To wonder exactly how loud these dominoes games are?

[NickAndJay]

Article in the Guardian reports on controversy over noisy dominoes players in a public square in London with the complicating factor that most of the players in question are black so any sanctions could be indirectly discriminatory.

I believe that if things have come this far, there must be a fair amount of noise but am struggling to imagine it. My only experience with dominoes was with a miniature travel set on folding table under a tarp on a rainy camping trip, which was a quiet and depressing affair. Has anyone witnessed these raucous games?

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/07/west-indian-dominoes-players-dismayed-noise-ban-london-square

Yes, it can get very loud. There were a group of Jamaicans on cruise we went on who played every afternoon. I thought it was joyous and amazing and never knew dominoes could get that exciting but I guess if it's outside your house every afternoon it could get a bit wearing.

I've just read that and wondered too. Westminster Council say it's other antisocial behaviour like drinking, swearing and playing loud music. They could be just saying that but it might be putting off other people. It's a public space and it is supposed to be for everyone.

That sounds really fun and would love to watch for a while but agree I wouldn’t want to hear it every day where I live or work.

As both a member of an ethnic minority and a big fan of not disturbing others in shared public space, I think it’s an interesting question whether it is racist to clamp down on public noise when most of the people making the noise belong to one race.

I feel for the people who have to weigh up all the competing needs in a crowded society and try to deliver a fair outcome.

I think there is probably a cultural element to it. The image I have of dominoes is white old men playing quietly in a pub, but as PP says, some clutlures are much more exitable.

From the games I've seen (and got taught to play) they can be a bit noisy - in a good way.

However, I very much doubt that's why Westminster Council have acted.

they really bang the dominoes on the table, it's quite full on.

It's dominoes.

You'd have to do something to liven it up

I thought I'd be the first to mention Jamaicans and their dominoes. They really are passionate about the game! I joined in a few games and yes, it was very loud and fun!

Are you saying you think this is racism?

I wonder how much of it is unconscious, as in people find the noise more annoying when it comes from one type of people than they would if it came from a different one? Maybe because they already think of this group as loud?

Or how much is a based on different ideas about how to use public space rather than different physical appearance?

but as PP says, some clutlures are much more exitable.

What does this even mean? What cultures are more 'excitable' than others?

@NeverDropYourMooncup

Just remembered a possibly similar case where a group of black women were kicked off a wine train for being loud.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/19/napa-valley-wine-train-book-club-settle-lawsuit

It can depend on the type of surface being played on as well. Our local pub has slate trays for dominos and the noise is sometimes quite deafening if there's more than about two games going on. Much quieter at home on the table cloth covered table, or if it's on baize.

Yes, I am.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/07/dominoes-cannot-be-played-quietly-as-any-child-of-caribbean-origin-knows
This article was linked. A quote: 'If they make a bit of noise, they are not the only ones. Football fans have their chants; pubs are noisy places; children playing outside, wrenched away from their screens, make a glorious racket.' All of these people make noise, but we still try and limit where and when and how loud as part of living in society. There was a post earlier from someone asking what was a reasonable time to let the noisy kids play in the garden. It's really easy as part of a group having fun to be a bit much for other people. We've all been next to the noisy table in the restaurant or the neighbours having a noisy barbecue. If someone asks you to keep it down I'd try and do so.

Wow it sounds like they are having fun! It seems a shame to spoil things.Unless they are swearing, drinking ,or having fights ,then I cant really see the problem!

Typical clickbait article by the Guardian, its why Im fed up with that paper now and theres no other paper left

My friend used to live next door to a lovely elderly Jamaican couple and my god it’s loud when they play. They used to invite us round to drink rum and play. It was brilliant.

Utterly stupid idea to ban it. Are they going to impose noise restrictions on playgrounds too then cause I’d much rather hear dominoes being played than kids screeching

LOL I've not read the article but my grandad plays and yes it gets very loud!

Ah.. very loud.! I once lived next door to an old barbers shop (the one they filmed Desmond's in back in the late 80's) the boys who owned the shop was a Jamaican chap and he had an after hours dominoes gang that frequented the shop. These were 40+ yr old men. The language, shouting and drunken arguments when a wife turned up to find her missing husband we entertaining but a huge issue.. I had to move in the end.

I don't believe the reporting in that article one little bit. Think it's far more likely young men congregating, with music on too loud, smoking spliffs is the problem

I have seen many dominos games which are very loud, Slamming the dominoes down, cheering and animation throughout the game. I'm not surprised there have been complaints.

Theophile and his friends could still face jail if they breach a court order by “playing loud amplified music, drinking alcohol and shouting and swearing”.

But then he goes on to say they aren't ;

According to Theophile, they do not engage in antisocial behaviour such as drinking, shouting or swearing.

So what's the problem then?

I had a Reunionese housemate many moons ago and when her family came over to visit they played dominoes. It was very raucous and excitable. I thought they were going to break the table! Fun for a while though, not to live with all day and night though.
Equally I lived in France for a short while and games of pétanque in the village square were also very loud and at 2/ 3am pretty unsociable. I'd always romanticised pétanque up to that point.

Dominoes? Really? I'm going to look on YouTube. You should see and hear my family playing 'Pit'. I'm always surprised there's not blood on the carpet by the end.

Wait, what? I feel like I’ve been doing everything wrong. I learned to play pétanque in France as well, but where I learned, it was a jolly but fairly sedate affair played in the afternoon, like croquet but with nice, cold glasses of pastis.

Now I’m wondering what other quiet pursuits are rowdy for other people. Reading? Drawing? Cryptic crosswords?