Well, friends, fans, and foes, I have been on this site 8 months. I will now assess the last 8 months for your enjoyment.
I stumbled across this site googling chess and chess related questions last November. I immediately took a liking to this site and quickly became a free member. I thought it was well layed out and I liked the dialog between fellow chess enthusiasts.
As time wore on, I found the dialog here....well.....boring--watered down--lacking substance--incorrect--juvenile--etc. I also found the site administrators' misguided judgement getting on my nerves. They..specifically Erik..treated others as if they were children. Treated this site as if it were their house and they were going to run it as they saw fit. People who were publically liked were given infinite more leeway than others. People that had a star or crown by their name (paying members) got away with murder. I saw people get reprimanded for simply talking about other chess sites while the admin turned the other cheek as paying members spouted obscenity after obscenity.
I saw this site evolve and add features that made it more and more interesting to come to. I saw an effort to give the people what they wanted by giving a loud mouthed jerk a private vote chess game with the entire pool of users. I watched the users of this site beat that user (me).
The users of this site have much to learn in the way of life. I sometimes wonder if their age is the same number as their IQ. But I realize that it cannot be, for they managed to band together and beat an above average chess player (me). Most of the users, in my opinion, are under the age of 20. Quick with the temper, quick to throw punches without regard for the consequences. They love their chess will defend its honor at all costs. Most here are quick to condemn others if they say something that is not agreeable one day, but the next day they will support that very disagreeable opinion if it suits their public image. Hypocrisy abounds amongst many of the users.
But this site is fun. It is fun for chess players of all skills, from all walks of life, to come here and indulge in conversation, as well as games, with fellow chess players from around the world. Much can be learned at this site. It is great place to come if you love chess.
I feel though that this site may be stuck forever in mediocrity. As long as the flash banner ads dont get out of hand, as long as the administrators realize that chess has a life of its own, and attempting to force this positive, sanitary, sunny-day, non-confrontational, "it's my site and I'll run it how I want" community down people's throats is not the way to run a business (unless you're DisneyWorld), it may stand a chance.
This site has come a long way in the last 8 months, but needs to continue to push forward out of mediocrity. It has not yet earned the honor for me to open up my wallet and pay my hard earned semi-worthless American dollar to become a member, but that day may come. I cannot see that day on the horizon, but I have hope.
cheater_1
What changes would you have the site make? (I am an older guy, just for reference)... I looked at the ther online chess sites and to me , think this one is the best of the group. It seems well thought out. Just one opinion.
Al
People that had a star or crown by their name (paying members) got away with murder. I saw people get reprimanded for simply talking about other chess sites while the admin turned the other cheek as paying members spouted obscenity after obscenity.
I'm not sure that that's the correct usage of "turn the other cheek". It might be more of a "turn a blind eye" scenario.
children, i order you all to smile and ignore this post!!
blah blah. cheater_0 is just pouting because i won't give him more stage room.
lol you couldn't be more correct!
I stand corrected. I am a MAN and I admit my ERRORS. Turn a blind Eye is INDEED the correct usage. I was wrong.
Ahhhh, if only all the others would be so quick to admit their faults, as I do mine, then this site would take one small step out of the quagmire of MEDIOCRITY.
this quagmire of mediocrity became the #1 most visited chess website in the world in less than 12 months.
but i digress... we're terrible, i admit it.(our first step!! i can feel it changing us already....)
ok ERIK, as you have done to me COUNTLESS times in my 8 months here, I shall now do to you. PROVE IT! SHow me some stats from a reputable source. GIve me a link to back up your statement. You have 15 minutes to fabricate..er...ah.....show me some credible evidence to show that this is the most visited chess website in the world. I have CONCRETE evidence to support it is NOT. I eagerly await your PROOF.
THe clock is ticking.....15 minutes.....tic toc tic toc
GONG!!!! GONG!!!! GONG!!!!! 11 minutes remaining.............
check it on www.alexa.com or www.compete.com . compare daily visitors with ANY other chess site you want.
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