Music and cubing

[Vinny]

I like music while cubing. Mainly because it drowns out any noise from my family outside of my room... Plus I just really enjoy listening to it.

[ThomasJE]

I know there are threads about what music people listen to, but no real in-depth discussion.

There are many cubers who listen to various music while they cube (me included). I find that music amost 'puts me to ease' and lets me calm down a little to concentrate on the solve. But, is there any crystal clear evidence that proves this? Or, does music put you off a little?

Also, another point I want to discuss is the type of music you listen to. Some people prefer slow songs, others fast paced songs. What do you prefer? Have you tried both while cubing? What did you think? Any particular songs/artists you find helps? I know Michal Pleskowicz likes Metallica.

The last point I want to discuss is regulation 2i:

2i) While competing, competitors must not use sound equipment, other electronic equipment (like walkmans, dictaphones or additional lighting).

What do you feel about this regulation? Should it be amended to allow some music to be listened to? Obviously, this would need the delegate/main judge to check the music being played to stop cheating. Or should the use be limited?

Feel free to discuss any of the above points, or add any other points you want to raise.

[Escher]

When I realised recently just how many poker players listen to music during tournaments where the payouts can be in excess of $1mil, I decided that the mp3 ban in cubing was incredibly dumb.

The only event I can see that cheating through microphone assistance would gain any kind of advantage for would be BLD, but even then the logistics of setting up the 'spotter' so that they can see the cube but not be caught whispering instructions to the solver would be ridiculously hard to accomplish at most competitions.

If the WCA really are trying to be water-tight to cheats, there are a lot of other areas they can work on first.


Anyway, I used to find that liquid DnB like Camo & Krooked or Netsky helped when I was trying to pump myself up for PBs, but now I find it much easier to cube with no music at all - which is annoying, because I love having music on all the time :P

[ThomasJE]

The only event I can see that cheating through microphone assistance would gain any kind of advantage for would be BLD, but even then the logistics of setting up the 'spotter' so that they can see the cube but not be caught whispering instructions to the solver would be ridiculously hard to accomplish at most competitions.

You can get 'audio splitters', so the judge could use that to hear what the competitor hears through another set of earphones (maybe just 1 ear piece), so this problem is avoided.

[Escher]

You can get 'audio splitters', so the judge could use that to hear what the competitor hears through another set of earphones (maybe just 1 ear piece), so this problem is avoided.

I guess you would have to force competitors to bring them.

I think it's pretty reasonable to just not care :P

Also, somebody brought up the issue of judge/competitor communication in another thread discussing this, for example, when the judge is to lift the cover off, as a counter-example.
This actually made me realise that we don't have codified provisions for deaf cubers - we should have a standard set of signals for the competitor and judge to use (we should only need one or two anyway) - and if you're hearing-impaired, intentionally or otherwise, it wouldn't pose a problem.

[ThomasJE]

I guess you would have to force competitors to bring them.

An audio splitter from here costs 70p. (OK, it's on offer, but still) Only 10 max. people would be solving at one time. That's just £7 for the audio splitters. And earphones won't be in short supply.

[Sa967St]

Listening to music while competing isn't only an issue because of possible cheating, it can also cause problems because communication between the judge is more difficult.

This has been discussed plenty of times, and although there are some ways to possible make it work, it seems that most people don't think it's worth it.

[Bapao]

It shouldn't be allowed IMO. I agree that it's important to be able to focus during a comp, but said focus should be attainable without a "crutch".

[Escher]

It shouldn't be allowed IMO. I agree that it's important to be able to focus during a comp, but said focus should be attainable without a "crutch".

It's not necessarily about having a crutch... Solving 6x6 and 7x7 in comp can be really boring :P

I just don't see how the cheating possibility means we shouldn't be able to do it, when it has no other bearing on the validity of the solve, or on other competitors. If the argument against headphones from cheating is valid, then I'd like to raise a point about the validity of using volunteer judges and scramblers... Possibility of abuse isn't the problem, it's how damaging or easily performed the abuse could be that is.

Regardless of this debate, we should have set signals for a competitor to ask the judge to remove the covering, both because sometimes competitors get pissed off with judges and also because the judging procedure shouldn't disadvantage deaf people.

The thing is, if we did have this signalling system, the judge/competitor communication issue wouldn't (or shouldn't) be a problem anyway.

There is a problem with judges/runners having to find competitors though - there would have to be a stipulation that those in the competitor waiting area may not listen to music...

[Godmil]

What if you found watching tv to help you relax while solving... Would it hurt to have iPlayer on your iPad in front of you at comps?
I think you really have to be respectful to the 'sport' while competing, when you go to do your solve you should just be doing your solve, not getting additional forms of entertainment. I'm surprised to hear about the poker players. When ever I think of any other competitions I keep thinking it comes across as rude to be listening to music.