Articoli
Attenzione: questo articolo è stato scritto oltre 1 anno fa! Alcuni contenuti potrebbero essere obsoleti.
Mail del mese - Marzo 2007
Articolo del 31-3-2007 a cura di Tessitori Riccardo
Tessitori Riccardo

Anonimo [IMJUDGES] thanks Questa è una mail di un arbitro americano, che esprime le sue sensazioni sul mondo arbitrale. 29 marzo 2007 "Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same." As I was talking with one of my mentoring L3+ judges today, I realized that, since I became a judge, he and others like him have been some of the most influential people in my life. I wanted to say thanks to the judges that give so much of their time and energy to helping us learn and grow, not only in our skills at judging, but as human beings. I suppose this starts before I was introduced to Magic: The Gathering at all. To make a long story short, I had a very bad debate coach my junior year. I changed schools to get away from that entire situation, and wound up quitting debate half way through my senior year because I couldn't handle the painful memories of what that coach had emotionally done to me and the others on her team. I came to the judge program filled with mistrust of authority, fear of irrational consequences, and a very fragile emotional state. I was terrified of those trying to help me on the path to Level 1. I'd like to thank them here for being patient and understanding as I slowly (and it has been slowly) began to be less afraid and more trusting of them. More than that, I'd like to express my sincere gratitude that, instead of taking advantage of my fear, and cultivating it to have power over me, they chose to help me overcome that fear of authority and regain my trust in myself and in those around me. It amazes me that whether it's in real life or on IRC, every L3+ judge I've talked to (and most Level 2 judges who are aspiring L3s) has been kind and caring. I can't count the number of hours I spend per day talking to the high-level judges both geographically near me, and those I know only by screen names. I can't think of any that haven't been willing to help me with anything I asked for, and often offer advice that I haven't asked for. This advice, while usually applicable to judging, often applies to life as well. I was on IRC in class one day, talking to one such judge, and worrying about an upcoming test. He reminded me to focus on what could go right, not potential mistakes. While this advice is completely relevant to judging, he went out of his way to make me realize that I should also apply it to my life. Society is extremely concerned with the quality of the teachers in public schools. They worry that bad teachers can harm their children, because they have such a place of trust. I've been hurt by teachers. Teachers have made me cry, and shown little or no concern. I firmly believe that the senior judges around me have done more to shape who I am than my public school teachers. I have only once cried as the result of a high-level judge's actions, and upon being informed that I had, he immediately apologized and reconsidered whether his actions were appropriate. (And that one time was probably not actually the judge's fault—it was shortly after my very first judgling experience and he didn't know about the experiences I'd had with debate). While this was inspired by the judges I interact with on a day-to-day or week-to-week basis, I have an immense respect for each of the people that work so hard to help people like me across the world improve ourselves. The responsibility you have frightens me, and I am impressed that each of you carries it so well. Thank you. And finally, though I'm sure that if I ever test for L3, I'll regret this, I'd like to thank the DCI for making it so difficult to become a Level 3 judge. I believe it helps—more than public school's background checks and coaching's paperwork—to prevent those who would harm the individuals who trust them from attaining a position of power. Thanks again to all of you—be proud of the work you're doing.