to me.
 
I've never toured the world as my wife has but I've thought about it and I've thought about tripping to England
to see a few members here BUT I've had new thoughts about what if I did...
 
A little info to help understand why I think it would be smart for me to keep my butt at home.
 
I grew up playing pool in a pool hall that most of the folks here would probably not feel very safe in...and for many very good reasons- but if you are then you know exactly what I mean.
In that place, for those of you that may not know, there is a thing called "dirty pool" and playing that way could get your butt killed in that place. (yes, and there was more than a few that went down in the back of that place...only one way in but I guess a few ways out)
Well I found a very cool on-line pool game where opponents from anywhere in the world are randomly selected to play other and I've found out that lowdown "dirty pool" plays are exceptable and seem to be just part of the game even though I refuse to play that game/stoop to that level.
 
Little things like that could put me in a very bad position since I'm not sure I would or could overlook such a thing and return home in one piece so I'm thinking it's best to drink me suds and call them names in the safety of me arm chair LOL...my wife agrees.
Now I have to go buy a new recliner...yep...some Brit done caused me to bust a spring right in the middle of me seat.
 
 
 

But the UK has some pretty cool people.
 
I know. I met them.

What do you consider "dirty pool" Michael?  I've always seen the difference between what we called "bar pool" and tournament pool.  For example, in 8-ball, if you pocket one of your balls but it nicks another ball you're expected to have called that in bar pool.  However, actual pool rules are simply ball and pocket.  I hate playing bar rules, but I always defer to the lowest set of rules for those I'm playing.

Heh, I'm far more likely to get in bar trouble in the UK due to my darts! 
 

Ed it's not about the people. It's about what people are use to. It's about what may offend someone that doesn't offend another.
 
Craig the rules change. It's a very good idea to make sure the rules are known before playing, naturally.
The "dirty pool" is a very difficult thing to determine in the sense of being right or wrong.
For instance..."snooker" is a position that one can be in by mistake or intentionally by the opponent. It is part of the game and not "illegal". The problem is that one that is a very good player and finds him/her self in a position that they can't make a shot can intentionally place the cue ball in such a position that the opponent can't either.
Even though that is a "legal" play depending on who you are playing one may want to consider if it is a smart thing to do. It may be they think it is not a legal play and that you are just a dirty player. I grew up playing with it best be an "accident" if you left the opponent snookered. Even then it didn't prevent certain players from going ballistic...right or wrong-intentionally or not.
 
Some take the game very serious and sometimes it's easy to get in a game that "little things" like that aren't so little.
 
As for me...once I got use to it being common and exceptable with the on-line version it became a move that opponents wish I didn't know.
 
"Blasting the balls" and hoping that luck is on your side...man I've seen that cause problems you just don't want to see. That's another thing they do on-line that could get you a trip to the hospital when and where I grew up...of course if you were new they'd give you a notice not to be doing that unless you were breaking. Players know what I'm talking about and that I'm not talking about a "breakout shot".
 
Anyway...just knowing how serious the game can be to some and realizing the "culture" could cause issues - in real life...it's nice to have the space between the players. LOL.
I don't play on-line games and this is really my first and it's just something I noticed that's kind of strange to me.

I must be missing the point.......
It's not compulsory to play pool if you come here ya know !
 
 
I can relate to your story though......many moons ago I was in a strange bar (to us) with a pal. It was early on and we were only there waiting to meet up with someone else and then planned to move on somewhere else. The place was more or less empty and the pool table was vacant, so we decided to have a quick game while we were waiting. As I racked up the balls a guy entered the bar and said that we couldn't play each other because it was "his" table. Turned out that according to him, as he won the last game the day before, the next player along had to play him first and see if they could beat him. If they couldn't it remained "his" table and the next player also had to play him until he was defeated. Even better (for him) was that the "challengers" had to pay for the game, so he was getting a free ride too. I tried to explain that we were only there for a few minutes, didn't know about "the rules" so we would just play out one game and then it could still be "his" table as we were leaving anyway. The guy wouldn't have it and sat on the table so we couldn't play. Being a lover not a fighter I said...right, come on then I'll play you.... and proceeded to pot every ball without him even getting a shot. Never done it before and never done it since ! My pal was creased up in the corner watching how it all unfolded. At that point, the person we were waiting for arrived so I bid farewell to my new "friend" and have to admit I was rather enjoying the moment until he stood in front of me and informed me that I wasn't allowed to leave as it was now "my" table, so no-one else could play if I left. Yeah, right, ok mate.....The guy was still yelling out the door as we got in the car and drove away. :)
 
 
 
 
 

Apparently, no one else could play even while you were there. :)

craigb
For example, in 8-ball, if you pocket one of your balls but it nicks another ball you're expected to have called that in bar pool.  However, actual pool rules are simply ball and pocket.

Is this why they told me to quit playing pocket pool?

UbiquitousBubba
Apparently, no one else could play even while you were there. :)

True dat. Total fluke though, so best to quit when you're ahead.

S

paulo
I must be missing the point.......
It's not compulsory to play pool if you come here ya know !
 
 

 
 LOL no doubt and I know it would be best if I didn't. The reasons I mentioned it is because Steve is a pool player and I thought it was interesting that "dirty pool" isn't common knowledge with the players. If I got out more I'd probably notice even more diffs LOL.
Sure enjoyed you story Paulo. I was hoping my post might spark some.