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Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Chess Reflects Life

As I enter my seventh decade of life there are times I feel like a dinosaur - the traditional life values taught to me when I was young seem to be much less important to many today. Although I am certainly as imperfect and flawed as anyone, I do try to be respectful of others and appreciate the life that has been given to us. These days I spend more of my time online communicating with friends and of course, playing chess! The internet is an amazing 'place' that provides instant communication and information. The internet also furnishes each of us with an anonymity. And that anonymity seems to have lessened our accountability and responsibility for our words and actions online. That's a shame.We all have seen rude, caustic postings at online sites - aimed at people we do not know, and with statements we would not normally make in real life.The concern I have is that perhaps many of these 'attack' style postings and messages actually do reflect the personality and values of the person making the post. If that is true, then the online culture might be doing more harm than good.Everyone has his moments - good and bad. Everyone has his burdens in life. Also, everyone has a responsibility and moral obligation to others. Basically, it is to be a caring, polite, respectful person. Again, keep in mind that I fail at this endeavor certainly as much as most people do; however, I do try to life by those principles.I guess one of the reasons for putting these thoughts online is to make myself accountable for my own behavior - knowing others will read this and then expect me to live up to my beliefs. And that's a good thing.Chess, as wonderful as it is, is just a game. Let's enjoy the game and the time we spend playing it with others, making our online chess community one where everyone looks forward to visiting, playing chess, and making new friends.
Comments: 9    


1. Davey Jones says: Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Good blog mate. Thanks Warren

2. warhead says: Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Very true sir. I myself have chuckled and shaken my head at the crudity of some opponents on here, yet at other times have enjoyed many a game because of the sportsmanship and honor that shines through even over the internet.

3. Blizzaror says: Tuesday, December 23, 2008
There are peoples who take the game too much seriously, even if they know that they just play an exhibition or unrated match. Two days ago, I was playing Top Spin 3 (a tennis game) online on my Xbox 360, and I played an exhibition match, just a simple unrated game, with someone really talented. The game was setting with a set of a normal tennis match with all the rules. It was 3-3 with my opponent to serve, then I won four straight point, so I broke his serve. Suddently, he gave up, and he sended me a message accusing me as a cheater who hacks the game with "lags", and I never hacked a game or computer before. I tried to explain what is the defenition of lag, but again, he accused me cheating. I tried again to let him know that it is impossible to cheat on Top Spin 3, at least I never found a way to cheat, but the said that he should win the game because of my "non-sense of sportsmanship". I was really mad, and I said to him that the only chance he had to prove that he is better than me was by continuing the game and no giving up like a fried chicken. And I also said to him that if he takes the game too much seriously, then he should stop playing video games. He never replied to my last message. And it was not my first time that I was insulted after winning a tennis match, even if the match was ranked. But in the other hand, two weeks ago, I lose a match again someone really strong, which was in the top 5 ranking, and even if I lose the match, I sended to him a message telling that he deserved to be the winner of our game. He replied to me, and he said that he appreciated the match we had. I was surprised, because there was so much peoples that pretend that they are not the reason of their defeat. It is like chess, if you lose : "Oh, I was not playing at my best" or "I was not concentrated, so i think that I am still better than you". You are the reason of your defeat. You are the one who controlled your game. You are the one who did the mistake. Confess and you will be a better person.

4. Blizzaror says: Tuesday, December 23, 2008
There are peoples who take the game too much seriously, even if they know that they just play an exhibition or unrated match. Two days ago, I was playing Top Spin 3 (a tennis game) online on my Xbox 360, and I played an exhibition match, just a simple unrated game, with someone really talented. The game was setting with a set of a normal tennis match with all the rules. It was 3-3 with my opponent to serve, then I won four straight point, so I broke his serve. Suddently, he gave up, and he sended me a message accusing me as a cheater who hacks the game with "lags", and I never hacked a game or computer before. I tried to explain what is the defenition of lag, but again, he accused me cheating. I tried again to let him know that it is impossible to cheat on Top Spin 3, at least I never found a way to cheat, but the said that he should win the game because of my "non-sense of sportsmanship". I was really mad, and I said to him that the only chance he had to prove that he is better than me was by continuing the game and no giving up like a fried chicken. And I also said to him that if he takes the game too much seriously, then he should stop playing video games. He never replied to my last message. And it was not my first time that I was insulted after winning a tennis match, even if the match was ranked. But in the other hand, two weeks ago, I lose a match again someone really strong, which was in the top 5 ranking, and even if I lose the match, I sended to him a message telling that he deserved to be the winner of our game. He replied to me, and he said that he appreciated the match we had. I was surprised, because there was so much peoples that pretend that they are not the reason of their defeat. It is like chess, if you lose : "Oh, I was not playing at my best" or "I was not concentrated, so i think that I am still better than you". You are the reason of your defeat. You are the one who controlled your game. You are the one who did the mistake. Confess and you will be a better person.

5. Blizzaror says: Saturday, December 27, 2008
Sorry for the 'double copy-paste of by comment

6. ANZARBOND says: Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Yes , it is true .

7. ejroyal says: Thursday, January 15, 2009
I agree with you Warren. Good manners and sportsmanship can be hard to find on the internet sometimes. Let's all work to make this site the best that it can be.

8. ejroyal says: Thursday, January 15, 2009
I agree with you Warren. We all need to be polite and civil to each other no matter what the outcome of our match may be. If I make stupid mental mistakes during a match, then those are my mistakes and I owe up to them. If I do not "see" my opponent's combination of moves that checkmates me, that is not his/her fault, it is mine. Eric

9. yosel says: Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Very exciting for me!

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