qixel wrote:
I will miss Silman. Even if you don't like him, he adds a lot of street cred to this site.
But I don't think chess.com markets its writers well at all.
I agree 100%. Great points (I would never agree to lousy points!).
Appreciation
Sort:
Fezzik wrote:
dpruess wrote:
it's not about money.
+1
But you won't be able to persuade the people (perhaps only one person) who believe that everything they don't like is motivated by money.
(I half expect the people (person) to retort that your response is motivated by money.)
lol I was about to do that but saw the white text when I quoted.
Very nice!
Fezzik wrote:
dpruess wrote:
it's not about money.
+1
But you won't be able to persuade the people (perhaps only one person) who believe that everything they don't like is motivated by money.
(I half expect the people (person) to retort that your response is motivated by money.)
Offer him double, then see if it is about the money.
66_Mustang wrote:
Fezzik wrote:
dpruess wrote:
it's not about money.
+1
But you won't be able to persuade the people (perhaps only one person) who believe that everything they don't like is motivated by money.
(I half expect the people (person) to retort that your response is motivated by money.)
There will always be those who believe only what they want to believe. The truth means little to them, after all there's always a conspiracy or fabrication to be had.
Or maybe, you only believe that people only believe what they want to believe because that is just what you want to believe...
Or maybe I'm just saying that because I've already been brainwashed by the government-controlled media!
I have read through all the posts in this thread. Apparently nobody but Silman and maybe the staff here at chess.com know "why" Silman is leaving (unless it was posted in the several other columns that I no longer track), except that it is "not about money", per IM Pruess.
It does not matter. There is no way he could ever leave this site under the impression that he is "underappreciated" or "not wanted", no way in heckfar.
I will continue to frequent his website for HIS book reviews and buy every single one of HIS general chess training books that were written from Bill Clinton's second presidential term on.
I think he treats his fans very well (he replied to my e-mail a hwile back, fairly lengthy, friendly, and detailed reply). His opinionation is excellent. If you try to come across as too "fair and balanced", you sound like a dry turd.
I loved his Complete Book of Strategy because I could understand it. The Amateur's Mind made sense to my primitive chess mind (the bullet points certainly) but translating it into action and following along the variations was beyond my skill (hence I also love de la Maza as prelude to Silman). I own a copy of How to Reassess Your Chess, 4th ed and it is a big beautiful book, I love the cover, and I love how he has practice problems at the end of each chapter, since that is something that I don't see in a lot of strategy-type books. I want to read it so badly, but I feel too primitive in my chess understanding to make use of it. I have already started his Endgame Course since everyone has kind of trashed my tactics-exclusively-at-first theories and because it is also a big beautiful book and he is an entertaining writer and I am trying to begrudgingly take people's advice while challenging the conventions I keep hearing.
Silman is great, even when he is wrong in the eyes of far less qualified novices, pay him double, and slightly increase the membership costs, I'll pay. Money talks. We come full circle.
dannyhume wrote:
I have read through all the posts in this thread. Apparently nobody but Silman and maybe the staff here at chess.com know "why" Silman is leaving (unless it was posted in the several other columns that I no longer track), except that it is "not about money", per IM Pruess.
It does not matter. There is no way he could ever leave this site under the impression that he is "underappreciated" or "not wanted", no way in heckfar.
I will continue to frequent his website for HIS book reviews and buy every single one of HIS general chess training books that were written from Bill Clinton's second presidential term on.
I think he treats his fans very well (he replied to my e-mail a hwile back, fairly lengthy, friendly, and detailed reply). His opinionation is excellent. If you try to come across as too "fair and balanced", you sound like a dry turd.
I loved his Complete Book of Strategy because I could understand it. The Amateur's Mind made sense to my primitive chess mind (the bullet points certainly) but translating it into action and following along the variations was beyond my skill (hence I also love de la Maza as prelude to Silman). I own a copy of How to Reassess Your Chess, 4th ed and it is a big beautiful book, I love the cover, and I love how he has practice problems at the end of each chapter, since that is something that I don't see in a lot of strategy-type books. I want to read it so badly, but I feel too primitive in my chess understanding to make use of it. I have already started his Endgame Course since everyone has kind of trashed my tactics-exclusively-at-first theories and because it is also a big beautiful book and he is an entertaining writer and I am trying to begrudgingly take people's advice while challenging the conventions I keep hearing.
Silman is great, even when he is wrong in the eyes of far less qualified novices, pay him double, and slightly increase the membership costs, I'll pay. Money talks. We come full circle.
Um....you seem to agree that it's not about the money.....then, in your last paragraph, offer a solution based on money!
I (and everyone else) have not read any reason(s) for his departure. Nobody that knows is telling. Many have their thoughts, and reasons for them, but, it's all speculation. You even make an assumption that he couldn't ever leave if he thought he was not wanted.
I have my own thoughts, but, they are simply guesses based on what I've read. Nobody knows.
I rarely read articles on this site. I spend most of my time playing chess! However, after following the threads about Mr. Silman, I would have to agree with many that want him to stay. I never heard of him before this, but SO many seem to enjoy his writing, it would seem to be a loss for chess.com and many members.
I have also posted in the other "Silman thread". Now, as a "newbie", the forums can be very informational. LET'S MAKE AN EFFORT TO KEEP THEM THAT WAY! Or, at the very least, humorous. The haters (trolls, as many call them) are a waste of time and space.
May 15, 2011
0
#68
It would be a tremendous loss for the chess.com community for Jeremy to leave. If one were to compile his chess.com articles (which can be read for free) into a single volume, it would be one of the 10 best chess books of all-time.
One other point: I have it on good authority that this has absolutely nothing to do with compensation.
Pay him triple. And give him permission to publish his articles into a book (some articles are already in the 4th edition of HTRYC), like Dan Heisman with his Novice Nook. How come no one (sans staff) are offering solutions other than "telling" him he is wanted?
He never actually said he was leaving, maybe people just got their info confused.
Phelon wrote:
He never actually said he was leaving, maybe people just got their info confused.
I don't see a Monday article by Silman. Is it 12.00 am on the West Coast yet?
When is midnight prawn? Is that American jargon?
Silman, if there is one thing you've taught me is to keep levity in my life. While honestly, at first I thought you a bit insane, I quickly have come to appreciate how much you seek to entertain, inspire and promote the game and all of its benefits to us humans. Glad to have you here and I hope you'll be enjoying whatever you do with your time after this. Any chance you'll be sharing what that is? Is it full-blown retirement?
listen many of us want Silman. We need him even if we dont always take the time to read him.
May 25, 2011
0
#78
Excuse me, have you read Silman's latest article ? I am sorry to tell you he is leaving.
May 26, 2011
0
#79
I have learned alot of Silman, and he is in my opinion the best article writer here at chess.com. Him leaving would be terrible for the chess.com community.
He's got a new business relationship that demands his time...see, I told you it was money and you all laughed at me. I hope his new money thing involves software versions of his books with thousands of positional play and endgame problems to satisfy those of us who also like the MDLM method (which is really nothing more than diligent study/practice). There are lots of tactics sites with thousands of problems but no endgame and positional play problem sites (well, that one "leading" competitor site has some endgames but they are all 5-or-less pieces and no draws). And who wrote the best-selling positional play and endgame books for club level players? Silman.
I bought Reassess - 4th Ed - for myself for my birthday and then realised how little I knew when I was 1900 otb. At £23 (here in the UK) the book was not cheap but I was very impressed and it is BY FAR the best chess book value for money for my standard. Thank you, Mr Silman.