03 Jan 10
The post that was quoted here has been removedWhen I became a subscriber, No1 was too. Moreover, he was clan leader of the most prestigious and respected (feared by some) clan on this site.
I subscribed so I could join his clan, and remained a subscriber for several years. Now I play an occasional game here and stay in touch in case this site ever becomes one of the better sites for turn-based chess, as it was just a few years back.
03 Jan 10
3 edits
The post that was quoted here has been removedYour argument about non-subs is resembling fascist campaigns. I wonder when you will demand every one who posts on the forums to hang RHP flags over their houses. Why wouldn't we do that now, if we love the site?
Why don't you get a second subscription? It's all about the love of the site.
03 Jan 10
Originally posted by philidor position
Your argument about non-subs is resembling fascist campaigns. I wonder when you will demand every one who posts on the forums to hang RHP flags over their houses. Why wouldn't we do that now, if we love the site?
Why don't you get a second subscription? It's all about the love of the site.
Originally posted by catfoodtim
"There's a handful of non-subs"
a handful... I appreciate your contribution philidor, don't let anyone get you down 😉
03 Jan 10
I can see an issue about cheating in tournaments and clan-related contests (where you are assigned an opponent through no choice of your own), but when it comes to simple one-on-one games, the easiest solution is that if you think someone is cheating, don't play with them anymore.
I've now played over 150 games on the site (and I hope to subscribe in the next 30 days and increase my volume a bit), and I don't think ANY of my opponents have cheated, that I could tell. In fact, the only unpleasant issue I've had involved my opponent and I misunderstanding each other over a draw offer, and I was at least 50% of the problem, so any criticism I have starts with the person I see in the mirror.
If I did have an issue, I would probably report it, but more likely I'd just stop playing them, pass along my observations to my friends, and move on. There's no prize money at stake, no titles to earn, or anything else, so I would just pity a person who ultimately misses the point of the game and playing it.
And I suppose I should thank all the people I've played so far- I've had some dubious wins and some comical losses, but I've had fun with every game, and I think my chess is improving. I wish everyone else would have the same experience, and I hope they do so in the future.
Paul
03 Jan 10
The post that was quoted here has been removedthis is the point, we should be looking for solutions. i applied to be a game mod once and got a nice reply stating that it was generally for those who had been associated with the site for some time, then i think it was disbanded. (is that still the case) it seems by all accounts, that game mods at least worked at some point in time, why the cannot be reintroduced or some other mechanism employed, i do not know. it would certainly be in the interests of the site to have a workable solution and at least some transparency, for clearly the cloak of secrecy has created more ill feeling than I suspect was originally intended.
- Joined
- 16 Feb 07
- Moves
- 27653
03 Jan 10
Originally posted by Paul LeggettI agree that cheating is essentially a non-issue for folks rated below about 2000 or so. Up to opponents around 2000 (and 100+ games), my experience was similar. I didn't even have the slightest suspicion that my opponents cheated until I started playing a lot of the 2000+ guys. Some I'm sure don't cheat (and I think fewer cheat than you would believe from the more vocal posters), some I'm sure do cheat, and a few I'm not sure of.
...
I've now played over 150 games on the site (and I hope to subscribe in the next 30 days and increase my volume a bit), and I don't think ANY of my opponents have cheated, that I could tell. In fact, the only unpleasant issue I've had involved my opponent and I misunderstanding each other over a draw offer, and I was at least 50% of the problem, so any criticism I have starts with the person I see in the mirror.
...
Paul
This may be part of the reason why the site doesn't have the most effective system for dealing with cheats (its very slow and seems to catch only the most obvious cheats) - not that many users are really affected.
03 Jan 10
The post that was quoted here has been removedthere are three relevant parties here:
1) forum mods, asked to silence the community.
2) game mod(s), asked to provide systematic statistical evidence.
3) the admins dropping or NOT dropping the axe.
now, the problem is that known cheaters don't get kicked regardless of overwhelming evidence. it turns out there are players who were investigated and found out years ago already, BUT for some unknown reason the admins refused then and later to ban them. THAT is the real problem, not finding them out. until that changes, people will out these and other cheaters in public to force the issue, which as no1 already said has been the most efficient way to get them banned, because the 'official procedure' is a joke. the fact that forum mods are left in the middle of all this doesn't really concern anybody but you guys, as the issue of cheaters is just much more important.
so why don't the admins act on the evidence? hard to say. my guess is that what's obvious to the higher rated players isn't that obvious to the 1200-1300 rated admins. another reason probably is that low rated players don't understand the amount of work the high rated players put into a single game, and how often that turns out to be months even years of effort WASTED. and how incredibly frustrating and infuriating it is to be put to that miserable situation again and again. it IS a big deal, and nothing but real action will ever stiffle the uproar.
03 Jan 10
Originally posted by wormwoodI'm a casual player who can't tell an engine from a monkey from my left hand. I've
another reason probably is that low rated players don't understand the amount of work the high rated players put into a single game, and how often that turns out to be months even years of effort WASTED. and how incredibly frustrating and infuriating it is to be put to that miserable situation again and again. it IS a big deal, and nothing but real action will ever stiffle the uproar.
been reading these cheating/engine threads and for the most part I understand the
frustrations, especially in cases where there seems to be very clear evidence.
But what I don't understand (and I'm genuinely interested to try to understand) is
why it IS such a big deal, why there is so much uproar, and - maybe more
interestingly - why you would feel that effort put into a match against an engine
would be wasted effort. So an engine is stronger than you, isn't there anything to be
learned from the match? Maybe not, I don't know. If you played Fischer or
Kasparov or Carlsen would you also consider it wasted effort because you'd probably
lose? Maybe so, I don't know.
If this were an official site with official scores and award money and people's
livelihood at stake -- ok I'd understand. But on this site, why does it REALLY matter?