Personally I would be prepared to pay fees to play here, but I am
rather worried about students who use this site. I play a lot of
students who are playing on school computers in all their free time at
school, they give this up for a love of chess. Who is going to pay
their fees, their costs. Or would students be subsidized upon proof of
their status? I really dont think its fair to not encourage younger
players, due to their lack of financial status.
perhaps you dont wish to encourage younger players. Probably if it
was as simple as giving up one hamburger a month, (how
condescending to assume that all students eat hamburgers) But if a
lump sum subscription is necessary, many students will need to spend
their money on books for study, or school fees, or living. Not
everyone has money to burn. I never said they wanted a free ride, I
just suggested that they should be encouraged to continue playing.
I have no problem with ANYONE enjoying chess. I too would
encourage them to continue playing.
There are numerous sites that allow free membership, just as RHP
does. If things develop to the point where this site requires a fee for
membership, I feel that the same fees should be applied to all who
use it.
Hamburgers? Perhaps you are confused. I don't believe I mentioned
hamburgers.
The burger-thing was only a figure of speech, you know. And as to
youngsters playing chess: Of course we all should encourage them.
Still... $ 1.25 a month should be affordable to almost anyone, unless
you're a teen-girl/boy working, rather slaving, in one of the South-
Asian 'contractant-factories' assembling sport-shoes, shirts, and
yes... computers and other electronic apparatus, all of world-famous
brands (you see, I am cautious, one never knows...).
even in USCF scholastic players are given a discount. But this is not so
here is it? I am all for a scholastic site...but they get different
treatment than adults. Adults cannot compete in scholastic chess...but
they can compete in adult tourneys...lord knows I got my butt beat by
the U 16 yr. old Ohio state champ in NY 1998. But does he pay the
same in USCF fees that I do? Nope.
Does he have to pay the same to play in a tourney as i do?
Nope.
I respect the rights of children here...but if their parents like the
site...they can do the same a s we are. The kid that beat me pays (or
paid) $80 an hour twice a week for an IM teacher.
Babe...this is ludicrous. We all pay...regardless.
Dave
You have a point there. Apparently it takes a woman to think of this.
Yes, how can this be solved? Proving you're a student (who can't
afford the fee) is not an easy job on the Web, I suppose. But after
all: it's only $ 1.25 a month when we consider a yearly fee of $ 15.00.
And then there are not only students; there are adults with small
incomes as well. Don't see a simple solution. Maybe savouring one
burger less a month will settle the problem.
Proving that one is a student is not at all difficult, especially on the
Web. I had to do so several times to qualify for a scholastic discount
on software I bought on the Web while attending TAMU. All one has
to do is scan his student ID, save it as a jpg, and attach the file to an
email, addressed to the person to whom you desire to prove your
scholastic status.