What's wrong with playing the game to Check Mate when your down on material or position? If I blundered a piece away, my opponent may do the same, or I might learn from a stronger player. Resignation is an option if one choses to end a game before the end of the game.

If you think there's something to learn, then play on. But if you already know exactly how you're going to be mated, there's nothing to learn and you're wasting your time and your opponent's by playing on.

there are certain times when it's impossible for the opponent to lose but it just takes a terrible long time to get a checkmate, it'd be very polite to just resign in such positions

we should'nt resign, whatever the game position is..

I Would have to be convinced my opponent sees how to mate me, then Resigning is in order. but during the middle game I still have game. I can fight for a Draw, or even win in some cases.

Even when you have only a bare king against king and queen? 

Example # 1 My opponent is up 2 bishops , I have no pieces other than a King, Mate is possible, but does my opponent know how to get it done?

I never give up, and i always play until mate. And believe i have saved so many games that you can imagine. I have saved many games when i was 2 or three piece down.

So dont give. Keep trying, and Caisa will give you many gifts.

I promise.

  With beginners  even with King against King and Queen, there's a stalemate looming, almost begging to be played.

i always resign before mate happens

I HATE getting mated

 I hope you arent one of those who resigns only one move before mate.... ? 

um.... sometimes yes

or otherwise in a completely lost position- you're just insulting the opponent

well by resigning 1 move before a mate, letting him get the mate wouldnt be an insult then..

I have resigned almost in everygame that I have lost well before mate. If I have a sour position which (with my ability) I know I can't handle, why should I waste my time and energies on that one and my opponents (usually rated higher than me) have always appreciated that.

"Willing to experience aloneness,
I discover connection everywhere;
Turning to face my fear,
I meet the warrior who lives within;
Opening to my loss,
I am given unimaginable gifts;
Surrendering into emptiness,
I find fullness without end.

Each condition I flee from pursues me.
Each condition I welcome transforms me
And becomes itself transformed… "

Jennifer Welwood

I have won many a games by playing on even with a lost position.  Each game is different so caution is neccesary when evaluating whether to resign.  In OTB play I usually size up my opponent by his demeanor and rating.  Strong players with an upper hand will usually prevail.  In those cases I resign.  However with players ranked lower than me and I am down I play on.

In turn based chess I never resign. I've probably won 20 games because my opponents never returned to the board and ran out of time even though my position was clearly lost. It's a facet of turn based chess, some people just disappear. It's like you are playing in an OTB tournament and your opponent gets up and leaves and never returns, even though he was winning.

Probably a good idea that.

But "turn based"?? ... all chess is turn based ;)

 I was about to quote that

I almost always play through to mate. I'm sorry if being asked to play chess when you agreed to play chess with me is considered a "waste of time" by some :)

For one, people who resign quickly will never know the joy of a well-played forced stalemate. Sure, it takes an opponent making a mistake to get there, but it happens and it is fun.

My one exception is when I've blundered early and am down multiple pieces or a queen, but still have a lot of pieces on the board. In that case, it would take awhile to unravel the position but there is little chance of anything interesting happening.