I've had those mornings when you wake up after being on the booze and thought, 'What did I do last night?' Normally this only extended to the real world, however, now it is possible to make an ass of yourself in the virtual world too!

I had a friend that came home bingoed and sent an e-amil to the bbc complaining about the Tv presenter Sue Barkers face - they actually bothered to reply!

If you don't like the ads, don't come here or just pay up and shut the ^&%$ up.  I have played for free the last few months and once my finances improve, I plan on paying. 

To erik  THANK YOU!  Thanx for the great website and service!

(I really should pay)

erik wrote:

 it's not like i'm murdering baby seals 

Erik please stay out of issues you know nothing about. The seal hunt is conducted by humane means and the people who participate are hard working, honest and men trying to feed their families. The idea that you would even suggest that it is "unethical" is naive and narrowminded. I am from Newfoundland, where good people - modestly harvesting from the healthy stock of hundreds of thousands of seals (which due to their numbers threaten fish stocks of eastern Canada) - are being protested out of their jobs by the ignorant masses.

Erik, I believe there is a rule that such issues are not to be discussed on chess.com.

leggy wrote:

erik wrote:

 it's not like i'm murdering baby seals 

Erik please stay out of issues you know nothing about. The seal hunt is conducted by humane means and the people who participate are hard working, honest and men trying to feed their families. The idea that you would even suggest that it is "unethical" is naive and narrowminded. I am from Newfoundland, where good people - modestly harvesting from the healthy stock of hundreds of thousands of seals (which due to their numbers threaten fish stocks of eastern Canada) - are being protested out of their jobs by the ignorant masses.

Erik, I believe there is a rule that such issues are not to be discussed on chess.com.

Fair enough! I'll be honest, I didn't intend to make a statement about that particular job, I was just making a comment about how "ads" is hardly an ethical dilemna compared to what is universally considered an ethical dilemna (baby seals for fur). My point wasn't to make an ethical judgement on that industry, it was as a point of contrast.

My own point of view on seals for fur? I don't have one - I don't know enough. So fair enough - my apologies to seal harvesters. I will use a less inflamatory example next time. :)

leggy wrote:

erik wrote:

 it's not like i'm murdering baby seals 

Erik please stay out of issues you know nothing about. The seal hunt is conducted by humane means and the people who participate are hard working, honest and men trying to feed their families. The idea that you would even suggest that it is "unethical" is naive and narrowminded. I am from Newfoundland, where good people - modestly harvesting from the healthy stock of hundreds of thousands of seals (which due to their numbers threaten fish stocks of eastern Canada) - are being protested out of their jobs by the ignorant masses.

Erik, I believe there is a rule that such issues are not to be discussed on chess.com.

So with this logic maybe it's more accurate to say, "It's like I'm killing baby seals!"  Hilarious!

Anyhow I once heard John McRae of Cake say that he wished music were free to all.  He then followed it by saying that he also wished rent, sandwiches, and health insurance were free.  We must all be very realistic.  There are large corporations out there that take advantage of people's needs and desires.  They make insurmontable amounts of money exploiting the poor working classes of all nations and then turn arround and exploit the consumers of more prosperous nations.  Chess.com is not one of these organizations and if you want to be mad about the abuses of capitalism this is not corporation or forum to do so. 

I'm not as educated or as intelligent as a lot of those who have commented, but I think that it's easy for us to be mad at the world and specifically the USA when we're young and naive.  As we grow older we slowly realize that no one person made the world unfair it's been that way since before the Babylonians developed law.  I would not blame Erik for putting up more adds and making this place like a freakin' casino.  He deserves success for offering us something so beautiful.  I honestly spend more time here than I'm really comfortable with. I learn so much from this site and the people who play here.  People who make terrible movies and television get lots of money to entertain.  Erik should get everything he wants out of life for offering something that entertains and helps us grow and interact.  The fact that it's free is beautiful and I would love to pay for the other services.  Someday when I feel I can afford it I will.  I just hope that Erik sold enough advertising to keep this thing arround until that day!

Anthony

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.

ATTENTION Erik: second complaint against quoted poster. Provocation and abuse. Rude behaviour  - i was told to "please shut up".

For me leninism wasn't and isn't communism. Anarchism is communism.

Everybody!! Put your heads down on your desks! We are going to have a quiet time, and when we're done let's hope we're not so bloody touchy. Gee-wiz...

In the immortal words of the famous crack-addict, Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?"

Uh-oh... I may have just offended crack-addicts...

De-Lar wrote:

boy, you can't even sneeze without offending somebody.

 Did you just sneeze? What, you didn't sneeze, and you think that's acceptable do you?

