Defensive calls Illegal...?

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by ajmc

You're missing the simplicity of the current rule. Whether or not any actions or words are judged to violate the rules is entirely and completely deterrmined by the covering official, alone. That's why, without a really thorough understanding of what that particular official may consider over the line, it's really foolish to risk being silly.

But why should that official have to or be allowed to make that judgement? It's like stationing a policeman at an uncontrolled intersection (no signs, no rules as to who would have the right of way) to make judgements on his own as opposed to having a yield sign or rule indicating who has the right of way. In this case, it's a verbal right of way. You put a stop sign around certain words, so that if someone goes into that intersection and interferes with cross traffic, you'd know who was at fault.

Robert