Billiards and Pool

I have always considered billiards to be more of a gentleman's game. My image of it includes well-dressed men with expensive cigars and brandy in an expensive club playing this game of angles, bank shots and nuance. Pool, on the other hand, is more of a game of and for the so-called common man; guys with beer and loud music. My own experience, by far, is with pool. In general terms, these days, pool is more much popular than its exclusive "cousin." I have played both, enjoy both, and truth-be-told, am not particularly good at either one.

Billiards is a game of finess. To me, it calls upon its players to be more strategic in determining ways to hit the other two balls on the table while, at the same time, making as many bank shots as possible.  Pool, of course, requires strategic thinking, too, but, generally, its playing is more straightforward and  power-based. Billiards calls upon its players to follow a more subtle approach to scoring points and, ultimately winning games. Looking at the two, they represent primary public relations strategies that are often carried out in today's world. One is a more nuanced strategy while the other is more of what one might characterise as an in-your-face approach. Nowadays, the in-your-face approach is much popular.

We see examples of it in the many political campaigns being conducted right now. At rally after after candidates call their opponents awful names. "My opponent is a liar, uncaring and corrupt." Nothing subtle about that. On the other hand, rarely, it seems, do we hear candidates carefully outline the differences in, say, their economic or immigration positions. Granted, the "pool" approach seems to resonate much more with audiences these days than what I would consider the "billiards" style. In fairness, I suppose, candidates seeking votes need to do what works best. I acknowledge this reality with regret. It does not speak to either the players or those of us who are watching and accepting.