You make me sick to be human, really :(

claypot wrote:

neospooky wrote: The flaw of communism is that it didn't take into account people.  A form of government on paper that doesn't take into account people isn't really a successful form of government anywhere on paper.

It's like this: My new form of government is "everyone is happy."  There you have it, I have the perfect form of government on paper.  Everyone is happy.  If my new government "suceeded in practise as it was meant to be, we would live in utopia (sic)."

Communism is a great form of government for a planet of desireless, apathetic robots unconcerned with their own prosperity and content with mere survival.

Geesh... This post is getting way off track... So, I'll add my two cents regarding Communism.

The problem with Communism is it's idealistic and not realistic.

The idealism of Communism is everyone shares everything, no one in need. (Very simplistic, but that's basically it.) If this was actually possible, I can understand the appeal, However...

The realism of Communism is this: People are people... lazy, self-centered, etc. So, the hard working farmer in a Communist society gets the same "pay" as the lazy farmer who sits on his duff and contributes basically nothing. Therefore, the economy tanks as but a few are providing for the very many.

How in the world did I ever get sucked into this?  I need to get a life...

Purchase and read "Parecon' [participatory economics'] by micheal albert.

Erik and the team...THANK YOU! chess.com is brilliant! Adds or no adds. A simple choice in my mind, if you don't like what is here, don't come back!

I have never found a site of any kind that works so hard at always making things better.....It is soooooooo good! Shame my chess isn't as good! lol

Keep up the great work!

LOL I realy didn't expect someone to defending baby seal killing so passionatly. Don't think im here to tell u its unethical, just I highly doubt anyone of the other few dozen people who read erik's comment thought he was pushing for animal rights...

Taxi wrote:

Erik and the team...THANK YOU! chess.com is brilliant! Adds or no adds. A simple choice in my mind, if you don't like what is here, don't come back!

I have never found a site of any kind that works so hard at always making things better.....It is soooooooo good! Shame my chess isn't as good! lol

Keep up the great work!

 What? A reasonable and accurate post that's on topic?

Actually, I share Taxi's sentiments. Thank you all at chess.com. I am a gold member and it has been worth every penny. No regrets at all...

De-Lar wrote:

boy, you can't even sneeze without offending somebody.

sneezing is one biggest factors in spreading illnesses. PLEASE do not sneeze while using Chess.com. geez...

Mad_dog_96 wrote:

kenytiger wrote:

That's a problem that is killing America, too many whiners who just complain the whole day and don't do anything else. They are part of the problem when they should be part of the solution. You get ads everywhere you look. Heck, I'm paying a monthly fee for my cable, what should I do about the ads on my TV? I pay taxes to maintain the highways but there ads on them, what am I supposed to do about that? Mad Dog 96 and everyone who agrees with him can help to improve chess.com by finding somewhere else to play chess.

 Oh get over yourself I already stated that I wasn't thinking straight in posting that.

As for Communism, well there never has been a proper Communist state so we can't say it doesn't work in practice because it has never been practiced. What you seen in the USSR was State Capitalism.

Exactly. Or, arguably. but moot. Much debated point - Bettelheim-Sweezy-onward .. I lean towards Micheal Albert's view 'managerial-class rule' [expressed very simplistically - see zcommunications.org].

Are you suppressing my right to sneeze, Erik???

claypot wrote:

Everybody!! Put your heads down on your desks! We are going to have a quiet time, and when we're done let's hope we're not so bloody touchy. Gee-wiz...

Claypot please stay out of issues you know nothing about. Teachers  are hard working, honest and men and women trying to feed their families. The idea that you would even suggest that it is somehow appropriate to make fun of the disciplinary tactics that teachers are required to do their jobs is both disrespectful and insensitive.

Rael wrote:

Claypot please stay out of issues you know nothing about. Teachers  are hard working, honest and men and women trying to feed their families. The idea that you would even suggest that it is somehow appropriate to make fun of the disciplinary tactics that teachers are required to do their jobs is both disrespectful and insensitive.

 My head hangs low in shame... (sniff)

Does that mean quiet time is over?

Rael wrote:

claypot wrote:

Everybody!! Put your heads down on your desks! We are going to have a quiet time, and when we're done let's hope we're not so bloody touchy. Gee-wiz...

Claypot please stay out of issues you know nothing about. Teachers  are hard working, honest and men and women trying to feed their families. The idea that you would even suggest that it is somehow appropriate to make fun of the disciplinary tactics that teachers are required to do their jobs is both disrespectful and insensitive.

 You suggesting that all teachers are hard working and honest is insane and offends me and every other person who has been emotionaly damaged by a teacher(s).

(whips a tear from his cheek)