I've grown annoyed by someone I'm playing against and have another tourney game coming up against him. I would like to NOT play him again and am considering resigning before the game begins. I am curious if I lose rating points for that (not a huge deal). I'm also curious about etiquette because it somewhat skews the tourney standings. I'm just tired of the harrassment I'm receiving (nothing obscene, just quite rude) and disabling chat isn't going to make playing again any more enjoyable. Opinions?

In a tournament game, you will lose points.

And you should play, I think.

I'd disable the chat and play it out.  I feel your pain, though. 

Well,

If the match is important to you then I would just disable chat and play. It will simply be a challenge that is actually beneficial. Fighting off emotions and trying to focus is healthy for training, even if it is stressful.

If you don't care so much about the match and don't care if he gloats afterwards about how great he is at getting inside your head, then just resign and move on.

I play for fun and I play to learn, so both of my reasons are covered for deciding to play or not. What about you?

Just insult him back, he might not do it again.

tell him what you think, then disable the chat and work like hell to kick his ass.

Thanks for the opinions folks!I was curious what others would do in that situation since (fortunately) my chess experiences on this site have been 99.9 percent positive.

I will play on - I would like to try and move forward in the tournament and Malabrigo's point about practicing through emotion/stress/annoyance/etc. is well-taken. If it was not a tournament game I would simply pass on the next challenge.

I won't insult him back because that is what insulters pull for, but I did let him know that I was tired of his comments and would disable chat from now on.

Time to focus like never before ;)

Go fever! Teach the guy some chess! :D

And now, my oppinion:

What's the need to insult anybody? Even if they insulted you first...

(and that covers the other player: If there's no need to insult, even when they've insulted you, How much more when others are being polite? I just don't understand that)

Play the game... Though It's just sad that you have to disable the chat.

By the way, I've never had to do that... The worst thing I've gotten in response to "good luck" or "gg" is silence.

Ha! Thanks Bruno - we need more chess players like you and the other respondents.

I am battling this one out. Bring it on sucka.