly needs to be talked about.

emphasis mine. I want to make a few points.
1. Sometimes the refs are to blame for making a bad call. That does not mean all refs were bad, which is how many people come off.
2. Out of the 30+ refs I know, I think ONE of them doesn't have a day job/school/mentor, and that's because he's retired. He's earned that.
3. refs not being "as good as normal sports refs". I'm sorry, but when the rules for football change every year, then I will accept this argument.
4. If the GDC designs games that are easier to ref, they will probably be more boring, like Recycle Rush, to watch.
5. You make a point about saying that a kicked screwed up a play, however, if you were in his shoes (and were skilled enough to be there) can you say without a doubt that in that split second you would have made a perfect decision?
6. I was going to count how many times there were students in the Question Box at my regional, but lost track very quickly because I was busy doing other things. We hadn't hit lunch on Friday before I had counted 6 and missed plenty of others.

I'm not saying there shouldn't be a discussion about the quality of reffing, because I personally do think some refs want to be there more than others and know the rules better. What I am saying is instead of just complaining and saying "all refs suck, booo! they should be better!11!" propose a method for making sure they know the rules even better, or help to recruit more refs for your volunteer coordinator!

and because I saw your newest post before I submitted:

There could be many reasons for this, 99% of which I would blame on the GDC and the training system, not on the refs themselfs, but presently I cannot even express that opinion on CD.

What? How can you not bring this up? If this is what you actually think, then it would be responded to differently than "the refs sucked at reffing" (paraphrasing)