LDS wrote:Nothing has yet convinced me
Take Judd, for example, bless his cotton socks. He wants to change things, to 'do more' in a certain direction that is different to current situation, some people think he's silly, some people agree. I think whatever you do to actively 'do more' to change something, then it would involve less of one thing and more of another, which still ends up at an equal sum scenario. Sure change something, but often it's just change for changes sake.
Hmm. I don’t think that’s really comparable with inclusivity. Judd wants those things because of his own personal opinion, not as a reflection of changes in wider society (however much he might dress it up as being ‘for young fans’) even if it does go on to have wider benefits. I’d also argue that Judd’s not the best example you could use because his words
have caused, or at least contributed to, change. Long term change, obviously too early to say. But if Virgo and Taylor are really going at the end of this season that’s by necessity a long term change.
LDS wrote:Not always, of course, sometimes a situation emerges where something literally has to be done, like the betting scandals or total management changes & what not. But general tinkering, I dunno. We can't wave a magic wand and suddenly a genius female player emerges just as we can't wave a magic wand and convert snooker into a darts atmosphere. You know what I mean.
I’m not really sure what you’re saying here, because increased representation isn’t supposed to be waving a magic wand. The whole point is that it IS long term, like you say.
Seeing Reanne Evans playing snooker on TV will make snooker seem more accessible to young girls than it currently does. And because of that, more girls might take up snooker than do currently. And because of that, clubs will start to drift away from the toxic “no women allowed” environments that many currently are - to the extent that women can’t play in several league matches - which is both a good thing for society and a good thing for snooker because fewer girls who want to play snooker will be turned away, or discouraged, or frozen out. Which will increase the standard of the women’s tour and should over time lead to more female players on TV on the main tour and eventually female snooker players being a normal thing rather than an event. For similar reasons I’d be surprised and disappointed if the WPBSA aren’t working to improve for example racial diversity among young snooker players.
It’s nothing to do with magically generating a ‘genius’ female player. It’s about normalising good ones.
Does this
have to be done? No, at least not in the same way as addressing betting scandals (which feels like a bit of a bizarre comparison). Is there any reason why it
shouldn’t? No. Is there any reason why it should? Several, but if nothing else it increases the potential talent pool which in itself is a good reason, right?