Email from Mason

[Mat Sklansky]

Hi Matty:

Below are copies of two private messages that I have received from raptor517.

"you reside in vegas correct? you should come check out the heads up tourney were having with all the stt forum posters. would be a lot of fun. -David "

After receiving this, I responded asking for details. His reply was:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showth...amp;o=&vc=1 (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=3560233&page=&view=&s b=5&o=&vc=1)

thats a link with the info for registerring..

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showfl...=5&o=14&fpart=1

and thats an updated player roster.

hope to see you there. -David"

After looking at these threads, it seems to me that he got a lot of free advertising and these threads should have been deleted. Am I missing something?

[timprov]

Your second link doesn't work. I don't see anything wrong with the first one.

[Mat Sklansky]

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Number=3668280&page=

This is the second link

[Mat Sklansky]

Do you not see this as free advertising or is it that you see it as a service to forum members and is therefore justifiable?

[timprov]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you not see this as free advertising or is it that you see it as a service to forum members and is therefore justifiable?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not sure what advertising you're worried about. It's just a forum tournament. I don't see any difference between this and HULA, except that this is being done live and therefore can't mooch its overhead off of Prima.

[Mat Sklansky]

I guess the question is how much, if any, money is going to the poster. It's possible that Mason would question the hula events as well.

[Schneids]

[ QUOTE ]
It's possible that Mason would question the hula events as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Regarding HULA, nobody profited on the side from doing it, and for many posters it was a benefit. I personally see HULA as serving the needs of this forum's posters.

[timprov]

[ QUOTE ]
I guess the question is how much, if any, money is going to the poster. It's possible that Mason would question the hula events as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's been a long time since I read STT regularly, but Irieguy's been one of the most valuable posters there for longer. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt.

ETA: In any case a forum ought to be able to organize this sort of thing if they want to. Right? I think 2+2 would be a worse place without the various forum events. Since you guys have stayed away from "official" 2+2 events, it only makes sense to let the ones organized by the posters stand.

[Lloyd]

I agree that if the organizers are profiting then the post shouldn't be allowed. But I would give Irieguy the benefit of the doubt and assume whatever fee is charged is only sufficient to cover the costs which could include some small amount to reimburse them for out of pocket expenses. I'd simply ask Irieguy and go from there. But in principal, these events definitely add value to the forum.

[Mason Malmuth]

Hi Everyone:

I had some more correspondence with this person and it appears to me that this tournament is probably okay. That is it's not being done for profit as far as I can tell and the Two Plus Two name is not being used.

best wishes,
Mason

[citanul]

Mat,

As far as I know the tournament:

a) does not use the name Twoplustwo or Two plus two or 2+2 or anything else like that. It goes by "STTF-HUC" - Single Table Tournament Forum Heads Up Championships.

b) does not make the organizer any money. all funds go to:
- the prize pool
- the rental of a suite or several suites at a vegas hotel to hold the tournament
- the rental of strippers (from the pics, they didn't appear to be strippers picked with the best eye or anything, but they were strippers)
- the paying for refreshments and bartender at the event

c) is a lot of fun, mason should try to make a showing.

Further, I'm very glad that you didn't jump to it and delete those threads as they're nothing harmful and everyone had a great time last year. The player pool is doubling this year and it should be a great event.

c

[Mat Sklansky]

why didn't anyone tell me about the strippers?

[durron597]

Hi Mat-

Everything in citanul's post is correct. Also, the vast majority of posters in the STT forum are interested in this event (even those not planning to attend) and the stickies are there as a service to them. Since this event is primarily for forum members, I gave Irieguy the sticky.

Note also the "not sponsored by 2+2 publishing" disclaimer in the sticky.

[citanul]

[ QUOTE ]
why didn't anyone tell me about the strippers?

[/ QUOTE ]

you hadn't started being cool until after last year's HUC. i'm sure you're more than welcome to show up for some stripper goodness this time.

[Mason Malmuth]

Hi durron597:

[ QUOTE ]
Note also the "not sponsored by 2+2 publishing" disclaimer in the sticky

[/ QUOTE ]

I just want to point out that this statement is super important to us. It's not something we do by choice, but something in which we have legal advice directing us in this manner.

It is okay to state something like:

"This event is open to all posters of Two Plus Two but is not an official function of Two Plus Two and thus is not sponsored by Two Plus Two Publishing LLC."

Best wishes,
Mason