OTB - Taking it easy on lower rated players?

strokes, pleasure ...what were we talking about?

I don't remember signing a contract involving chess games.  Of course a verbal agreement is considered binding in some U.S. states.  Is there some rule that states I must crush every adversary completely if I am able to?  If so I'll have to talk this one over with my lawyer.  Until this is presented to me I'll continue to take it easy on some as I see many people as children; and do you know how happy most people are when they win?  OFten they're a lot happier than when they lose even if they've had an "easy" win.

I figure I'm doing them a favor by stomping them. If they quit playing, they really weren't a chess player anyhow. If they start to think how they can improve on their play and get right back into it, then they are chess players.

You know what they say "Different storks for different forks" Or was it pins or discovered check?  Don't recall now.

What new player isn't stomped on for a few years, unless everyone has a mentality like Carlsen.  Even if we are slaughtered by another player..so what?  It's just part of the game.  Even GM's and IM's can be beaten and make really bad moves (not as many and not so obvious to the newcomers, why do we think that we will escape, being the lower rated players?

Just play the game..without cheating, is all I ask and be kind with words, even if it is a nice "I think I slaughtered ya".  :)  I can handle that. 

Great information about you!  Let's play chess!!  (Hint:  apparently I'm Not one of those easily insulted players ...!)

That's like asking, "Why doesn't gravity cut you any slack when you're just starting out jumping off of things?"  Because that's not how the game of jumping off of things is played.  If you play the game of jumping, you buy into the whole thing - e.g. falling fast and/or hard and possibly injuring youself or getting killed if you get it wrong.  You don't have to feel bad about crushing someone who engages in the unequivocal win/lose result of the chess modality.  They're trying to beat you, after all... They'd like to win and probably 'crush' you  on the board.  Nothing personal.  If they can't manage a win, it's up to them to sort out the ramifications.  If they're too old and frail, don't worry, they were young and strong once, and they know what's going on in their evolution and why it's that way and have had a lot of time to understand that people get old and change.  But they want to play anyway. And don't worry - you'll have the opportunity to be old and frail too eventually - we're all actually in the same boat.  You're no different than those old people. You have the same fate ahead of you. You should pity yourself perhaps for your naive sense of immortality, and the obscure irrational assumption younger people tend to feel, that you'll never be old yourself -if you live that long, if you play the jumping game right, that is.

In fact, I think at every age we tend to see the people further down the line or worse off and not recognize ourselves in their position.  It's human nature to not be able to face out mortality squarely, generally.

Oh, reflectivist, you Are seriously reflective! ()  In my line of work, I think about the same kinds of things.  But heck, Chess is a Game! -- a game  I play for Fun -- in my Free time!  And as for the injunction that young folks "should," perhaps, pity themselves for their "naïve sense of immortality," I'm thinking "good for them! -- I hope they keep that lovely delusion as long as possible, poor dears.  They have enough to worry about, trying to choose careers and make money and find people to procreate with and all .....! 

The comment I posted was intended to voice my perspective and was not meant to be insulting.  

Oh, my bad!  I didn't find your comment at all "insulting," and apparently I failed to be clear -- I was talking about my Own comment that going easy on someone "risks insulting the less skilled player."

I used "risks" deliberately.  Some players might be insulted.  Others wouldn't.  Me?  I'm less invested in Learning from a hard-fought game than most players on this site seem to be ... So a casually played game is fine with me.  In other words, I'm definitely in the "wouldn't be insulted if opponent took it easy on me" category!  (Does that help?)   

Yes, well --- I am younger than a frail old man and older than an young naive person having to forge a new career and family etc...  :-)  So I still have to ward off the tendency to think about 'old' people and how I'm not like them :-)  As for being able to look at my own mortality squarely - that's what the chess board is for... Looking at squares and one's own mortality.  Cheers!  Point taken.... btw.  Thanks.

What is the sound of one Existentialist not clapping?

(also, what is the response to a rhetorical question?)

Stop asking futile questions to escape your fear of death.

Seriously, what's the answer ?

Alas!  There Is no serious answer.  I should probably just go to my room now, and think about what I've done, and work on eschewing silliness in the future.  (Yeah, like That'll make a difference!)

What is the sound of one Nihilist not clapping? Despair?

...the air going out of a whoopie cushion, maybe

You guys are Not Helping!  (My prefrontal cortex is still "offline.")  

What is the sound of one lobe firing?  

(Answer:  motherinlaw trying to stay on topic, while following a series of logical exchanges in a serious discussion.)

Good point.  Almost anyone who's insulted by someone taking it easy on them in a chess game can be said to be easily insulted.

It is better to play hard on them. Just in case they beat you.