Misinformed, Misfit Players Causing a Rift (Letter 3)

Dear Hoptoi,

I play with a lovely group of ladies but there is a challenging situation that is causing problems. This group was formed by members who took lessons together a couple of years ago. It appears that either they did not retain what was taught or their instructor did not teach the game correctly or thoroughly. Thankfully, some members of the founding group have accepted correction and have since developed into decent players. Sadly, there are members of the founding group who have not grasped the basics of the game. For example, they use jokers in pairs and as a single tile. Also, they were amazed to learn that consecutive runs can begin with numbers other than what is depicted on the card, and even after being told, they ignore it or contiunually question it. Experienced players have encouraged them to practice at home and watch videos to learn more and build their skills, but they are not open to suggestions nor instruction. This has crated a rift in the group because now experienced members don’t want to play with them. I know this is not an isolated case because I have seen posts on social media from others who are experiencing this issue. What can we do to foster change and repair the rift?

Puzzled Newcomer

Dear Puzzled Newcomer,

Honesty is the best policy, so I applaud you and other experienced players for addressing the issue with the misinformed, misfit players. I recommend that you meet with the experienced founding members and share your concerns. Ask them if they have ideas to repair the rift. If they don’t, suggest that they create two subgroups, one for experienced players who can play a 15-minute game and one for beginners. This way, beginners who want to improve their skills have something to work towards. Another suggestion could be to create two events: OPEN PLAY, where all players are welcome and participants agree to play with anyone regardless of experience, and ADVANCED PLAY, with the requirement that participants would need to comfortably play a 15-minute game. If nothing changes, you need to decide whether to continue playing with the group as it is or find another group to play with.

Creating a group charter may also be helpful.