Computer Programs

The search for AI is leading to the demise of "traditional chess". To begin... cheating; disappearance of clubs; lack of sportsmanship; etc.

Your examples are of the demise of ethics, not chess.

No computer, chess engine, etc. is forcing people to cheat, not go to a club, have bad manners.  Thats a choice.  

The "faceless" nature of online chess; where players no longer sit across from each other; allows/encourages poor sportsmanship and cheating. Well said Spod... "the demise of ethics" but I argue this contributes to the fall of "traditional chess" ; the chess of coffee houses and sportsman.

The advent of the chess program; at 1st to search for AI; has led to humans becoming enslaved. It has changed the nature of chess forever. Are we better off?

Again...its a choice.  

It's an honor system we go on nowadays; the way I see it, you didn't win if you use a computer, the computer did. What does it mean if you really didn't play other than there's a rating that was once yours that now belongs to a computer?

The way I see it, if someone chooses to cheat then they just cheated themselves out of a win.  Don't worry about cheating when you play online; if someone decides to cheat against you it's their loss, not yours.

I'm ok with playing against computers aided by the cheater to be honest. 

My post is not so much about cheating with computer programs; but how they have completely changed the face of chess. Would not the integrity of the game be better off the old fashioned way with no programs? Possibly; todays players could have advanced their skills to the highest levels with books alone. Cheaters do discourage many from playing the sport; especially those that play turn based; as its not a 5 min. game that can be easily dismissed.