Refs nail guy with laser pointer

Robert Goodman

HLin NC wrote
#1). According to my state trooper, SWAT certified, buddy who was with me last night, under their rules of engagement, a laser can indicate a weapon and thus open the pointer operator up to catching a round in the skull, depending on the level of tension present in the facility.

If someone's about to use a gun, the last thing you should do is antagonize him, plus create a panic! If someone seriously thought that was a problem, the thing to do would be to sneak up behind him, not make a public anmt.

#2). Have someone point one at your eye and report the results back to us.

But upthread you said it was not being aimed at people's eyes.

Are you just totally devoid of common sense or do you just like making people think you're a total Dumas?

I really don't care what people think, I just want answers.

BktBallRef

Robert Goodman wrote
I really don't care what people think, I just want answers.

Yes you do, to a lot of stupid questions. 🙁

Nothing good can come from such a stupid act as pointing a laser at an athlete on any sports field/court.

Ianr

pointing a laser at a player does impact the play not only by creating an unnecessary safety hazard, it also is distracting to the players, officials and other game personnel that can be avoided. Creating noise to disrupt the play is one thing however using a laser pointer is both unethical and dangerous.

"can cause irreversible eye damage"
-Johns Hopskins, http://hub.jhu.edu/2013/12/03/blue-laser-eye-damage

ump33

Robert Goodman wrote
If they're not interfering with play, what's the problem?

Really? Sometimes in life things (or actions) are just plain wrong. Pointing a laser light at football players (or anyone) is one of those things ... it is just plain wrong.

Adam

HLin NC wrote
#1). According to my state trooper, SWAT certified, buddy who was with me last night, under their rules of engagement, a laser can indicate a weapon and thus open the pointer operator up to catching a round in the skull, depending on the level of tension present in the facility.

#2). Have someone point one at your eye and report the results back to us.

Are you just totally devoid of common sense or do you just like making people think you're a total Dumas?

1. Not relevant to a football game, as the difference is in a confrontation, the laser could (at least) temporarily disable the officer's vision. The risk level (being shot) is far higher than in a football game. Also, pointing anything at a cop in a tense situation is stupid, as they may think it's an actual gun. People get shot every year for pointing squirt guns and the like.

I agree with the rest, though.

Welpe

Robert Goodman wrote
If they're not interfering with play, what's the problem?

Because this isn't star gazing, it is a football game. Even if the mere presence of a laser isn't disruptive (and I'd argue that it is), it has the potential to be and not to mention dangerous to the eyes of the participants.

Rich

Working a second round playoff game, I noticed a kid in the student section wearing a referee shirt complete with a whistle around his neck.

I suppose Robert would wait until the kid actually blew the whistle -- instead, I pointed the kid out to the AD (without anyone knowing I did this), who removed the whistle from the kid's person.

asdf

Robert Goodman wrote
If someone seriously thought that was a problem, the thing to do would be to sneak up behind him,

How about we throw a Spiderman net over him....?

CT1

Robert Goodman wrote
What do you think the purpose of the pointer was? To interfere with the game by getting it in players' or officials' eyes? Or just to point players out, as one would use a cursor on a screen?

Did you actually look at the video? The perp was getting closer & closer to Winston's eyes.

maven

Rich wrote
Working a second round playoff game, I noticed a kid in the student section wearing a referee shirt complete with a whistle around his neck.

I suppose Robert would wait until the kid actually blew the whistle -- instead, I pointed the kid out to the AD (without anyone knowing I did this), who removed the whistle from the kid's person.

Sounds like theft...
😀

Handle it like an official: "you can let me hold that whistle till after the game and watch, or you can keep the whistle and leave."

Giving people choices is good. Makes 'em feel empowered. 😉

Robert Goodman

Welpe wrote
Because this isn't star gazing, it is a football game.

So the only thing that should go on at a football game is a football game? It's part of life, lots of people do more than one thing at a time or place.

Even if the mere presence of a laser isn't disruptive (and I'd argue that it is), it has the potential to be and not to mention dangerous to the eyes of the participants.

Maybe it is disruptive, which changes the consider'ns. I did ask about that above. But laser pointers are not dangerous to eyes, unless you poke someone with one.

Robert Goodman

CT1 wrote
Did you actually look at the video? The perp was getting closer & closer to Winston's eyes.

I couldn't tell it was moving in any particular direction, otherwise I wouldn't've asked.

Robert Goodman

Rich wrote
Working a second round playoff game, I noticed a kid in the student section wearing a referee shirt complete with a whistle around his neck.

I suppose Robert would wait until the kid actually blew the whistle -- instead, I pointed the kid out to the AD (without anyone knowing I did this), who removed the whistle from the kid's person.

Maybe he'd just finished working a game, or had the next one. I'd've been more concerned that he'd've been wearing a costume to get in for free.

APG

Robert Goodman wrote
So the only thing that should go on at a football game is a football game? It's part of life, lots of people do more than one thing at a time or place.

They sure as hell shouldn't be people using a laser pointer at a sporting event.

Eastshire

Robert Goodman wrote
So the only thing that should go on at a football game is a football game? It's part of life, lots of people do more than one thing at a time or place.

Maybe it is disruptive, which changes the consider'ns. I did ask about that above. But laser pointers are not dangerous to eyes, unless you poke someone with one.

Ahem

The hazards of laser pointers are limited to the eye. Although with most visible lasers, the largest concern is potential damage to the retina, most laser pointers are not likely to cause permanent retinal damage.

The most likely effects from exposure to viewing the beam from a laser pointer are afterimage, flashblindness and glare. Flashblindness is temporary vision impairment after viewing a bright light. This is similar to looking directly at a flashbulb when having a picture taken. The impairment may last several minutes.

Afterimage is the perception of spots in the field of vision. This can be distracting and annoying, and may last several minutes, although there have been reports of afterimages lasting several days.

Glare is a reduction or complete loss of visibility in the central field of vision while being exposed to the direct or scattered beam. This is similar to viewing oncoming headlights on a dark night. Once the beam is out of the field of vision, the glare ceases. While this does not pose a hazard to the eye, it can cause serious distraction and outrage. Glare can be exacerbated when the beam is reflected from a mirror-like surface.

More Laser Safety

Maybe there's little risk of permanent damage to the eye, but there is real risk of injury to the player due to being distracted on the football field and they seriously compromise the fairness of the competition when the quarterback is unable to see clearly for several minutes.

Fans can do lots of things in the stands. One thing they can't be permitted to do is directly interfere with play.

Welpe

Putting this baby to bed because frankly, this discussion is just stupid.