Sorry, I was trying to be funny.  Oh, and I am seriously considering the challenges above.  You are right, even if I don't necessarily need the features it does help out...and if there is one thing I love, chessstudent, it is pulling a little plug! :-)

bookworm92 wrote: it's not fair that they use annoying ads to ty and manipulate us into spending money like that.

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 The point is not to manipulate you.  The idea is laid out honestly and fairly.  Free members will have ads.  Paying members won't.  Erik doesn't want intrusive ads, as he stated, and is working to have more say on the what type of ad you see.

RetGuvvie98 wrote: until this forum, I didn't know that there were any ads - I bought a membership as soon as I realized that paid members were wanted.  I want to see this site continue, and will pay more if asked - since this is, in my experience, the best site by a wide margin, above all the rest for the general chessnut.   While it might not provide what many GMs seek, it certainly is providing a lot of value for the minor cost - for the majority of us in the middle skills group - more than beginners and less than GMs.

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 I did the same thing, bought a membership as soon as I realized that the money was needed.  This is one HELL of a site, and the membership is very, very affordable. 

You know, it never ceases to amaze me the things that people think they deserve for free. 

martianwei wrote: RetGuvvie98 wrote: until this forum, I didn't know that there were any ads - I bought a membership as soon as I realized that paid members were wanted.  I want to see this site continue, and will pay more if asked - since this is, in my experience, the best site by a wide margin, above all the rest for the general chessnut.   While it might not provide what many GMs seek, it certainly is providing a lot of value for the minor cost - for the majority of us in the middle skills group - more than beginners and less than GMs.

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 I did the same thing, bought a membership as soon as I realized that the money was needed.  This is one HELL of a site, and the membership is very, very affordable. 

You know, it never ceases to amaze me the things that people think they deserve for free. 

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I was a member for about 2 weeks before I paid for a membership.  For me I just wanted to support the site, whether the site needed money or not.

I think this is a great site, kudos to the chess.com staff for all of their hard work. 

I grew up in a national park, and I heard time and time again how the land belongs to everyone and no one should have to feed the machine to enjoy what nature/God intended to be an experience that everyone can enjoy. Because the park was titled public lands, certain types of people felt that they were entitled to visit without any financial obligation; after all, taxes alone should be the payment needed to maintain the parks health. It just does not work like that. NOTHING worth having is totally free. This site must be maintained at a certain level of expectations, and those services must be paid for. Advertising in all its glory is one of the most intrusive domains of capitalism. It is also necessary. Hopefully the stewards of Chess.com are not just reaping as much as they can and hoping the site will please enough people to stay running. Hopefully they are re-investing into its infrastructure so as to provide the best product possible. If not me and my premium dollars will exit stage left. I paid not to be rid of the banners (but I'm glad they are gone) but to use the other services that do not come for free. Reminds me of a Simpsons episode where a camp site is overrun by hippies. they way Homer gets ride of them is by charging for the water that they thought should be free. I pay for filtered water cause it tastes and smells better. I'll pay for a free chess web site cause it plays and looks better. If you don't want to pay, Goggle Utopia, then go there.

Download Firefox and get the adblock plus add-on. No more ads.

 However, that's not a reason to avoid supporting the site.

Wow, Thank You for the suggestion that worked like a charm. 1 thousand thanks optimisprimalx. That adblock plus add-on is a great way to deal with unwanted adds.

Just an update...I am now a card carrying, dues paying member of chess.com.  So, let me just tell all you freeloaders who don't pay to stop complaining!  Why do you think everything should be free?  Just kidding.

and you get that cool star next to your name!

I know.  I love my star.