Learn how to play Mah Jongg with etiquette by following Debbie’s Golden Rules of Mah Jongg
We will be discussing Golden Rule #11 in this blog, which can be a sore spot for those at a table with a gum chewer, gum snapper, etc. And, for those of you that missed rules #1-10, please check out these blogs.
Before we have some fun with Golden Rule #11, I’d like to know, and I’m sure others would too, how you are doing with your habit and behavior changes? Please feel free to comment and share your transformation experiences.
Golden Rule #11: Snap, crackle, and pop are sounds that are better suited to a bowl of Rice Crispies cereal. Leave the gum home, please.
What’s more disrespectful than a player chewing gum around the Mah Jongg table? Personally, I can’t think of a whole lot more. The art of blowing that big bubble that once pops makes a loud enough noise to get everyone’s attention. Or, the dance that your jaw does when it artfully maneuvers the gum you are chewing into making a continual cracking or snapping sound.
When I think of this bad habit, one of my favorite aunts comes to mind, who, God rest her soul, was an incessant gum cracker-snapper. Although her peers got on her case about it, no sooner than she’d stop, she was right back on it. I guess she needed to read my Golden Rules and the article on habits and behaviors. Since behaviors are unconscious, how do we manifest our thoughts into a good habit? With practice and repetition, of course!
If you are in a situation with a gum aficionado here are my suggestions:
· Mention my Golden Rules during your game.
· Keep several copies of my Golden Rules with you so that you can hand them out during your game.
· Let your playmates know that a longtime teacher and published author of Unlocking the Secrets of American Mah Jongg came up with this humorous and helpful list of Golden Rules to use around the Mah Jongg table.
You can further explain that these rules create, etiquette as well as good habits and behaviors.
Looking forward to sharing more with you in the next blog discussing Rule #12 and how to play mah Jongg with etiquette by using my Golden Rules!
Happy Mah Jongging, everyone!
How are you, being a player in a few difficult games, I have a question regarding the bettor. I threw hot and paid the table,,I was bet on and thought the bettor should split it with me, I was shot down and was told no, is there a rule?
Hello Shelly…Let me begin by saying, there are no written NMJL rules regarding this matter because throwing a hot tile is a table rule. However, when using a bettor, if you were bet on and you ended up giving someone mah jongg the better would have to pay whatever you paid to the winner. similarly, if in reverse the bettor bets on you and you win then everyone pays you double of of what would have been paid without a bettor and you split the winnings with the bettor. In the case of your throwing a hot tile and having to pay for the table, the same would apply. You had to pay for the table and so should the bettor. The bettor doesn’t split it with you but rather pays the same that you do. The bettor is penalized because she bet on you and you threw the hot mah jongg tile. Please let me know if this is clear! Thank you and I appreciate your following me!
Omgsh! That would be tough. Have yet to deal with anyone popping their gum. Will defer to these Golden Rules for dealing with it tho. Thx!