Is Ben Finegold as big a jerk as he seems in his videos?

I like Yasser. And I found his 3 videos playing blitz highly instructive.

I like Jenn

    Sorry, but I talked to both of them long enough to know I wouldn't want anything more to do with them.

That's completely different than defining their character. Saying you don't like someone is different than saying they are an a-hole. That's your opinion based on one conversation and some youtube videos. You don't know him or his son and have no basis to say either of them are a-holes. Don't like them? Fine. But quit acting like you're the almighty judge of character. Especially considering you literally don't even know them.

He seems to be the Don Rickles of chess lectures. 

I think Yasser's a great commentator and usually offers up great insight, but when it comes to his lectures.....he kinda puts me to sleep. Maybe he just works better when he has someone to bounce off of.

I think Ben is funny and good value since I get to watch for free.
The kids seem to be happy with him if you read the comments - eating chess pieces and references to the size of Ben.
Kids are way more robust that some folks give them credit for.

So, I jokingly said during the World Championship match that if I saw Ben Feingold at the St. Louis Chess Club I was going to walk-up to him and jack him right in the face because he's such an asshole.  He responded by saying I better have my affairs in order.  The very next week I saw him.  He looked at me, I looked at him and then I looked back down at my game.  When I looked up again, he was gone!  Ben, it was a joke.  You don't have to run away!!!

Ben Finegold is one of the few reasons I got a diamond memb. His commenting in early chess.com deathmatches is pure gold IMO

I thought his style was perfect for the audience. Everyone there seemed to enjoy it. 

Please someone block me! I have been cheating since 2011! Now please block me!

No.

I'm the opposite, I love Yasser's lectures but his commentary sometimes puts me to sleep. I like Yasser and I like Jen separately but not the combo on commentary. I'd much rather watch Yasser and BEN FINEGOLD doing the broadcast. Now THAT would be a riot. Finegold saying outrageous things and Yasser laughing his ass off. I believe the two are friends. At least it seemed that way from what one can tell on a video.... I can't believe anyone thinks he's being a jerk. He's being FUNNY. I can't watch one of his videos without literally laughing out loud. Now I know they will never put GM Finegold on-air for one of the big broadcasts because they are corporate in nature and wouldn't take the chance but that is a shame. It could be epic! They should find a new partner for GM Seirawan though. He has the monotone voice, put him with someone that is on the upbeat side. Just my opinion. I'll watch anyway and drink a lot of coffee lol  I think people take GM Finegold as being serious when he's really JOKING. If he wasn't a quality person and an outstanding teacher the Chess Club wouldn't have him there lecturing and teaching. 

I seem to recall reading an interview someone once did for rolling stone magazine.  In the articles it was stated then Ben used to be an underwear model in his younger days.  Unfortunately I cannot remember if it was stated to be Ben Finegold or Ben Hill.

Ben is a jerk and so is his son.

I like Jen Shahade as a writer ('Chess Bitch' is, in my view, a great book). As a commentator....eh, not so much. There are times where I really wish she'd try to add a bit more commentary to the broadcast and a little less duck face. Jen just had a baby, so I don't know if she'll be returning to the commentary booth anytime soon. It would be a great time for them to try something different - like Yasser and Ben, but they seem to be sticking with the male/female tandem, so it's looks like for the CCSCSTL we've got Yasser and Tania Sachdev for the foreseeable future.

As Ben would say, Always Repeat!

Ben Finegold is a boss. And his jokes actually makes sense. They actual teach you if you just open up your self. And nothing wrong with making fun of people. As long as you don't outrightly disrespect somebody, I don't see a problem.