From: jb118@prism.gatech.EDU (Jeffrey N. Burch)
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: Re: Sticking to your principles
Date: 14 Apr 92 21:22:55 GMT
Article-I.D.: hydra.54624
Organization: Georgia Tech Research Institute -- EOL

In article <YdungXX0Bww942gGg_@transarc.com> Bruce_Leverett@TRANSARC.COM writes:
>Forgive me for interrupting your pleasure.  I was suggesting some skepticism.
>Stories such as the ones you solicit, about celebrities, are generally
>worthless from the point of view of actually learning about someone.  There
>are many reasons.  Consider a story such as the one submitted by Mr. Burch.
>This relates a trivial misunderstanding, such as could have been straightened
>out on the spot, if Mr. Burch or his fellow TD's had had the time and the
>inclination to do so.  So what does it tell us about Reshevsky?  Nothing.

Let me set the record straight about something.  I in no way intended to 
point the finger specifically at Reshevsky.  I have no way of knowing
whether or not he made the original comment to Bisguier, or if Bisguier
made it up, or whether it was told to Bisguier by a third party (I admit
that this third possibility could have happened, but it seems unlikely
to me, considering that nobody but the other players were around when
I talked to Reshevsky, and if they heard what I said, they knew it
affected only him).

As far as "Mr. Burch or his fellow TD's" straightening this out on the
spot, and not having the inclination to do so, that was not our job. 
Getting the correct pairings up, and getting the round started, was.
Reshevsky was re-paired and played his game (against whom I can't 
remember), Bisguier went back to play his game after a while, and 
everything was fine.  I wasn't happy because I felt I'd been insulted,
and, if it had mattered more to me, I would've said something caustic
to Bisguier, who almost certainly didn't realize that he was referring
to the person standing right next to him.  

>In this case, if we trust Mr. Burch and his memory of events 6 years ago,
>at least you are getting a first-hand story.  (How well do you remember details
>of unimportant events that happened 6 years ago?)  Most of the stories you will
>get will not be first hand, and they will be much more than 6 years old.
>Moreover, many will be told by people who have a distinct interest in slanting
>the story; for instance, stories about disputes that arose during tournament
>play, generally told by partisans of one side or the other.  (The version told

I know from experience that this can be true, but I don't see it applying
in my case.  There weren't too many events, and I remember the details 
because of the embarrassment I felt for having only done my job.

As far as slanting stories, although I believe you to be simply pointing
this out, rather than accusing, I honestly think that, then and now, I
feel respect for both Grandmasters.  I've played over many of their games
as I was studying chess, and I still do.   But both are human, and are
(as I am) capable of making mistakes.

Let's also remember that, just as there are people who unnaturally slant
information against certain people, so too there are certain partisans
who refuse to consider that their heroes have flaws and make errors,
no matter how much evidence to the contrary exists.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^  Dr. J(effrey Neil Burch)                 jb118@prism.gatech.edu    ^
^  Georgia Tech Research Institute                                    ^ 
^  Electro-Optics Laboratory                                          ^
^  Atlanta, Georgia             When in peril, or in doubt,           ^
^  30332                      Run in circles, scream and shout.       ^
^  404-894-3628                                                       ^ 
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