Our fantasy football league commish is trying to enforce a ridiculous new rule for eating at restaurants.
By @ashwelp · Friends
He wants every league member to put their phone in a stack on the table when we go out. The first person to grab their phone before the check comes has to pay the entire bill for everyone. I think it's a dumb, controlling idea but everyone else is acting like I'm the one ruining the fun.
The full story
I'm in a pretty serious 12-man fantasy football league with a bunch of guys I've known since college. We're all in our late 20s/early 30s now. The commissioner takes his job WAY too seriously. He sends out weekly newsletters, hosts a 3-hour live draft party, and has a trophy that has its own travel case. So last night, a bunch of us went out for wings to watch the Thursday night game. Before the food even came, the commish stands up and makes this big announcement. they says he's implementing a new 'league rule' for any time we're out together. The rule is that everyone has to stack their phones face down in the middle of the table. The first person who touches their phone for any reason—a text, a call, even just to check the time—is automatically responsible for paying the entire group's bill. No exceptions. He framed it as a way to 'build team chemistry' and 'stay present in the moment' like we're a real NFL team in the locker room. Most of the guys just laughed and went along with it, tossing their phones in the pile. I refused. I told him it was a stupid idea. What if there's an emergency? What if my wife needs me? My job sometimes requires me to be on-call. they said emergencies don't count, but only if I can prove it's a real emergency, which he would 'adjudicate' later. I just think it's an absurd power trip. I kept my phone in my pocket and the mood got kinda weird. A couple guys told me to just play along and stop being a bad sport. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. We're grown men, not kids at summer camp. He doesn't get to just invent rules for our lives outside of fantasy football. The whole point is to have fun, not to be controlled. I ended up just paying for my own meal and leaving at halftime because the vibe was so off. Now the league group chat is blowing up saying I have 'bad team spirit'.
How people voted
- OP Is Right — 31% (93 votes)
- Both Messy — 40% (120 votes)
- OP Is Wrong — 29% (87 votes)
Readers are split: “Both Messy” leads with 40% — 300 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@brynnkay — I feel like being called a 'bad sport' is just what they say when you won't go along with a dumb idea.
@kaitlyn — It's a fun idea, you're taking it too seriously. Lighten up, it's fantasy football.
@chloebean — Next time order the most expensive thing on the menu and then immediately check your phone. Assert dominance.
@paigeagain — Everyone agreeing with the commish is just scared to pay the bill lol
@remyok2 — nah this is a commish on a power trip. on their side
Keep reading
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