Originally posted by wormwoodInteresting.
I think that settles it.
Normally I wouldn't comment on cases, but Jean Hebert's identity is not directly linked to any evidence of engine use. Whether or not he was the well known IM was not the issue - it was the overwhelming evidence of blatant engine use that led to his banning.
However, I think it is important that people realize that he was a fake.
While investigating this case, I sent the following PM to Russ:
Do you have any evidence to prove that Jean Hebert is who he says he is? Payment details, etc. He seems to have taken everyone in on this site....
I received the following reply from Russ:
It is highly unlikely to be him (nothing checks out)
I found this whole affair extremely sad. Not because this imposter got banned, but because of the many people who were betrayed by the deceit.
In the TOS: " You agree to not use the Service to:... Impersonate any person or entity, including, but not limited to, RHP staff, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity..."
It is very difficult to prove on a site where anonymity is ensured whether someone is who they claim to be. In this case, proving engine use was far simpler.
I think a healthy dose of scepticism is warranted for anyone arriving at RHP claiming to be a titled player. A titled player can choose any nick he/she likes and play anonymously if they wish. But if they pick the name of real player, and claim to be that player, and post "advice" in the forums, then we all have the right to demand proof of their identity Until proof is forthcoming, we should take everything with a pinch of salt. This is cyberspace, and very little is what it seems.
Not that we don't welcome titled players, but if they are going to "trade" on their title in the forums, the least they can do is provide credentials to the Site Admins.
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Originally posted by GatecrasherCurses. Your sober tone has completely ruined the "Because I am zee real Jean Hebert!" joke I was about to pull.
Interesting.
Normally I wouldn't comment on cases, but Jean Hebert's identity is not directly linked to any evidence of engine use. Whether or not he was the well known IM was not the issue - it was the overwhelming evidence of blatant engine use that led to his banning.
However, I think it is important that people realize that he was a fake.
W r title in the forums, the least they can do is provide credentials to the Site Admins.
(For the record I was also going to "reveal" that Nordlys is the troubled GM Danny Gormally, No1Marauder is the stunning WGM Alex Kosteniuk, and Bowmann is the TV presenter Matthew Kelly.)
Originally posted by GatecrasherI do think that we would and do all feel better knowing that our Jean Hebert was an impersonator and I want to thank you, as a representative of RHP, for voicing your opinion on this matter.
Interesting.
Normally I wouldn't comment on cases, but Jean Hebert's identity is not directly linked to any evidence of engine use. Whether or not he was the well known IM was not the issue - it was the overwhelming evidence of blatant engine use that led to his banning.
However, I think it is important that people realize that he was a fake.
W ...[text shortened]... r title in the forums, the least they can do is provide credentials to the Site Admins.
Originally posted by cmsMasterEasily... he made it up.
The one thing I don't get is as follows.
I clearly remember a story of a 1400 asking Hebert why he traded his rook for a bishop. This player claimed that Hebert explained this extremely well to him etc.,etc.. I simply don't get how an engine user could possible be able to do this.
(I'm sure the thread is still lurking around somewhere.)
"...and once the passed pawns, reach the seventh rank, they will compliment the trade very nicely, as pressure on the king will be increased threefold while still upholding positional tactics and tempo..."
See, I can do it too!
...maybe I become an IM...
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Originally posted by GatecrasherI don't doubt what you say, but I for one, found his posts on the false winning exchange in the sicilian very enlightening,and can only wish that more of the true better players would contribute such insight to the communty.
Interesting.
Normally I wouldn't comment on cases, but Jean Hebert's identity is not directly linked to any evidence of engine use. Whether or not he was the well known IM was not the issue - it was the overwhelming evidence of blatant engine use that led to his banning.
However, I think it is important that people realize that he was a fake.
W r title in the forums, the least they can do is provide credentials to the Site Admins.
D
Originally posted by RagnorakDoes anyone have a copy of that post. It sounds very familiar.
I don't doubt what you say, but I for one, found his posts on the false winning exchange in the sicilian very enlightening,and can only wish that some of the true better players would contribute such insight to the communty.
D
Well, even though it obviously turned out not to be him, I think most of us can agree that the advice he (it?) gave out was sound and instructive. In some ways, to some players, having a impersonating player teach and answer their questions may have been just as helpful as if it were the real Jean Hebert.
Knowledge is power.
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Originally posted by GalaxyShieldMaybe so, but the problem is that everything he said was discredited by the facts that he almost certainly wasn't who he said he was and that he was almost certainly cheating. I can come out with quite persuasive and insightful stuff on any number of positions, there are plenty of on-line resources to help you make plagarism sound like originality. Ironman31 was clearly also a good player - he may have used an engine, but he beat all the other engine users as well. With both him and, from what has been said, with "Jean Herbert" more was going on than a kid with an engine, but that doesn't really change the underlying problem.
Well, even though it obviously turned out not to be him, I think most of us can agree that the advice he (it?) gave out was sound and instructive. In some ways, to some players, having a impersonating player teach and answer their questions may have been just as helpful as if it were the real Jean Hebert.
Knowledge is power.
The only comment I have to make about Mary Ann is that I'm glad, but unsuprised, that her attempts to divert atention by throwing excrement failed. Notice how that's 2 engine user's who have given themselves away in the forums, (#1 was tommybear).
Edit: Also with Jean Herbert (as well as other "known" on site players) there was also the OTB record to triangulate against.
Originally posted by DeepThoughtYes, I know all that. But does that make his statements about chess and the answers he gave to questions any less valuable? Even if he was more then likely getting them from somewhere in his program, the fact that the person spent some time to help people understand certain situations can't be discredited by the fact that he played with an engine.
Maybe so, but the problem is that everything he said was discredited by the facts that he almost certainly wasn't who he said he was and that he was almost certainly cheating. I can come out with quite persuasive and insightful stuff on any number of positions, there are plenty of on-line resources to help you make plagarism sound like originality. Iro ...[text shortened]... as other "known" on site players) there was also the OTB record to triangulate against.
Yes he wasn't who he said he was, but some of the stuff he said was beneficial, and shouldn't be disgarded just because he used an engine.
Originally posted by GalaxyShieldI suppose it is rather like comparing a Breitling watch with a cheap replica. One's genuine, the other is not, but they can both tell you the time of day.
... the fact that the person spent some time to help people understand certain situations can't be discredited by the fact that he played with an engine. Yes he wasn't who he said he was, but some of the stuff he said was beneficial, and shouldn't be disgarded just because he used an engine.
He may have spent some time to show how us clever he was, but it was hardly a sacrifice when you consider how he wasted so much of his time driving an engine and cheating opponents out of their games.
Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I don't see anything noble or helpful in pretending to be something you are not.
Whatever merit there was in his advice, it is discredited. It may be true and valid and wise, but it no longer holds the weight of an international master.