i think we have an attention hoarder... (i'll say something nobody will agree with so they can all come on and say how much they disagree and i'll be popular) type things...
erik wrote: is it ethical? you should look up the word "ethical" it's not like i'm murdering baby seals :) almost every single website in the world has advertisements. the good news is that i give you a way to remove the advertisements by subscribing - something myspace, facebook, google, youtube, etc don't do. i'd say that's pretty nice of me :) this "money making scheme" is called my job. i'm trying to buy food for my kids. so far it hasn't paid the bills. go figure. next question: is it ethical to complain about something you get for free? :D
is it ethical? you should look up the word "ethical" it's not like i'm murdering baby seals :) almost every single website in the world has advertisements. the good news is that i give you a way to remove the advertisements by subscribing - something myspace, facebook, google, youtube, etc don't do. i'd say that's pretty nice of me :)
this "money making scheme" is called my job. i'm trying to buy food for my kids. so far it hasn't paid the bills. go figure.
next question: is it ethical to complain about something you get for free? :D
I am fully in solidarity with Erik on this one.
This sort of mudslinging at Erik is much more common with avowedly really leftwing sites and people. (examples: the erstwhile alt. rock group rage-against-the-machine - why did it release its albums thru Sony? zcommunications.org: why does it have sustainer members? Arundhati Roy and Noam Chomsky: why do they get published by Penguin and Random House? Tariq Ali: why does he occasionally contribute to the Guardian? [okay in his case the Guardian doesn't pay him, but still.. ] and why did he make programs for Big Brother aka BBC in the past?
In all these cases the answer in part is essentially the same as Erik's.
[ok, the Revolutionary Worker - organ of the RCP(USA) doesn't have ads ;) ]
(applause).
AtIas wrote: What a communist socalist piece of trash you are.
What a communist socalist piece of trash you are.
Following the rule that responding to abuse is abuse, I hereby file an abuse-complaint against the poster quoted above. Said post abuses me. [also, class-action complaint. Abusing people for their beliefs.]
I believe the question is reasonable, even if it isn't appreciated by individuals (or masses) who find it trivial and/or of common practice. I don't know how articulate the original poster is and I know stating an opinion which is critical of an endeared entity causes outrage.
"Assuming makes an ass...". We can put that one in the bag.
After we move beyond that, I do hope the question has been or is answered in a manner which can be discerned (even with all the defenders and outraged persons commenting). Answer it once herein and/or throw it into a FAQ section, should folks persist to question whether a man should be able to survive with this as his passion and work. The fanatics, and individuals such as I (who cringe at the emotional and patriotic campaigning), can avoid clashing.
Kangus wrote: >.>... This is a very dumb thread from a very dumb poster
>.>... This is a very dumb thread from a very dumb poster
That about sums up my thoughts on this.
The question we should be asking ourselves is: who am I going to tell today about the benefits of chess.com and chess.com membership?
Wow.
Accepting money for services rendered = unethical? I hear circus music... If anything is unethical it's that I've gotten so much enjoyment out of this site and haven't had to pay a cent - something I plan to remedy as soon as I close on my house.
And on another note, "it's a free country" uses the word free in the sense of liberty not compensation. No one would argue the country is run without money. It's a simple mistake made by people who don't think a lot.
Allow me to express my deepest appreciation to Erik and his staff for the creative vision and the hard work as well as the upfront capital invested to create and maintain this grand endeavor entitled "chess.com" It serves the interest and passion of a multitude of chess enthusiasts around the globe. It provides the vehicle by which we can engage our love of the Royal Game in multifaceted ways with all the vigor we choose. The small investment that each member makes yields an abundance of rewards many times over our relatively nominal individual contributions. Erik has brought the world of chess a magnificent gift in chess.com. A thankful attitude is appropriate. Those who have offered criticism in this forum topic seem to have a knowledge deficit of basic economics and project traits and motives that are simply in error. Thanks again to Erik and all who make chess.com an enchanting place to explore our fascination with the Royal Game.
lol
AtIas wrote: My mistake if I hate socialism. Report me all you want. Then - report the US government for hating socialism (kind of). Then - please shut up.
