I think he's funny. And if he's a jerk, its fine because people deserve to be mocked.
Is Ben Finegold as big a jerk as he seems in his videos?
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Jul 2, 2022
0
#663
I see zero evidence of him being anything other than humorous and a darn good chess player.
JerryKasporav wrote:
I was watching some St. Louis Chess Club videos but every one that Finegold does he is constantly ridiculing and mocking the audience. Extremely off putting. Does he just have a poor sense of humor or is this his personality? Yasser's videos on the other hand are top notch, he is kind, informative, and pleasant.
NO TALKING!
I think he definitely puts on some kind of character for his videos and lectures knowing that it's entertaining to a lot of people and keeps them coming back to view his content.
Jul 3, 2022
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#666
Having met Finegold in real life, I can promise he is much worse than he appears in his videos
ooh! Someone must have gotten their feelings hurt!
Jul 3, 2022
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#668
I like Ben's videos and have learned a lot from them. He doesn't seem to be any kind of a "jerk" to me. I found these definitions for jerk online: "jerk 1 (dʒɜrk) n. 1. a quick, sharp pull, thrust, twist, or the like; sudden, abrupt movement. 2. a sudden involuntary muscle contraction, as of a reflex. 3. Slang. a contemptibly naive, stupid, or insignificant person. 4. (in weightlifting) the raising of a weight from shoulder height to above the head by straightening the arms. " If we assume you are talking about the #3 slang definition, well, when it comes to Chess , Ben is clearly not a "contemptibly naive, stupid or insignificant person. " His videos give keen insight into chess and thinking, his anecdotes of other great chess players past and present are brilliant little gems worth hearing. It is significant that he personally knew and befriended many other famous GMs and is one himself. Finally, he is a real person who takes time to know the ordinary kids that he tries to teach and inspire to better chess. How many star atheletes spend time every week helping kids. Perhaps the originator of this blog should contemplate the definition of the word "jealousy -- Having to do with or arising from feelings of envy, apprehension, or bitterness." and consider where their intent in starting this blog is coming from. Of course , if you are talking about the #1 definition about a sudden movement, then I must admit he does make his moves rather quickly and I have to sometime look at his videos several times to make sure I understand the lesson he is trying to put forth. So if that is what you mean then I would say rather that he is quick.
Why is it so important how a teacher comes across on a personal level?
Aren't you motivated enough to learn chess?
It's better to appreciate all your masters so you can leave them behind when you transcend their level of mastery. Not leave them behind out of immature resistance and without absorbing their knowledge.
Ben Finegold is a great chess player. He's been around forever in the world of chess and his teachings are legit.
He's isn't a good teacher because he doesn't engage the audience. Sort of talks around them. I only watched two minutes but I positively didn't want to watch any more of it. He's extremely unhealthy and he has bad digestive problems. Not a pretty sight.
Jul 5, 2022
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#671
If you let your defenses down socially, and someone takes advantage of that, they're a jerk. If they take that moment to help you save face, they're not. That's my only litmus test. As per Finegold, he seems like he'd pull the power move socially and not jump on a grenade for you. But acting rough doesn't mean that would be the case. And he quoted the Beastie Boys once.
Jul 5, 2022
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#672
Nilocra_the_White wrote:
I like Ben's videos and have learned a lot from them. He doesn't seem to be any kind of a "jerk" to me. I .
Try meeting him in RL
Jul 5, 2022
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#673
varelse1 wrote:
Nilocra_the_White wrote:
I like Ben's videos and have learned a lot from them. He doesn't seem to be any kind of a "jerk" to me. I .
Try meeting him in RL
I'm sure most of us have acted horribly at some point. Maybe you caught him on a bad day or he's just naturally socially inept? (I don't know anything about him)
personally ?...i suggest a rope belt like jethro or maybe some suspenders.
i dunno
Ian_Rastall wrote:
If you let your defenses down socially, and someone takes advantage of that, they're a jerk. If they take that moment to help you save face, they're not. That's my only litmus test. As per Finegold, he seems like he'd pull the power move socially and not jump on a grenade for you. But acting rough doesn't mean that would be the case. And he quoted the Beastie Boys once.
I don't know, it's hard to watch when he is constantly insulting his target audience...like most of us are never going to be a GM so please holy crap, tone down that, "I am better than thou" if he wants to make more money in Chess. Unless you are a super GM or popular streamer or someone who writes books that people are going to buy (not happening because he insults his target audience, remember?), there's not a lot of money in chess.
Also I watched a clip where he was sneering at 2,000 (may have been 1500, I forgot, watched it a long time ago) rated players and below hanging pieces while he was slurping a slush/smoothie (super annoying hearing that slurping sound on top of him telling you what an absolute trash you are for hanging pieces). Yea, not going to ever watch anything that he has to say about Chess or anything else ever again.
ArchdukeShrimp wrote:
I just watched throught that video....it is true that (especially at the start) he was a little too mocking, so much so that perhaps it was in poor taste.
But, his actual lesson was pretty well composed. I think he tries too hard to be funny, and if he toned it down a bit, it would be better....
His lessons on chess.com have much less of that condescending attitude, I think.
Obviously, chess.com was not going to let him represent them as his true self lol. They are trying to make money by bringing in more members not lose members. LOL.
I've met Ben before at the Charlotte Chess Center. He was cordial, seemed nice & in a good mood.
DreamscapeHorizons wrote:
I've met Ben before at the Charlotte Chess Center. He was cordial, seemed nice & in a good mood.
Do you understand people (unless you are a sociopath) put their best version of themselves depending on the occasion? When you are the most comfortable (streaming and making videos at home), you let your true nature comes out. If I don't like my in laws but I am going to them for Thanksgiving dinner, I am gonna act like I love them.
I have met many top players and not surprisingly, it matters to many of them how good you are at chess. They, at least in a chess setting, are often openly contemptuous of weak players. Of course, some have to operate in the non-chess world where 99% of the population does not know, for example, what a GM is and such GMs, like those with non-chess jobs, would seem much more normal.
That was not true of David Bronstein.
GM Finegold was analyzing player's games at the National Open. I took advantage of this several times. Once I had a one on one session with him. He gave good advice on my opening and strategy. It was player to player, nothing condescending at all. He was great with the kids, btw.