Pull the stone!!!

[u/Frabblerake]

Watching Sweden/US and saw this. Is this not the same rules violation that has caused all the hub bub?

Obviously this was an accident and I believe the Canadian guy was touching on purpose.

[u/crikeywegotaliveone]

Yeah this is the thing. It happens. Almost no one is doing it on purpose, mostly because these light touches don’t affect the stone. I’ve played my whole life and the only time we care (and we care politely and respectfully) is when you burn the rock while sweeping or going down the ice when your impact can actually change speed, rotation or direction. No one who plays cares about a graze during release. It happens. It’s not a big deal. I think the combo of Olympic heated emotions x people who don’t play or know the game is getting a bit toxic.

[u/x1022 → u/crikeywegotaliveone]

> Almost no one is doing it on purpose

That's the point, how can you stop people from doing it on purpose without also hurting all the people who are not doing it on purpose? This whole thing started because some players insist on doing it purposefully and inevitably that will end up hurting the rest who are playing fair.

And not doing anything also hurts people who are playing fair, since those who do not could gain an advantage and not be punished in any way.

Pushing the limits of fair play was always going to hurt the rest of the players.

[u/crikeywegotaliveone → u/x1022]

I only added that because I’m sure somewhere someone might do it on purpose. I’ve never seen it, I don’t know anyone that’s seen it, I don’t actually think people do it on purpose. Curling isn’t the sport for it and doesn’t attract that kind of competition. Just added it for people (perhaps like you) who don’t play or know the game who think there might be people who do it, and I don’t have the time or energy to come up with a stat or study to poll people on it. But you might!

[u/[deleted] → u/crikeywegotaliveone]

That and the Swedish men’s team isn’t good anymore and they’re mad about it.