I think you're way off. I've got plenty of games against 1300-1500 players where they resign in clearly lost positions. I don't have much experience playing below that, so it may go even lower.

I resign in positions where I don't see any hint of counterplay or drawing chances. Sometimes I'll decide my opponent has a beautiful mate coming up, or they have such a strong position that I'll let it play out(quickly though) because it's nice to see a mate every once in a while.

I've played several 1600s who've played right to mate with a lone king against king and rook, while I was also in the heady heights of the 1600s, so in general i'd say it's 1700+ who are more likely to resign a clearly lost position.  Though now i'm back in the 1500s I find 16-1700s are less inclined to resign against me so it depends on opponent rating too.

It seems to be the 1700's that do the most resigning.

There was a scene in the movie "Gladiator"  starring Russell Crowe, where the roman general and his second in command are looking at an army of ragtag Germanic barbarians , while the roman legions are setting up their Catapults and skillfully deploying the Legions to attack the barbarians.  The Roman Lieutenant looked at the General and said something like" they  beaten already and don't even know it," and the general (played by Crowe) said something like , if it was us would we know it????  well it was a good scene and a good movie, kinda deals with the topic here of resigning......check out the movie or see the scene from the movie dealing with the campaign in Germania on You Tube.

This is an EXCELLENT topic. Finally - someone is casting some insight into why people don't resign instead of sniveling when they don't. An important factor in this is not only my rating but also the rating of my opponent. If I am losing a game against a rating of 2000 or higher then I am much more likely to resign than when playing against someone closer to my own rating or lower. In fact, if I am playing someone rated above 2000 then I should probably just resign before the first move, because I already have a lost position and I don't want to insult my opponent.

When I started playing chess online I looked forward most to playing endgames because that is the part of the game I enjoy the most. It has been a great disappointment to me that so many people resign before it gets to the endgame. So I have had to satisfy my curiosity about endgames by studying endgame books so that I can learn how to win games I will never have the chance to play because people just resign because they are trying to be courteous. Bent Larsen said that a chess game is basically a fight. And I have read that it was Bobby Fischer's preferred style of play - to play "to the Kings".

I agree players should resign when they see it is hopeless. If you can see it then congratulations. But I will resign when I can see it.

I know what you mean - I am currently playing a game in which I have always had a bit of an edge, but it has come down to a proper K&Ps endgame and I've come over all excited!

 That's my position.  I can play what looks like a losing position and learn something.  I'm not good enough to quit everytime I appear down.  If I did I would hardly ever play.

Are u people talking chess.com rating or USCF?????????????

Chess.com rating.

it all depends on the opponent if i were to play a 1300 i would trust that my opponent would make a error but anyone over 1700 in a losing position i would resign

1500+ resign more, just remember nobody ever won by resigning, 

i find that lower rated opponents play longer than they should usually, im with IPA-ray when i choose to resign...if im playing below a 1350 and drop a peice ill play until i KNOW im not gonna salvage a draw or win, if theyre over 1600 and i drop a piece i usually just quit right then...(I hover around 1500)...ive read a few places play till its over, fight the whole game, make complications and problems for your opponent make them prove that they can convert thier advantage...but what about if you see you opponent will mate you in a few moves?  should you play on and give them the satisfaction of mate or should you resign and save a little face?  

How does resigning save face?

huge statistics project: but if you want it researched I'll quote the best price you can get . I'll need say 3 million quid for expenses + 2 million quid to 'get the wheels in motion' in 3rd world countries + 2 million travel expenses for me and the team I'll have to build up + 3 million for their compensation.

My fee for all this labour: only 50 quid - I'll do it for the love of statistics :)

by not facing the humiliation of physically getting mated i guess...i would personally rather end the game on MY terms by resiging than by having someone TELL me the game is over by checkmate...

50 quid? Sounds cheap at the price, normajeanyates. Do you accept plastic?

I will require comprehensive weekly reports on progress including all expenses in triplicate which can only be incurred in the carrying out of your duties.

 seldcom resign until it is an absolute loss there is always a chance for a mistake or a draw' my rating  < 1100

As a sidenote, I proposed a survey along these lines ...

Playing against a similarly rated opponent: which of these scenarios represents the EARLIEST STAGE at which you would seriously consider resigning?

1: you are a couple of points behind, and your pieces are badly positioned

2: you are a rook down with no tricks left and it’s the endgame

3: you have just a king against your opponent’s Queen, Rook and pawns

4: never resign!

Typically, the relative strength of the opponent will make a difference to your decision whether to resign or not, so a fuller consideration of factors would look like this:

You would then arrive at a profile (e.g. A3,B2,C2) for your personal resigning behaviour.

I would say I've won more games by not resigning than if I had learned several good tactical or endgame tricks. I think "not resigning" will win more games than learning a new opening. I'm in a game right now (at another website) where I've spent the past several moves thinking I really should resign. Then he missed the move before the mating move. I might have a chance now to pull it out. Next move he's in check.

1C - if there was a specific threat that would cost me a minor piece.

2C - reluctantly

3B - might get a stalemate against (A)

4 - never say never