Lately, my rating has improved remarkably. Not that my playing has improved much. It's the timeouts that keep increasing my score. On one hand I feel a little guilty, because the rating doesn't represent my real ability. On the other hand, I don't want to let the timeouts go because there has to be a limit somewhere. I will not timeout anybody who has a vacation flag (which I realize might also be a personal problem), even if they die, but if somebody simply stops moving for over a week or so, I feel I have no choice. I remember putting up a vacation flag, and when I got back half my opponents had timed me out. I didn't complain. I knew the rules of the game, and that was their choice.
i waited 2 weeks for someone because of the vacation flag but i understand.... if you've played over the board chess then u know once u're opponents flag falls the win is u'res to claim..think of it that way...part of chess is time management.. i recall several gm's saying that u could be really good at chess but if u're timer keeps running out, what good are u? you're not going to get anywhere.... so i wouldn't feel bad about claiming a win when the timer expires, but if the persons is on vacation then its up to u🙂