Flags aren't meaningless, since they help establish territory. But for here, I agree they are meaningless. Providing a large selection of flags is one of the few things chess.com got right. It helps people identify where they are from or what they like. I also agree often people just use that identification to put down or discriminate. We are people, that's what we do. We always like to root for the home team.
Thanks for agreeing with me.
I'm from a country whose flag has the flag of another country in the corner, for historical reasons.
And the flag in the corner is a mix of several other ones!
they are simply paying homage to catalonia for inventing one of the most trustworthy and solid openings that is a common guest at the top level
okay
It's sort if like British Columbia or Quebec in Canada. Both places have thier own identity compared to the rest of Canada. But in the case a Catalonia, they feel like they've been subjugated by Spain and would prefer to be their own country.
In the case of Quebec, they've voted on independence, but never got enough votes to break away from Canada.
In the case of British Columbia, it's just a regional identity. If you've ever lived in Texas, you'll understand what I mean by regional identity. There are all sorts of regional identities in America, but Texes is the only state where the regional idenity is the name of state.
Most other large poulation states only sorta have a state identity because different regions in those states either have a more localized identities or overlap larger regional identities.
Take NY for example. The area around NYC is a far cry from western NY area, which more aligns to the rust belt, and parts in the east of the Hudson river, but not too close to NYC would be closer to the New England region as far as regional identity.
This is irrelevant. Catalonia is not yet a country therefore it shouldn't be put up as one.
Like @teselia points out, this is like making any state or city that has a flag an option as a chess.com.
When Norway was a part of Sweden (1814 - 1905), the Norwegians protested in the same way. They made their own flag. Now the Catalonians protest with their flag. We should applaud it.
This is a much different scenario. Sweden had taken over Norway and ruined its nationalistic aspirations. In this scenario, Catalonia is just a region of Spain. It's not like Spain just conquered it. Now, they are trying to leave Spain as they think that they are superior... I have nothing against this, however, this is not anything worthy of an applause. It's not like they are protesting against oppresion.
This is irrelevant. Catalonia is not yet a country therefore it shouldn't be put up as one.
Oh no, I am from "International", which is not a country either...where can I turn myself in to the police?
Oh wait, you are using an invalid country code yourself...
This is irrelevant. Catalonia is not yet a country therefore it shouldn't be put up as one.
Oh no, I am from "International", which is not a country either...where can I turn myself in to the police?
Oh wait, you are using an invalid country code yourself...
If you seriously do not understand why international is an option as a nationality I'll try to explain. Imagine you were born in North Korea. You now move to a completely different country (let's say Italy) which you feel you have nothing to do with.
You are aware that saying that you are from North Korea could lead to assumptions being made about you or discrimination. But it feels weird putting your nationality as Italy as you just moved and you feel like a total stranger to the country. International is the perfect tool for that.
In this case, if you are from Catalonia, you are from Spain, whether you like it or not. If you don't, put international unless it becomes a country but Catalonia is Spain. That's like putting California as a nationality option.
This is irrelevant. Catalonia is not yet a country therefore it shouldn't be put up as one.
Oh no, I am from "International", which is not a country either...where can I turn myself in to the police?
Oh wait, you are using an invalid country code yourself...
If you seriously do not understand why international is an option as a nationality I'll try to explain. Imagine you were born in North Korea. You now move to a completely different country (let's say Italy) which you feel you have nothing to do with.
You are aware that saying that you are from North Korea could lead to assumptions being made about you or discrimination. But it feels weird putting your nationality as Italy as you just moved and you feel like a total stranger to the country. International is the perfect tool for that.
In this case, if you are from Catalonia, you are from Spain, whether you like it or not. If you don't, put international unless it becomes a country but Catalonia is Spain. That's like putting California as a nationality option.
The point is, Catalonia is not a country.
if you are from Catalonia and don't like being called Spanish, that's why international is an option.
