Flippin’ Flippers (Letter 15)

When playing with my mah jongg set at the Senior Center, I prefer not to have my tiles flipped during mixing, especially after a few incidents where they’ve ended up on the floor. When I asked players to not use flippers, one drop-in player argued with me saying that it’s the way they always mix tiles and that it’s best method. Is it okay to insist?

Touchy about Tiles

Dear Touchy about Tiles,

Flippers are plastic cards often included with contemporary, themed Mah Jongg sets. While marketed as a convenient tool for mixing tiles, they’re unnecessary and can cause damage if used too aggressively. Many players see them as a gimmick, primarily added to boost the appeal and price of themed sets.

As a matter of etiquette, if the set owner prefers not to use flippers—especially to protect their tiles—players should respect that choice, even if they’re used to playing with them. If there’s any push-back, a simple response like, “Thanks for understanding. This set is important to me, and I’d like to keep the tiles in great condition,” can help set the tone without any drama.