fan with laser pointer

[Ignats75]

This is a game of competition and everyone is looking for an edge to help there teams win

Where do I start. Does the concept of unsporting behavior ring a bell? Give soemone a chance? Hell no. That kind of idiocy is out the door for any game I'm working.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Old School

I will agree that shining the laser in a kids eye is wrong for an adult to do. Shining a laser in any players eyes is wrong. My point is this. Why not give people a chance. This is a game of competition and everyone is looking for an edge to help there teams win. Maybe some people cross the line as in this case, but I will never believe that the parent who also has a kid out there on the floor is trying to do harm to the other players. Consider this if you will. How would you feel if you walked over there and gave the parent a warning not to shine that laser again or he will be removed? The parent complies and there's no more problems the rest of the game. The game completes normally. How would you feel then? That's all it took! Isn't it at least worth a try? You didn't embarrass nobody, you got no after the game issues you need to go talk to some administrator about. You got no legal issues coming at you. Sometimes the simplest approach is the easiest approach.

My point is also this. One you locate who it is, you just told everyone else in the gym, particularly the opposition, that this moron is doing this and they will make sure that doesn't happen again, and if it does, somebody else will probably report him and you don't have to worry about it.

Ignore. Wrong.

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by Old School

I will agree that shining the laser in a kids eye is wrong for an adult to do. Shining a laser in any players eyes is wrong. My point is this. Why not give people a chance.

Please tell me where you officiate. I want to be sure I don't have any relatives or friends in your state that can possibly end up in a game where you are working. Why not give people a chance to do what?!? Permanently injure a kid? This isn't just bad judgement on an alleged adult's part. It's CRIMINAL abuse!!!!

[dan74]

Originally Posted by Old School

You got no legal issues coming at you. Sometimes the simplest approach is the easiest approach.

Although we may live in a litigious society, it's doubtful there's a basis for legal action, at least meaningful action. How about an 'enjoyment obstruction' theory? Judge---summary judgment for the defendant and awarded attorney fees.

Although, Old School, I understand your desire to give people a chance, a warning, in my opinion, would be inapropriate given the safety concern and considering that the perpetrator was an adult.

In regards to the wife requesting to meet with the official. Whoever fielded this request should have immediately told her---NO.

[K-Bach]

Originally Posted by Old School

Sometimes the simplest approach is the easiest approach.

Well, that's both a redundant statement and an easily misinterpreted abuse of "simple" as an adjective. Did you mean "easy to understand" or "unlearned, as in ignorant," or perhaps "lacking mental acuteness or sense."

Truly, the easiest to understand is often the easiest, as is being ignorant. However, I find that lacking sense takes a great deal of effort.

[sj]

Originally Posted by Old School

I will agree that shining the laser in a kids eye is wrong for an adult to do. Shining a laser in any players eyes is wrong. My point is this. Why not give people a chance. This is a game of competition and everyone is looking for an edge to help there teams win. Maybe some people cross the line as in this case, but I will never believe that the parent who also has a kid out there on the floor is trying to do harm to the other players. Consider this if you will. How would you feel if you walked over there and gave the parent a warning not to shine that laser again or he will be removed? The parent complies and there's no more problems the rest of the game. The game completes normally. How would you feel then? That's all it took! Isn't it at least worth a try? You didn't embarrass nobody, you got no after the game issues you need to go talk to some administrator about. You got no legal issues coming at you. Sometimes the simplest approach is the easiest approach.

OS/JMO-This is insanity.

[Time2Ref]

Originally Posted by jkjenning

Of course, he apparently swore on his way out of the gym and his wife calls the AD midweek with a circular conversation and in the end wants to talk to me next week about embarrassing her husband, etc.

You didn't embarrass her husband. He embarrassed himself. Don't bother talking with this idiot, or his wife.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Time2Ref

You didn't embarrass her husband. He embarrassed himself. Don't bother talking with this idiot, or his wife.

If you do talk to her, tell her to confiscate his toys next time she lets him out of the house to play.