If you seriously do not understand why international is an option as a nationality I'll try to explain. Imagine you were born in North Korea. You now move to a completely different country (let's say Italy) which you feel you have nothing to do with.
You are aware that saying that you are from North Korea could lead to assumptions being made about you or discrimination. But it feels weird putting your nationality as Italy as you just moved and you feel like a total stranger to the country. International is the perfect tool for that.
In this case, if you are from Catalonia, you are from Spain, whether you like it or not. If you don't, put international unless it becomes a country but Catalonia is Spain. That's like putting California as a nationality option.
Catalonia was added by request...I'm sure if enough people asked for California to be added as its own flag, it would be also. The reason why is that it just doesn't matter. Half the people on the forums are using false flags anyway, or did you really believe we have so many chess players from the Vatican?
I love how you explain chess.com's reasoning for adding international, though, as if you were an authority. Now maybe mansplain for us why they added Catalonia even though you don't know? 
The field is called country but is used merely for users to self-identify a location/affinity, which is ultimately completely unverified and worthless.
If you seriously do not understand why international is an option as a nationality I'll try to explain. Imagine you were born in North Korea. You now move to a completely different country (let's say Italy) which you feel you have nothing to do with.
You are aware that saying that you are from North Korea could lead to assumptions being made about you or discrimination. But it feels weird putting your nationality as Italy as you just moved and you feel like a total stranger to the country. International is the perfect tool for that.
In this case, if you are from Catalonia, you are from Spain, whether you like it or not. If you don't, put international unless it becomes a country but Catalonia is Spain. That's like putting California as a nationality option.
Catalonia was added by request...I'm sure if enough people asked for California to be added as its own flag, it would be also. The reason why is that it just doesn't matter. Half the people on the forums are using false flags anyway, or did you really believe we have so many chess players from the Vatican?
I love how you explain chess.com's reasoning for adding international, though, as if you were an authority. Now maybe mansplain for us why they added Catalonia even though you don't know?
The field is called country but is used merely for users to self-identify a location/affinity, which is ultimately completely unverified and worthless.
Not true. Some people like to identify with a certain country. Representing a country is of importance to a lot of people. Possibly, it would be a good idea to add a new option to simply not show a flag. With that being said, I do not think that flags are useless.
This is irrelevant. Catalonia is not yet a country therefore it shouldn't be put up as one.
Oh no, I am from "International", which is not a country either...where can I turn myself in to the police?
Oh wait, you are using an invalid country code yourself...
If you seriously do not understand why international is an option as a nationality I'll try to explain. Imagine you were born in North Korea. You now move to a completely different country (let's say Italy) which you feel you have nothing to do with.
You are aware that saying that you are from North Korea could lead to assumptions being made about you or discrimination. But it feels weird putting your nationality as Italy as you just moved and you feel like a total stranger to the country. International is the perfect tool for that.
In this case, if you are from Catalonia, you are from Spain, whether you like it or not. If you don't, put international unless it becomes a country but Catalonia is Spain. That's like putting California as a nationality option.
I think more than a few people would be really OK with having California as a nationality option, southern California anyway. Who knows, maybe booting SoCal out of the USA might start here.
Hey, what about adding an Area 51 flag?
Well I suppose if enough illegal aliens ask for it, why not? I wonder what they would think of the game of chess.
I've seen people with the English flag (England), and others from the same place flying the United Kingdom flag. It's interesting. How about the "internationals"? Yes, politics is everywhere. I'm still waiting for my Northern California flag.
Fine with either, but was given this. So fair enough.
Not true. Some people like to identify with a certain country. Representing a country is of importance to a lot of people. Possibly, it would be a good idea to add a new option to simply not show a flag. With that being said, I do not think that flags are useless.
Some people like to identify with Catalonia. Same difference. Why then are you not defending those people?
Yeah, they voted down the State of Jefferson just last year....again. As for Catalonia, isn't there a movement to break away from Spain for economic reasons? I vaguely remember reading something about that.
I'm reminded of this in a daily basis.