DeeDubb
Member
Video evidence was recently used to overturn a NR in Square 1 by Kunaal Parekh when he accidently nudged one side during the inspection. This was missed by the judges as well as most people viewing the video. A few sharp eyes caught the error and WCA officials overturned the NR by changing it to a DNF.
It's been a few weeks, and I haven't seen anything official from the WCA stating their policy on using video.
To me, it is sad to see personal video used as official evidence to overturn records. This policy definitely gives an advantage to those who do not allow their solves to be filmed (sure there might be some cases where video can help, but generally it can only hurt by catching some minor infraction that the judge misses). If the idea is to spread cubing to a global audience, YouTube is a great way to achieve that. Especially YouTube videos of WCA events, however, this policy hurts people who take video of their official solves, and may discourage people from taping their solves or putting them on the internet.
Personally, I think that unless the WCA forces organizers to have video of EVERY solve at a given event, then video should not be used to overturn judge's decisions in either direction.
I understand the counterargument is that the emphasis is getting the call right, but there's no way to get the call right on people who aren't being filmed other than the judge watching with his own eyes in real time. Giving people instant replay to watch over and over and catch a minor infraction is not fair considering how many minor infractions must have been missed for those who are solving without video.
So, basically, the argument boils down to: is it more important to treat every cuber as fairly as possible or to get the call right as often as possible?
It's been a few weeks, and I haven't seen anything official from the WCA stating their policy on using video.
To me, it is sad to see personal video used as official evidence to overturn records. This policy definitely gives an advantage to those who do not allow their solves to be filmed (sure there might be some cases where video can help, but generally it can only hurt by catching some minor infraction that the judge misses). If the idea is to spread cubing to a global audience, YouTube is a great way to achieve that. Especially YouTube videos of WCA events, however, this policy hurts people who take video of their official solves, and may discourage people from taping their solves or putting them on the internet.
Personally, I think that unless the WCA forces organizers to have video of EVERY solve at a given event, then video should not be used to overturn judge's decisions in either direction.
I understand the counterargument is that the emphasis is getting the call right, but there's no way to get the call right on people who aren't being filmed other than the judge watching with his own eyes in real time. Giving people instant replay to watch over and over and catch a minor infraction is not fair considering how many minor infractions must have been missed for those who are solving without video.
So, basically, the argument boils down to: is it more important to treat every cuber as fairly as possible or to get the call right as often as possible?