Chess.com's view is that if someone wants to play under a certain flag they will let them, and they are not interested in the politics of it.
Catalonia is not a country nor a nation
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Politics... yawn
Scottrf wrote:
Chess.com's view is that if someone wants to play under a certain flag they will let them, and they are not interested in the politics of it.
When you sign up in chess.com, they present you a menu list called "country", not "flag". And they list "Canary Islands", which are 7 spanish islands since XV century and have never been an independent country, and "Catalonia", which is a region composed of 4 spanish provinces and never has been an independent country. Also, they list "Gibraltar", which is a British colony since 1714 and never has been and independent country. If chess.com wants to offer a list of "flags", can I choose anyone I like?. The village where my grandfather was born must have less than 100 residents, but was founded in XI century and surely it has a very old flag. Can I choose it? It is a country as independent as Catalonia, Canary Islands or Gibraltar, and much older than some of these!
Who cares though, they offer a Falkland Islands 'country' which is part of the UK, don't see why it should bother anyone.
Scottrf wrote:
Who cares though, they offer a Falkland Islands 'country' which is part of the UK, don't see why it should bother anyone.
It bothers me, and I suppose it also bothers some millions of Argentinians, which call those islands Malvinas. Those islands never have been a country, are just a British colony. I insist: do not call "countries" these places. If chess.com wants to offer "countries", they should be countries recognized by United Nations. If chess.com wants to offer "flags", then perhaps I choose the flag of my football team, o may be the flag of Los Angeles Lakers.
Nov 15, 2012
0
#7
tercio3 If this is really a matter of life and death to you tell the staff you'd like to use a custom flag.
I don't think Catalonia's independent movement will really be helped by chess.com's "recognition" of their "independent statehood" will it?
tercio3 wrote:
Scottrf wrote:
Who cares though, they offer a Falkland Islands 'country' which is part of the UK, don't see why it should bother anyone.
It bothers me, and I suppose it also bothers some millions of Argentinians, which call those islands Malvinas.
Perhaps they should have tried harder in 1982 then.
The point is that nobody on the island calls them the Malvinas, and they all consider themselves British. So there is no need for a Malvinas option, nobody considers themselves to be from there.
Chess.com simply allows you to choose, and if you want to state that you're from somewhere they will allow it.
Whether they call it a country or not is meaningless semantics.
Nov 15, 2012
0
#9
Not meaning to get political but rather to bring forward some History, Catalonia was freed from Moorish control in 788 AD with help from Charlemagne ( yes the Emperor of the HRE ). Catalonia was an INDEPENDENT Domain until 1137 AD when it was united with the Kingdom of Aragon ( and was LATER included in the Kingdom of Spain ). The French controlled Catalonia from 1640 to 1659 AD, also from 1694 to 1697 and again from 1808 to 1813. Isn't History fun. 
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Pfren, I am sorry to tell you that you are wrong. The Spanish Constitution does not say a word about an "autonomous nationality". Catalonia is just one of the 17 autonomous regions, or "comunidades autónomas". And I do not have any poster of Rajoy or any other politician. May be I'll try to get soon one of Angela Merkel taking a walk on the Acropolis... What a beautiful view!
As you admit, Catalonia has never been an independent country. And the last part of your text is also the most ridiculous: Napoleon invaded Spain in 1808, and it costed France some 250.000 men. Napoleon also invaded Rome, Viena, Moscow,.... Surely Wladimir Putin will be glad to know that he is French! Ha, ha, ha.
Nov 15, 2012
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#13
Hey! Catalonia is an issue? I want these countries to have chess.com flags:
Transylvania
Atlantis
Gotham City
Gallifrey
******
Why do we discriminate against Edgar Cayce, Batman, Time Lords and vampires? They should all be welcome at chess.com
Nov 15, 2012
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#14
quick! while tercio3's not looking, everyone adopt the catalonian , gibraltan flags
>:)
correct me if Im wrong but isnt there a referrendum planned for Catalonian independence? (obviously instigated by the people of Catalonia)
Nov 15, 2012
0
#15
I also think there should be a Quebec flag. Heck, they hold Canada politically to ransom such that Quebec is a distinct country anyway.
Nov 15, 2012
0
#16
Luke Skywalker is sick of hunting down deathstars.
Can he have a Tattoine flag too?
linuxblue1 wrote:
Hey! Catalonia is an issue? I want these countries to have chess.com flags:
Transylvania
Atlantis
Gotham City
Gallifrey
******
Why do we discriminate against Edgar Cayce, Batman, Time Lords and vampires? They should all be welcome at chess.com
I absolutely agree with you. And what about Smallville, Tattoine, and Nautilus submarine? I think I'd choose Tattoine, no doubt.
Nov 15, 2012
0
#18
Yes, and we must not forget the diehards who still hold allegiance to these countries:
Bohemia
Saxony
Waco Compound
Dutch East Indies
Land of the Giants
Ha ha. Let's suggest them to include also the Islote of San Borondón. If Canary Islands are in Andorra, the Islote surely will be a new mountain of Pyrenees or Alps! Ha, ha. Really, to present these options as "countries" is simply ridiculous, why don't you simply recognize your error and change all this?
I do not know why chess.com is admitting Catalonia as a country. Catalonia is just a part of Spain, something like 15% of its territory. Catalonia is not a country of European Union. Catalonia is not a country recognized by United Nations. I suggest Catalonia will be not admitted as a country for any player or group.