@moonbus saidThere are other reasons too many of which I've heard such as going through a divorce, someone in family died, a child is sick, etc., etc., we can never assume anything about why a player has timed out in many games unless we have all the facts. Unfortunately we only have their word on what is going on, or did happen.
Good point. There is no way of telling whether a given player is delaying moving because he is ill, or because he's studying the position, or whether he is employing the time-tested strategy of hoping his opponent will get hit by a bus.
-VR
@very-rusty saidRusty, I think that player's word should be good enough, don't you?
There are other reasons too many of which I've heard such as going through a divorce, someone in family died, a child is sick, etc., etc., we can never assume anything about why a player has timed out in many games unless we have all the facts. Unfortunately we only have their word on what is going on, or did happen.
-VR
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15 Feb 20
@very-rusty saidThis is wisdom.
There are other reasons too many of which I've heard such as going through a divorce, someone in family died, a child is sick, etc., etc., we can never assume anything about why a player has timed out in many games unless we have all the facts. Unfortunately we only have their word on what is going on, or did happen.
-VR
2017 was one such year for me.
I wouldn't want to be insensitive about the many important reasons people might walk away from unfinished chess games, but this is precisely why I suggested a ratio between move times in wins and move times in defeats. The ratio is unaffected whether you move quickly, slowly or not at all for personal reasons. It only alters if you consistently walk away from games that are going badly whilst staying with your good ones.
I'm not sure that time controls fix the problem as shorter settings do penalise people who need to walk away when life gets in the way?
@suzianne saidI think in most cases you are correct Suzie, but there are those few where the word is not good enough. It wouldn't be fair for me to give examples. I've played thousands of games and after a time one gets to know if it is true or not. ( Perhaps a pretty good idea would be more correct to say)!
Rusty, I think that player's word should be good enough, don't you?
As was the case the previous poster pointed out 2017 was such a year for him, and I believe him.
-VR
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19 Feb 20
@suzianne saidAs an explanation, of course.
Rusty, I think that player's word should be good enough, don't you?
As a cop-out not to be timed out, nah. Has to be a tsunami for that.
And in fact, I have refrained from timing out a player for well-publicised tsunami reasons. I have also timed out a lot of players who didn't bother to give a reason at all. In the end, when you start a game here, you commit to playing to a clock - and a slow clock, at that! If you can't make good on that, you lose some Fake Internet Points. Eh, big deal. I myself have, and as arrogant as I am, I can't be bothered about that.
19 Feb 20
@shallow-blue saidYou don't play a lot of games. 6 years on the site and I don't believe I've ever played you.
As an explanation, of course.
As a cop-out not to be timed out, nah. Has to be a tsunami for that.
And in fact, I have refrained from timing out a player for well-publicised tsunami reasons. I have also timed out a lot of players who didn't bother to give a reason at all. In the end, when you start a game here, you commit to playing to a clock - and a slow c ...[text shortened]... Points. Eh, big deal. I myself have, and as arrogant as I am, I can't be bothered about that.
-VR
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19 Feb 20
@very-rusty saidThere are good reasons for both of those facts.
You don't play a lot of games. 6 years on the site and I don't believe I've ever played you.
Also, neither of them has any bearing on the subject of this thread.
19 Feb 20
@shallow-blue saidSure it does, you've never had to move or play me or be concerned about time or ratings! 😛 😉
There are good reasons for both of those facts.
Also, neither of them has any bearing on the subject of this thread.
-VR