March 2021 - 8

IN Box
wear masks incorrectly, and the virus
can spread anyway. No matter how
far the tables are from each other, the
fact of the matter is we are too close
to each other at the table. Also, if the
boards are passed from table to table,
then so is the virus.
The scientists are telling us not to
be in indoor spaces, to wear masks
appropriately and to stay six feet apart
from each other. This is impossible to
do at bridge. The scientists also tell us
that many people are asymptomatic.
Obviously this would mean that
people could come into the bridge
club having COVID, and no one would
be aware of it. Not the players, nor the
director. Thus, the virus would easily
be passed from player to player as we
share boards, move from table to table
and sit close to each other.
We all miss online bridge, but the
time will come when it is safe again.
We need to wait. We need to live to
play - safely - another day.
RITA BAUDO

West Yarmouth MA

The article " Testing the Ice " contains
a picture on page 13 of a player wearing a face shield instead of a mask
which the club required.
Face shields are not a replacement
for masks, and they allow room air to
circulate under and around the shield
to the wearer or from the wearer to
the room. It appears to be a common
misconception that face shields are an
acceptable substitute for a mask. The
CDC clearly states that face shields
are not a replacement for masks. Face
shields can be worn with a mask to
provide a second layer of protection.
Health care workers wear them for
this purpose and to prevent mucous
and other secretions from contaminating the face and eyes.
CONSTANCE JOHNSON, MD
Chapmansboro TN

8 | Bridge Bulletin | March 2021

Name names
" I was a victim of cheating on BBO "
is unfortunately a familiar comment
expressed by bridge players these
days. The ACBL and BBO have
spoken at length about this subject
and appear to be making efforts to
reduce it.
George Jacobs in the November
issue and a letter to the editor in the
December issue have begun divulging
names of players exhibiting unethical
sportsmanship. Because nobody
wishes to see the word cheater next
to their name, why not publish names
and sanctions imposed on these
dishonest players?
Perhaps refer readers to a specific
site where a list of such players would
be made available. (Ed: Such a list
exists online: acbl.org/conduct-andethics/under-discipline/) This will
surely make possible cheaters think
long and hard before crossing the line
for a few masterpoints.
Furthermore, preserving the
integrity of bridge is important for
club games and tournaments as well
as online games.
JUDITH MORISSETTE
St. Colomband QC

MICHEL LEDUC

Montreal-Nord QC

Mea culpa
I make no excuses for what I did and
take full ownership of the fact that I
messed up severely. It's not a mistake
that I would make again. I would like
to stress that my actions contained
no malice, just complete idiocy. I
have loved bridge from the moment I
started playing, and I will continue to
love the game. Furthermore, any loss
of masterpoints or bridge rank pales
as punishment in comparison to my
feelings of disappointment towards
myself and the regret and guilt I have
for the pain I have caused others.

I welcome anyone who wants to
ask questions or just yell at me to
contact me at sylviamshi@gmail.com
and I will personally respond to you.
Thanks for your time, and sorry again.
SYLVIA SHI

Las Vegas NV

(Ed: Shi, who appeared on the cover
of the January 2020 issue for becoming the youngest female Grand Life
Master, was convicted of kibitzing
herself in an online game. She received
a sentence of three years probation,
three years suspension and a loss of
her Grand LM rank. )

Technical difficulties
Regarding Mike Koscielski's letter
(Dec. 2020 issue) regarding slow
online play, I respectfully beg to differ
with his argument. Checking the
other tables' results after a hand may
slow down the play of the four players
at that table, but it affects the speed
or slowness of their game only. What
really slows down online play is the
interminable time it often takes to
log on, getting bumped off and locked
out for no discernible reason, and
having your screen freeze up. All of
these issues are beyond the control
of the players and seem to be internal
problems with BBO.
That said, thank God for online play!
It keeps our COVID-numbed minds
active and pleasantly distracted for a
few hours.
GAY SQUIRE
Dorset VT

Letters to the editor are welcome
by regular mail and email. Brevity is
considered a virtue, as is subject matter
with relevance to a majority of ACBL
members. Unsigned letters are not
considered for publication, so please
include your name and hometown. Letters
may be edited. All letters will receive a
response. Send emails to editor@acbl.org.
http://www.acbl.org/conduct-and
March 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2021
