IM David Pruess blows the lid on chess.com

http://livingrevolution.co/2013/08/06/why-i-quit-my-dream-job/

Hi Robbie.

I hate links - rarely follow them but as it sounded interesting...

He has had some interesting replies. Wonder how long it will stay up.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
Hi Robbie.

I hate links - rarely follow them but as it sounded interesting...

He has had some interesting replies. Wonder how long it will stay up.

his posts got removed from chess.com, due in part to chess.com's draconian style, but its a real pity, David Pruess was the best, not only did he inspire other players, he had time for everyone, heck he even corresponded with me, a total minnow. He lives i believe in a commune and grows his own food and stuff, but its the unfairness of greed that has prompted his resignation. I remember when i joined, i practically got begging texts asking me to support the site as it was struggling to survive, it transpires that fat cat Erik its owner is counting out forty for him and one to everyone else, all David Pruess wanted was a fairer share of the profits for all those that put in the hard work. He was even willing to take a hit on his own money to redistribute it more fairly to others, you gotta respect and admire his ethical stance.

I had no idea a mere chess website could be so profitable.

Originally posted by USArmyParatrooper
I had no idea a mere chess website could be so profitable.

indeed, i think chess.com employs between thirty and fifty people.

Overmodded chat rooms and a crap interface was enough to spoil the chess.com experience for me. I only play there to experiment with different line ideas.

Originally posted by ChessPraxis
Overmodded chat rooms and a crap interface was enough to spoil the chess.com experience for me. I only play there to experiment with different line ideas.

it has some good features that i like, for example anyone can blog, about anything, chess related or not, you can introduce video as well as different variations in the game window in your blog, upload images etc, stuff that RHP has not even come close to implementing (RHP is stone age), plus if you are premium there are excellent video lectures, i cannot comment on the chat rooms as I never go there and the interface matters little, but to see a fat cat capitalist exploit other hard working and ultimately caring and humane chess players like IM David Pruess for purely personal benefit is more than my socialist sensibilities can handle, ICC, here i come.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
http://livingrevolution.co/2013/08/06/why-i-quit-my-dream-job/

Thanks for the link. Interesting read.

There is indeed a heavy hand of censorship in the chess.com forums. It makes them a lot less interesting to read at times.

Originally posted by SwissGambit
Thanks for the link. Interesting read.

There is indeed a heavy hand of censorship in the chess.com forums. It makes them a lot less interesting to read at times.

you are most welcome SG dude, i think Korch was having trouble over there because he was calling some dude that had a title a cheater, Ih8sens or someone, i think he used to play here but has since got a title, Korch was calling him out for some crappy engine analysis that he posted, his blogs were being removed as a consequence 😀

This seems to be a very sad story. I thought that RHP suffers from a lot of things, like detecting cheaters, but that is worse. Well, I have to find another hobby.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
it has some good features that i like, for example anyone can blog, about anything, chess related or not, you can introduce video as well as different variations in the game window in your blog, upload images etc, stuff that RHP has not even come close to implementing (RHP is stone age), plus if you are premium there are excellent video lectures, i c ...[text shortened]... or purely personal benefit is more than my socialist sensibilities can handle, ICC, here i come.

If you really want to stick it to the man then FICS is the one to play on. It's what ICC was before it became a cash cow.

Originally posted by gambit05
This seems to be a very sad story. I thought that RHP suffers from a lot of things, like detecting cheaters, but that is worse. Well, I have to find another hobby.

Luckily there is not a lot of money in chess, relative to most other hobbies and sports. So there is a lot less greed.

Better you stick with chess Gambit.

Originally posted by hedonist
If you really want to stick it to the man then FICS is the one to play on. It's what ICC was before it became a cash cow.

yes, FICS is awesome.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
you are most welcome SG dude, i think Korch was having trouble over there because he was calling some dude that had a title a cheater, Ih8sens or someone, i think he used to play here but has since got a title, Korch was calling him out for some crappy engine analysis that he posted, his blogs were being removed as a consequence 😀

I booted this guy from my clan because of engine use. I checked him out on chess.com 6 months later and he was 2200+, having been 17/1800 here. What's his grade now?

He's quite young (21) and is a National Master in Canada:
http://www.northernlife.ca/news/lifestyle/2013/06/20-chess-master-sudbury.aspx

I assume Canadian ratings are roughly equivalent to FIDE ratings? If so then 2200+ OTB rating is pretty decent.