My mistake if I hate socialism. Report me all you want. Then - report the US government for hating socialism (kind of). Then - please shut up.
You're an idiot to start with because communism and socialism are two completely different ideals.
As for the ads, well I was really drunk last night and was pissed off because I couldn't load any of my games and all I could see was a T-Mobile ad on the screen and it peeved me off. I understand now. Thanks.
Mad_dog_96 wrote: AtIas wrote: My mistake if I hate socialism. Report me all you want. Then - report the US government for hating socialism (kind of). Then - please shut up. You're an idiot to start with because communism and socialism are two completely different ideals. As for the ads, well I was really drunk last night and was pissed off because I couldn't load any of my games and all I could see was a T-Mobile ad on the screen and it peeved me off. I understand now. Thanks.
Given what you posted and your "explanation" of why you posted it, I suggest you might want to refrain from throwing around the lable "idiot."
Duffer1965 wrote: Given what you posted and your "explanation" of why you posted it, I suggest you might want to refrain from throwing around the lable "idiot."
I may be outspoken and stupid for posting drunk but not an idiot. If you can't distinguish there's a difference between communism and socialism then you are an idiot.
I tried signing up but apparentally you need a credit card and I only have a debit card, I'm going to get that sorted out and will sign up asap.
This thread surprises me a bit. Chess.com is not a mandatory service. It is the creation of chess-loving people who were able to create a FABULOUS resource for those who share a passion for chess. I recently joined as a novice and have improved my game palpably. I used the site free of charge and in order to enjoy more services was happy to pay to price a good dinner out would have cost. I chose to feed my brain instead of my waistline.
Between Chess Mentor, the daily puzzle, the myriad articles and aids for patzers like myself, I have a become a broken record talking about the site to my family and friends.
I am grateful for the efforts of those who have created the site and am happy to support it and pay for it just like any other product I would buy.
Welcome to the club Mad_Dog.. I think useful postings in this thread are exhausted. The dark side is vanquished and we can all resume enjoying our happy community!
*Queue Beethoven's 9th*
If communism suceeded in practise as it was meant to be, we would live in utopia. So it's not really ideaology that's wrong, it's the people who abuse it for their own profit. Being a communist is not a bad thing, exploiting others is. But enough with politics.
Running a website is a business. If you own a business you can decide how to run it so there is nothing unethical in having ads on your website. Of course you must have in mind what will attract customers and what will not. Having ads won't attract customers but possibilty to remove them will. So I'd say erik is not unethical (or chess.com) just in a contrary, he is a good businessman as he earns money one way or another without losing customers.
Mad_dog_96 wrote: AtIas wrote: My mistake if I hate socialism. Report me all you want. Then - report the US government for hating socialism (kind of). Then - please shut up. You're an idiot to start with because communism and socialism are two completely different ideals.
I would hope that we could be more forgiving towards people's misunderstandings of political systems that they probably never encountered. Without a doubt, this mix up would not warrant being an "idiot." (Man that gave me a laugh) And in his defense... Communism and Socialism are NOT COMPLETELY different by any means. In fact they are surprisingly similar.
I am gonnna stop now before the politics police take me to jail :(
Somebody smart once said the difference between communism and socialism is the same as the difference between murder and suicide - the end result is always the same, except suicide is voluntary...
This thread is funny... Socialism is an umbrella term, that consists of many different economic and political structures... Communism is a type of Socialism.
They are different but share many similar concepts (but no, they are not interchangeable.)
Please do not confuse the views of the the poster of the thread (Mad Dog) with mine (Rabid Dog).
Mad Dog pays good money and expresses a viewpoint (to which he is entitled) but with which many of you disagree.
I, Rabid Dog, on the other hand pay good money and Erik then doesn't send me free porn masquerading as advertising.
The question of which of us is sane here is vexing me...
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