I think Eric should set up an OTB retreat for all members, maybe in NY. I'm sure he could find the sponsors for such an event or we could RSVP and pay a fee.

Just a thought,

POP

What a good idea :D...

Have you taken this to Erik directly?... It would be so nice to actually meet and play against people from the site.

 no, i wanted see what the community thought first.

 I see...well if you want more opinions, you should post a link to this forum in live chess. I do it all the time

 Sure, could you do that.

This would also be a good opportunity to meet Erik and his family.

Are you fishing for some photos of me bending over a chess board or is it that a 61 year old man is stuck in the past of when only white men could vote and women stayed in the kitchen. Men like you are the reason so many beautiful women are now lesbians.

I was thinking this would be a cool idea. But if this is going to be the level of discussion at the actual event I may have to pass.

Geeze Pop that was a bit over the top don't you think? To go off on someone for commenting on an avatar pic as opposed to what is likely a different reality in most cases is too much protest methinks.

Live OTB chess would quickly deteriorate into petty snarky, arguments...

I must say that your statement about lesbians is utterly false, but I musn't elaborate, because it would lead to the deletion of this thread.

of course, Erik is super-rich.

 If you had been told hundreds of times that girls can't play chess then you would also be offended by a comment like the one czar made. I guess you agree with his statement which means you don't think a girl can play chess either which shows your level of intelligence.

err... to be precise none of us can really play chess at all :D But we can pretend! :)

Pop you probably look better smiling than shouting at ppl so... just smile...

Well, this started as a very interesting topic. It would be nice if it could be continued like that.

Don't assume anything Pop, but that was over the top and you added unsolicited commentary about lesbians that not only is unproveable, but was in the vein of the worst sorts of things you complain about having to listen to, only with the shoe on the other foot. The poster's point was people simply don't look anything like what they use for an avatar. As a general rule I'd bet it's true. It didn't say one thing about your ability to play chess or not. Look, you put up a doe-eyed pic of a young girl. If it is indeed you, then you are an attractive young lady. If it's not you, then it's no different from what thousands of people do for their avatars. And the poster was correct that -it destroys the illusion to meet in person because it is an illusion the person putting up such an avatar is intentionally creating (evidently for their own reasons). I doubt anyone here thinks women can't or shouldn't play chess.