Grandpa needs advice

Criticism is welcome? Here's my criticism:

This post is political in nature because you wrote, "we Americans have screwed this up." I realize you are setting something up outside of Chess.com, but you are promoting that service here and almost begging people to comment on your political views and beliefs.

In one of your earlier posts you wrote, "I would like this to be a safe place." By bringing U.S politics to Chess.com, you immediately make this an unsafe place because of the immediate divisions that will develop and surface.

Boone, I'm not exactly sure what point I'm supposed to respond to. I am talking about politics, and chess, and life. You might not agree with my politics, which is fine. I've had fifty years of disagreements with conservatives, a lot of them family, and have learned to listen and, most of the time, let them spout. Not this year. It's too important. If this thread is closed, so be it, but you guys can't shut us up. Authoritarianism around the world must be stopped. I do welcome criticism, but at least make it helpful criticism. Thanks.

I have also not spammed this across multiple forums. I don't think it's fair criticism, whatever that criticism was. However, before this thread gets closed--

Grandpa Plays, on YouTube, starting Jan 1, at 7 pm CST, and every Monday (since MNF has ended and I've got an open two hours every Monday), until November. I'm committed, as we all need to be. Save Democracy--Stop Trump.

PS--Hopefully people have seen a glimpse of humor and sarcasm, which will be featured in the stream.

Haha

 I would not be the one to start the fight. You, however, seem up for one.

>>You clearly stated that "both sides of the discussion are welcome", and then turned around and said that anyone who believes the "election was stolen" might not be welcome.

See if you can understand this. Someone would be welcome, regardless of the POV. Whether they would feel welcome is another thing. All I want to do is inform people about stuff they aren't hearing on their media sources. There are plenty of those things, with one side only propaganda (specifically, lies), and the MSM firmly into "bothsiderism," so the left side gets slighted. For instance, one side says the economy is terrible, while there is no evidence of this being the case. However, polls show people are getting it. One candidate has approval ratings of 94%, while the other is in the low 40's, because of a 90% disapproval rating by the other side. Is any of this right? No. People need to be informed, and chess players, being smart people, need to get motivated. Vote for whomever you want, but please don't try to censor us by saying we have to shut up. Which is basically what you are telling me to do.

This is one thread, which is NOT about politics, but about my upcoming year of streaming bad chess, with some stuff on the side.

GP

Like that! Much appreciated.

Okay... game on!

1. You are talking about politics, chess, and life. This is a chess platform. You are posting in a chess community forum, and I'm not sure how the 2024 election will impact what anyone in the world thinks or does about chess. The ToS clearly state "(D)o not publicly debate religious or political topics." You will not be able to have a discussion about politics here or anywhere without that discussion descending into a debate. You are walking a very thin line and playing games with the Chess.com ToS.
2. I never said that I disagreed with your politics. I intentionally did not state my political stance on anything; I did not align myself with any political party; made no comment about any political candidate; and I did not say that I am a conservative, liberal, libertarian, Communist, Marxist, or any of the other labels that only serve to divide our society.
3. Who are the "you guys" that you mention? Seeing that I did not agree or disagree with any of your political views and beliefs expressed here on Chess.com, who exactly are you referring to... which crowd are you lumping me into... and who exactly are those "guys" that you speak of?
4. Authoritarianism around the world must be stopped. I will agree with you on this, but why are we discussing this on a chess forum? This is a study hall, a community of chess students and masters, a place to learn and teach chess – and not discuss politics. As a very minimum, your topic and thread should be in the Off-Topic Forum if the moderators are going to allow you to toe-the-line on a political discussion.
5. You welcome criticism. Obviously you do not welcome criticism, because anything that goes against what you believe or want, cannot be accepted as "healthy criticism". You are the sole person empowered with accepting or rejecting criticism. If I or anyone else offers comment, critique, or criticism – it is up to you do thinking about it; discuss it; reevaluate; and only then decide if the criticism was helpful or not. You immediately set-up guardrails to reject any form of criticism about holding a political discussion on chess.om.

Your turn.

Round 2 –

1. Spamming across multiple forums. I never criticized you or Grandpa of spamming across multiple forums. If anything, my comments were directed at the many pervasive, worthless, and inappropriate posts that are seen across all forums on Chess.com – and a political discussion can be lumped into that if so desired.
2. "Save Democracy--Stop Trump." Thank you SIR! You have just proven my point by stepping across the lines of political discussion defined by the ToS with that political statement. Just for the record, I agree with you, but I do not want to see Chess.com ruined with every user's political comments and observations over the next year.

Let Chess.com remain a platform for chess enthusiasts, NOT a platform for POLITICS. This is a worldwide forum. If Chess.com allows you and Grandpa to proceed down this political path, then what is stopping every other person... from every other country... creating similar forums and threads that have nothing to do with politics?

Chess.com will then be a political platform with a chess problem.

Your turn.

Boone, might I interject as an observer that the OP is not discussing politics on chess.com. He's promoting his YouTube channel in which he will discuss politics. You are creating a tempest in a teacup and making accusations, seemingly to get something going.

Just an observation.

