For public amusement, here's a message log from one of my ongoing games. I won't name the player or the game, but suffice it to say that I'm black, I played the pelikan sicilian, and right now it's currently in a rook and pawn endgame, where I have four connected pawns to his lone pawn, and we each have one rook. (Ie. the win for me is merely a matter of technique -- get my rook behind the pawns and my king in front and start shoving.)
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1Whitehi
1Blackhullo
8Blackthis oughta make things a little more exciting :-)
9Whitegood
10Blackawwww, you're no fun. I wanted to go into an insane chain of desparado captures :-)
11White🙂
16Whitewhat country are you from?
16BlackU.S.
17WhiteWhat state?
17BlackD.C. area. yourself?
18WhiteNew York City
(On move 25, he offers a draw, despite the fact that I've won two pawns and have effectively simplified)
25Blackerr... I do appear to have two extra pawns....
(another draw offer, this time after I've tossed in one last tactic to win a third pawn)
35BlackI'm no expert in rook -n pawn endgames, but I'm pretty sure I can win this one! With a little finesse, and the help of a friendly rook...
36White🙂
(yet ANOTHER totally frivolous draw offer! I've just traded off the outside pawns so as to free my rook to provide impetus to my huge kingside mass)
37Blacknot a chance! I can have those pawns in motion in like 5 moves.
38WhiteI could try stale mating you
38Blackgood luck, you'll need it I'm afraid.
39Whiteit is just luck that you won this game
39BlackMost of the games I win have some luck involved. Those I lose, too.
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Any bets on whether there'll be swearing and insults going back and forth by the time checkmate hits? (assuming he doesn't have the sense to resign first)
If you are ahead, the simplest way to respond to draw offers is to ignore them, or just say "no thanks" and continue playing. No skin off your nose.
I imagine it would be quite easy to interpret your comments as cocky and smug. There is such a thing as a poor winner, too.
I also think it is bad form to publically broadcast comments made during games without the other person's knowledge or permission. It is a breach of trust.
Originally posted by GatecrasherReally? I thought the first two comments were perfectly polite, especially considering that there was no cause whatsoever for the draw offers. Only on the third, coming immediately after I'd rejected a previous nonsense offer, was I even a little grouchy.
I imagine it would be quite easy to interpret your comments as cocky and smug. There is such a thing as a poor winner, too.
As to the reposting of message logs -- if someone wants to act like a spoilt child, I consider it my perfect right to publicly embarass them for doing so. Call it deterrence.
Originally posted by paultopiaNo, Paul - you are wrong here. Message log is private by design. If you have any complaints about your opponent' remarks during the game - report it to site admins. Posting private exchange is not plausible thing.
Really? I thought the first two comments were perfectly polite, especially considering that there was no cause whatsoever for the draw offers. Only on the third, coming immediately after I'd rejected a previous nonsense offer, was I even a little grouchy.
As to the reposting of message logs -- if someone wants to act like a spoilt child, I consider it my perfect right to publicly embarass them for doing so. Call it deterrence.
Originally posted by TovMauzerI understand your thoughts TovMauzer, but I've got to agree with Paultopia on this. There are far too many players on this site who use the log to communicate in an arrogant or condescending manner. I recognize the tone that Paultopia's opponent was using, and I'm all to familiar with it.
Message log is private by design. If you have any complaints about your opponent' remarks during the game - report it to site admins. Posting private exchange is not plausible thing.
The message log may be private, but that doesn't mean that we should all just accept immature behaviour. It's as if somehow too many people believe that online anonymity is a licence to demonstrate a complete lack of integrity.
Everyone gets angry or frustrated sometimes. Blaming your opponent isn't the solution. If Paul's opponent felt he could have won, he should ask for a rematch. If he's angry about losing, he should simply resign and move on. Either way, I don't see how Paul's to blame because he wouldn't take the draw.
Originally posted by DecanterNot accepting and publication are two different things. Message log is private, period.
I understand your thoughts TovMauzer, but I've got to agree with Paultopia on this. There are far too many players on this site who use the log to communicate in an arrogant or condescending manner. I recognize the tone that Paultopia's opponent was using, and I'm all to familiar with it.
The message log may be private, but that doesn't mean that w ...[text shortened]... and move on. Either way, I don't see how Paul's to blame because he wouldn't take the draw.
Originally posted by TovMauzerI don't think it's that simple.
Not accepting and publication are two different things. Message log is private, period.
If someone has something to say over the log that they're not prepared to say in public, then as far as I'm concerned I'd like to have the option to disable the log. I, for one, am not interested in being subjected to that type of behaviour simply because I like to play chess.
Paultopia has no choice but to deal with his opponent's comments and rude draw offers, so I don't see why he can't do what he wants with them. There are no absolutes in this environment.
Originally posted by paultopiaHaving statements that you intended to be private made public is ipso facto harmful, in my opinion. The fact that you purposefully left your opponent's name out of the post suggests that you understand this.
If they have nothing to be embarassed about, they haven't been harmed by the post, have they?
Unfortunately you described the match in such a way that identifying the opponent would be quite easy, thus defeating the purpose of concealing his name. Perhaps it would be better to keep the message logs private except in the case of outright abuse, in which case a note to Russ would be appropriate.
Originally posted by DecanterI agree that ability to turn out the log would be useful, and you can suggest this to Russ. But this does not change the point: initial post is answering bad behaviour by bad behaviour.
I don't think it's that simple.
If someone has something to say over the log that they're not prepared to say in public, then as far as I'm concerned I'd like to have the option to disable the log. I, for one, am not interested in being subjected to that type of behaviour simply because I like to play chess.
Paultopia has no choice but to deal wit ...[text shortened]... on't see why he can't do what he wants with them. There are no absolutes in this environment.