i'm fairly new to this game and was wondering if forcing check over and over doing the same thing, back and forth, is that kosher? or are you generally thought of as a prick for that??  

or is that's what referred to as "forcing a draw?"

More than likely it's just forcing a draw. It's actually called "perpetual check" or even "draw by repetition". With perpetual check one side can force a draw if the other side can't prevent the continual checks. With draw by repetition one side can claim a draw if all pieces are in the exact same position three times with the same side having the move.

[edit: oops, I see ozzie has this well in hand]

"Some people have a moral problem with draw by repetition or draw by perpetual check but I don't think this is something you'll encounter at the higher levels."

GM's commonly draw by perpetual check....

I think Ozzie is saying that the people in the higher levels have less of a problem with it

cool. thanks for the vice