Should Energy Drinks/Caffeine Be Banned From Competitions?

[cubernya]

It's not unfair, they can have it too

 

[Cheese11]

Because then the people who cant are at an unfair advantage and are being singled out.

Can you not? Like me?

 

[Kian]

For clarification, none of these things are "unfair", as long as rules are applied impartially to all parties it is absolutely "fair."

Allowing headphones with music would be a gigantic hassle for judges dealing with competitors that can't hear them. In no way, shape, or form should we allow that.

As for energy drinks, I assume you are using this as an allegory for other things, because not only is this unenforceable, it's obviously capricious.

 

[Cubetastic]

All i know is that I don't drink coffee/energy drinks nor would I ever want to(for energy drinks). Coffee might be a must-have for people in their daily lives and might not be specifically for cubing( or atleast I hope not) So I don't think coffee is a very big problem now that i think about it but Energy drinks for competitions seems alittle out of place to me.

 

[Sa967St]

I just realized that a caffeine ban would also include chocolate, in that case my answer goes from a "NO." to a "NOOO.".

Because then the people who cant are at an unfair advantage and are being singled out.

Why would that bother you? People who aren't old enough to consume energy drinks don't even need it.

 

[cuberkid10]

What if someone drank some before the competition. You'd still feel the effects, but nobody can prove that you had some.

 

[Yuxuibbs]

I think it doesn't matter because some people need caffeine to function (caffeine is a drug after all). It's like not allowing someone to eat food before running a marathon or something.
If people drink too much caffeine they shake a lot and do worse but that's their problem.

 

[Cubewarrior]

And then there's the argument that this is similar to using steroids before running a marathon. I don't think it's effective. Under that logic, why not have everyone use Rubik's Brand cubes?

 

[Weston]

And then there's the argument that this is similar to using steroids before running a marathon. I don't think it's effective. Under that logic, why not have everyone use Rubik's Brand cubes?

Make everyone wear flip flops

 

[TheZenith27]

The answer is no.

 

[Vincents]

Reasons against headphones + music:
- A judge cannot tell what you're listening to. You could be playing back algorithms. If plugged into an iPhone during BLD, someone could be telling you what to do. Short of a judge getting a headphone splitter and also listening in, there are too many ways to cheat.
- Distraction. If you're listening to music, how as a judge am I supposed to get your attention? Do I wave my hands in your face? Are we to limit a decibel level on music being played? Just because you may listen to your music quietly (I do) doesn't mean everyone else will.

And do you have to have music to concentrate? You can listen to music before and after you solve. If people are being distracting, put on giant headphones that block out noise just while you solve. As long as they're not plugged in, they shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Escher]

Reasons against headphones + music:
- A judge cannot tell what you're listening to. You could be playing back algorithms. If plugged into an iPhone during BLD, someone could be telling you what to do. Short of a judge getting a headphone splitter and also listening in, there are too many ways to cheat.
- Distraction. If you're listening to music, how as a judge am I supposed to get your attention? Do I wave my hands in your face? Are we to limit a decibel level on music being played? Just because you may listen to your music quietly (I do) doesn't mean everyone else will.

And do you have to have music to concentrate? You can listen to music before and after you solve. If people are being distracting, put on giant headphones that block out noise just while you solve. As long as they're not plugged in, they shouldn't be a problem.

1a) Playing back algorithms is practically a distraction, at least for anybody even close to the top 500 in any event.
b) 'no use of personal music players is allowed during BLD events'

2a) 'If a competitor opts to use headphones and goes over the time limit for inspection, their solve will be DNFed'
Should encourage people to turn the noise down a bit.

You don't 'have' to have music. It's just nice. I also don't think that mp3 players should be banned for a reason that would only give an advantage to the very beginners in any event. When cubing progresses in a few years time we will no doubt have invitation/pre-qualified events where having algorithms read out to any competitor would be no help at all.

 

[drewsopchak]

I consume approximately 250 mg of caffeine per day. Honestly, it would be extremely impracticable to enforce such a a regulation. Coffee is great.... nuff said.

 

[Gaétan Guimond]

No.

That's It, that's All.

 

[Meep]

I always have an energy drink the morning of a competition ):

 

[musicninja17]

Guimond strikes again.

This whole argument (however stupid) is based on the assumption that caffeine enhances your performance.
I can't perform when i'm hungry either...i get shaky. Can't eat a tuna sandwich I guess.
Water neither. Because that hydrates the brain and muscles and prevents cramping. That's enhancing, isn't it?

Yeah for whoever said that they couldn't have energy drinks...yeah? That's your problem. That doesn't make it unfair.

Caffeine in doses to help you stay awake makes you feel pretty normal.
Overdoing caffeine makes you jittery. [sarcasm] Obviously a bonus when you're trying to concentrate. [/s]

 

[fastcubesolver]

It affects people in different ways, I don't think that it would make such a huge difference as to be banned.

And you shouldn't be distracted by someone talking to you, that's also against the WCA regulations.

 

[Sa967St]

I don't think that it would make such a huge difference as to be banned.

What makes you think that?

 

[Hodari]

Yeah, I can just see it now...
Dec 12 2012 - Feliks Zemdegs achieves the first official sub-5 solve along with setting 10 other world records during competition
Dec 21 2012 - WCA strips Feliks of his records after a member of the Melbourne Australia Lame Cubing Organization admits to giving him "the green" and "the fizz" prior to the competition

 

[TMOY]

Definitely against. I really need my morning coffee.
And honestly I don't think it enhances my performances, it just allows me to get normal times instead of bad ones in the morning. Especially at coms which put big BLD/multi as the first event of the day (which I think is a bad idea but unfortunately is common practice) I don't want to fall asleep in the middle of a solve.