I pretty much agree with you. I tend to push a cancel if it is in the first year, maybe Spring of the second, but after that if there is a big CD that fouls things up badly I push for a draw, or if it is a no big deal CD of a minor dying player, then it is just a game, carry on...

Well, I just argued for a cancel in the game so...

I think that cancel should indeed be the last option. Sometimes, however, the integrity of the game has been breached in such a way that it just feels wrong to go on. And yeah: it's just a game. But precisely because it can be a time and effort consuming one, I don't feel like it's worth it to further spend huge amounts of energy merely trying to get the game back on track.
When and where that's not the case, diplomacy should be used to find out the proper outcome between a draw or a "game on".

I think people get a bit to precious about GR and points and their "record". And most importantly their egos. What happened to goods sportsmanship and graciousness - and by that I don't mean expecting others to cancel because you think think the game is spoiled. I mean accepting that it is just a game and it won't alway be perfect and sometimes you get unlucky and sometimes it won't be completely fair etc Whatever happens just roll with it and play the game.

... sure there are times when it is called for, but those times should be as few and far between as possible.

+1, as usual, to spyman

As you say Spyman, it's just a game.

In my mind that means that the second its stops being fun, you have reason to walk away.

Hear me well: the game is still fun when you're getting your ass kicked or someone CDed to your disadvantage. As far as I'm concerned, since the game is really about the people around the board and not the particulars of your situation on it, the fun to be had in a game is determined by your interactions with the others. Interactions can be sour, yet the game can still be fun. Sometimes, however, interactions become impossible and the harm caused by such a situation can quickly fester.

Bottom line: it's a game of diplomacy and the game will go on so long as diplomacy is possible. If diplomacy becomes impossible for most of the people playing the game, you have good grounds to cancel. A draw, in that situation, merely means a "diplomatic cancellation" in my mind.

"I think people get a bit to precious about GR and points and their "record". "

I agree with this 100%. I have enjoyed my non-anon games, and low key games ten times more than any GR challenge games or huge pot games. When people get so serious about their rating they get unfriendly in the game, way to high strung, and unwilling to try anything unusual. Often it ends up a 4-way draw in 1905. While in low key games I tend to have much more fun.

More back on topic, I think you are right on regrading the cancel.

This thread has gotten out of hand. I vote we cancel it.

I will too, but only if we get rid of Tom first. Will you support me?

No, dammit, Tom earned his spot and I won't Cancel or Draw if youtry to eliminate him. Tom, you are under my protection. ;-)

That's not cool using Tom as a protection.
That's just nasty, Draugnar-style.

whoa whoa whoa, I'm not sure I like where this is headed. Lets change the subject: So Thucy, hows the college sex life treating you? =P

You already know what it is.

zultar you have my support. Take care of this obstacle.

haha. only teasing Thucy. In fact, I don't know why I associate you with that. Maybe its when I first joined the site and that's now how I always remember you... oh well. Your stuck with it. Somehow I don't think you care.