A New Spin on Racism

[customersruinmylife]

I was at the pub playing a few games of pool with friends. I don't know how things are everywhere else in the world, but in the UK, if you want a go on the pool table, you put a coin down to show that you want to go next. My friends and I had been playing for about half a dozen games with no one coming near us.

A lady, mid-forties, caked in makeup and smelling like she had had a bath in perfume came up to me.

L: Excuse me! But when is someone else going to have a go on the table?
Me: Oh, well if you just put some mon-
L: Is it locals only? Are you only allowed to play if you are local? That is absolutely disgusting. You are not letting me and my friends play because we aren't from this part of the country. It's borderline racism!

My friend spat his drink out from laughing.

Me: Lady! We're both British and white! How is it racism? Put a coin on the table, and then you can have it when we finish this game.

She got her go on the table. After two shots, she potted the black ball, ending her game. Ha!

[jadabella]

Oh yes, the long and shameful history of the English village - lure those from out of town, capture and enslave them, and force them to watch your expert billiards moves whilst giving them no opportunity to improve their own skills.

There are warnings in ALL the tourist guides.

[MoonCat]

You were discriminating against idiots. C'mon, admit it.

[Sapphire Silk]

I was at the pub playing a few games of pool with friends. I don't know how things are everywhere else in the world, but in the UK, if you want a go on the pool table, you put a coin down to show that you want to go next.

It's that way in the US as well. Your response was rather polite by US standards; she'd have been jeered out of the place for saying something like that here.

[jjc927]

Glad to see you're demonstrating you have a life lol. Maybe this idiot was related to or a friend of that mother you've written about a couple of times?

[Legal Eagle]

every place in the UK has the same unwritten rule (i've seen some places even have it written)

the only exception is where a different rule is podted.

[Darkforge]

damn, how can you not know to do that with a pool table in a bar?

[Mnemjian]

It's interesting that the rule for putting a coin on the table to signify you are waiting is so widespread that it's the same all across America as well as in the UK. So I guess it means this lady needs to get out more

[Kogarashi]

damn, how can you not know to do that with a pool table in a bar?

I probably wouldn't know to do that (I don't go to enough places with pool tables to pick it up), but at least I wouldn't go on a screaming rampage like the lady in the OP. I'd just ask politley if we could have a turn, and graciously accept the explanation given of how to state your intent to play.

I don't think 'gracious' is in that lady's dictionary.

[xx_wolfie_xx]

The unspoken rule is so wide spread that i have seen slots on the rails of the coin op tables specifically for this purpose!! But if i'm in a pool hall and paying the front desk for a table, you can go suck a lemon until i'm done thank you very much.

[Solumina]

I was unaware of this rule and would have most likely asked if you would be done anytime soon, but unlike this lady I would have been friendly and polite, sometimes people don't want to stop playing but will be more than happy to let you join them, especially if you both have small groups.

[Racket_Man]

heck I remember that rule from when I was in college (small mid-western town kida in the middle of nowhere) some 33 or so years ago. I thought it was universal unless you "rent" the table by the hour at a dedicated pool hall.

[MrSmiley]

I don't know how things are everywhere else in the world, but in the UK, if you want a go on the pool table, you put a coin down to show that you want to go next.

Works for Street Fighter too. Then again, it's been years since I've seen an arcade game. I feel old.

[LadyAndreca]

Works for Street Fighter too. Then again, it's been years since I've seen an arcade game. I feel old.

We did it for the DDR machine in college.

[mharbourgirl]

It's interesting that the rule for putting a coin on the table to signify you are waiting is so widespread that it's the same all across America as well as in the UK. So I guess it means this lady needs to get out more

Canada too. The Hubster and I have played in many a pool hall or other places that have pool tables.

*snicker* When he was younger, Hubs would get dragged to strip clubs by his friends for birthdays, and he'd only agree to go if the place had a pool table.