this is an excellent site to play chess,analyze games,find other people with like-minded hobbies and ideas,express ourselves and interact through the forums with others from around the world. why,oh why are we getting so worked up over someone going on vacation-eventually their time will run out and they will be forced to finish the game. I don't know about the rest of you, but chess.com goes to the trouble of e-mailing me when an opponent has made a move and it is my turn. if there are cheaters out there(heAVEN FORBID) then let's let chess.com deal with them,not start pointing fingers at fellow players.

"Why is it a bad idea batgal?"

 

Because every incident has two sides. Automatically assuming one's side is the only explanation and posting names of those we feel are abusing the system, even if we have good evidence and even if we're correct 99% of the time, leaves 1% falsely accused and their reputation permanently damaged.  Who wants to be the one to make such a blunder? Not I.

Regardless of what it is that is built, designed, invented... someone will always find a way to abuse it. Either because they are bored, just for the fun or it, or just because they can.

Some join chess sites, have loads of games started then don't bother coming back.. some do the same but use their vacation button..

I've been on the receiving end of someone abusing the vacation button.

Saying that, i do agree with batgirl ...

Not everyone abuses their vacation time.. some may have valid reasons for needing their entire vacation time all in one go.. [work, family bereavement, illness]

As an example, several  people in my area, went on holiday for a week and came home to find they had lost their homes to floods ... i imagine the last thing on their minds was making their move on chess games. So even though i strongly disagree with the abuse of the vacaton button and those that do it,

i can't tar everyone with the same brush..

 

I am not wanting to punish the innocent 1% either but does that mean the other 99% just gets a pass? If you apply this reasoning to the law we would have a real mess.  

Bah I just joined today and am playing like my 6th game and am one move away fom checkmate and as soon as I move to get into position my opponent puts up the vaction status.

if anyone has ever played against me they know i use my vacation alot. its not because i am stalling for more time. the problem is that im in china and do a lot of traveling. most of the time i don't know if the next hotel i will stay in will have an internet connection so i use the vacation feature. i love this site because it has that. i know it can be frustrating to my opponets but i don't use this to "gain" an advantage i just don't want to lose games that are going good because some hotel can't keep up with the times and get internet access. i'm aware some abuse it but are they really worth the frustration? when someone is a sore loser trying helpless tricks it shouldn't bother anyone, you just have to recognize desperation.

what happens when vacation time runs out ? do they lose the option to set vacation time up? does the match clock start again? Is there an area listing rules on this site?  let me know somebody please or I'll go on vacation!

Etienne wrote:

I am playing a game right now where I have a mate in two (one really, unless the person really wants to make it two) but then the person went on vacation (after offering me a draw, as a friend, of course). Then I check, the person is online, and not on vacation anymore, great. The last move was yesterday, a 24 hours vacation? Alright. Then I go see a bit later, back on vacation and still hasn't played a move or resigned. I go see the person's game, the person went out of vacation, played the moves in everyone of her game, except mine, then went on vacation again.

 

Would there be any way to prevent this? It's somewhat annoying... But of course, as the person is winning games right now, when she finally conclude the game she will lose more points and I will get more as she will most likely be higer rated, so she's only harming her own score doing this in the end.

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The moment I learned about vacation time, this type of misuse occured to me.  Just sit back, relax knowing that you have the game won (check every day though...you dont want her sneaking in a move and having you run out the clock)  As long as YOU know that he/she knows that they are being a Poopy McFartyFart, and casting a bad image on themselves, then who cares? Right?  Poor sportsmanship always makes the victory sweeter!...as I say

I've had that same problem. The guy went on vacation in Novemeber. It ended about two weeks ago when the time ran out and he didn't move.

There are people who will find a way to "abuse" anything. The vacation feature on chess.com is certainly NOT an exception. There are probably also people in the world who dont believe criminals exist because they have never been a victim of crime themselves.