Re: [Palindrome] Important message regarding the Hunt

["Andrew Kantor" <andrew kantor com>]

Wow. I am *incredibly* disappointed in the organizers. If the message was
"Hey, guys, we really don't want you to do that," it would be one thing. 
But
the tone was so unnecessarily angry -- "unconscionable" my ass. And that
line about "Do not attempt to distort that to your advantage in any way" is
just plain nasty. Heck, IMO the note itself seems to violate the spirit of
the Hunt; it turns the thing into a cutthroat competition rather than a fun
weekend.

I suspect you'll see "Huntland Security" patrols making sure different 
teams
don't talk....

Very disappointing.

Drew


-----Original Message-----
From: palindrome-bounces cosmos phy tufts edu
[mailto:palindrome-bounces cosmos phy tufts edu] On Behalf Of amittai e
axelrod
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 3:20 AM
To: palindrome cosmos phy tufts edu
Subject: [Palindrome] Important message regarding the Hunt



Team Palindrome ("ecroforce"):

We, the Hunt Organizers, would like to correct some mistaken impressions
that you may have regarding the MIT Mystery Hunt. Although it is now only 9
hours before the start, we hope this is ample time to clarify what we feel
is an extremely important point.

In particular, I have been shown an email from your captain, Eric Albert, 
to
your team, in which he states that the Palindrome Team Philosophy includes
the following:

 1. it's ok to trade answers with other teams
 2. it's ok to give answers to other teams "if they are small and not
    having fun"

Both of these are grossly incorrect assertions.

======
MIT Mystery Hunt Trvth:
    It is FORBIDDEN for ANY team to discuss ANY part of ANY puzzle
       with ANY other team during the Hunt. Period.
======

To violate this rule is to go against the Spirit of the Hunt, which is 
based
on honesty and trust. Suggesting that your team go against the foundations
of the Mystery Hunt is, quite frankly, unconscionable.

I am personally, as are several other current and past MIT Mystery Hunt
organizers, disgusted by Mr. Albert's letter.

Statement #1 by your captain has been banned since the 1999 MIT Mystery
Hunt. Discussing, trading, giving, selling, bartering (etc) answers and
hints between teams is explicitly disallowed.

Do not attempt to distort that to your advantage in any way.

Statement #2 by your captain is both incredibly arrogant and misguided. It
is both the responsibility of and at the discretion of the current Hunt
Organizers to give out hints at all, much less puzzle answers. If you think
a team is not having enough fun during the Hunt, please call us, the
Organizers, and communicate your thoughts so that we may take action.

We the Organizers are hopeful that you, as a team, will be aware of (and
abide by) the rules and spirit of the MIT Mystery Hunt, so that we can all
have an enjoyable and rewarding time.

See you in Lobby 7,

~amittai (for the 2004 MIT Mystery Hunt Organizers)


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