Round 3 –

1. Starting the Fight – You sir, started the fight by creating a large and wide on-ramp to have a political discussion. If you think that you can ever-so-slightly discuss politics of any nature without it devolving into a fist-fight, then your missed some of that wisdom in your old age. Politics is always about money and power, and each and every person picks a side.
2. Welcome or not welcome – Earlier you wrote something about creating a "safe place" and wanting all people to feel welcome. Then in this most recent post you state that some people might not feel welcome. If one group does not feel welcome at an event you create, then you have not done your job of creating a safe and welcoming venue for political discussion.
3. Media sources and their biases – With your statement on the different sides of media coverage, you are essentially asking everyone here to believe you and your biases towards news and politics. Do you really think that Grandpa will suddenly change the world and shift the balance of power by having (forcing) a political discussion with people who play chess? I go news for you – every media outlet has their own internal bias, and so does each and every American. You will never change this.
4. Censoring Grandpa – I am not trying to censor you, and I never told you to "shut-up". You asked for criticism and I gave it. I told you that your political thread on Chess.com was a violation of the ToS and destructive to the chess community who come here to learn and play chess. There is no "free speech" on Chess.com. Free speech protection only exists in the form of what our government can NOT do to restrict free speech. Chess.com is a private entity. As such, they can chose to allow or disallow anything that you or I have to say about any subject. You CAN be censored here, and THEY can politely tell you to shut-up.
5. This thread is not about politics? Throughout your entire justification (and WayneL140) of what you want to do, you have mentioned the following: 1) The 2024 elections, 2) Trump must be stopped, 3) "stolen" elections, 4) candidates, 5) voting, 6) approval ratings, 7) propaganda, 8) the "Left", 9) "Save Democracy), 10) Conservatives, 11) authoritarianism, and 12) politics. ALL OF THESE WORDS ARE POLITICAL IN NATURE.

Please do not insult us by asking everyone to participate in a discussion about chess and "some stuff on the side", when the real nature of your motives is actually buried within each and every post written about your upcoming streams.

Keep politics OUT of Chess.com!

@Wolfbird, thank you for the observation.

The OPs have discussed politics. Go back and read their posts. Both of them clearly mention: 1) The 2024 elections, 2) Trump must be stopped, 3) "stolen" elections, 4) candidates, 5) voting, 6) approval ratings, 7) propaganda, 8) the "Left", 9) "Save Democracy), 10) Conservatives, 11) authoritarianism, and 12) politics.

ALL OF THESE WORDS ARE POLITICAL IN NATURE.

Yes, I understand and agree that they are promoting a channel where Chess and politics will be discussed. They have also broadcast some of their political beliefs and the fact that they want to inform and educate others abou their political beliefs.

I am merely asking users to abide by the ToS and avoid all political discussion and debate. Do we need a measuring stick for that? What words or phrases would you use to measure a political post/discussion on Chess.com?

If these two are allowed to continue with their political posts here, then it is just a matter of time before this entire form will be swarming with political comments and debate.

I have not made accusations, but I have pointed-out to the OPs that they are having a political discussion on Chess.com. Their very own posts and words exist to document that fact. I do not need to make the accusation – the facts are here for all to see.

Finally, I'm not trying to "get something going". I am actually trying to stop something from getting a foothold here and growing into a larger problem.

Boone... dude... you're the only one debating. Grandpa is inviting you to his party where there will be politics and chess. As the host of the party, Grandpa gets to set the expectations for and of his guests. There are perspectives he won't entertain at his party. He wants you to come to his party and have a good time; not be upset or disappointed by his expectations. He wants you to know what to expect. You are debating those expectations because they are based on grandpa's politics. Again, you're the only one debating. Let grandpa have his party. Hang up your ___ hat for the day.

Boone, there is no political discussion. Other than him pointing out the subjects he will discuss, no one is engaging him in any discussion. The mention of political subjects does not constitute a political discussion. Neither does mentioning political figures. I think you are making a big deal about very little. A mod already visited this thread so they are monitoring it. Political discussions get shut down, so you are getting wound up about very little. Let the mods deal with it or report it. That is all you can do, unless you want to stir the pot and get an argument started. I suggest you go do something more constructive.

Okay.

He asked for critique and I offered it.

Chess.com's ToS are meaningless if not enforced.

Enjoy the party.

Bowing-out of the discussion now.

www.indeed.com

www.linkedin.com

this well hepl

No chance of that, my friend. I'm not good. (PS--This is a new account for the stream, but my old account is no better.) Lessons? Playoff? PLAYOFFS??? Are you kidding? No, this is casual chess, which is probably what most people play. Laughing at my play is acceptable and expected. I know I'm not good.

If I need to apologize to the community, I will. While I think the purpose of Grandpa Plays is important, the atmosphere better not be oppressive, or even I won't visit. There is no reason this can't be pleasant, fun, and informative. In six months, it may even deteriorate to me playing bad chess and laughing about it. More importantly, maybe I can even show people how to lose and not go nuts.

I appreciate Boone's criticism of my posting here. Got a lot of attention, didn't he? Good for me, I guess. I thank him.

Listen, folks, I'm a 68 year old guys who sucks at chess and wants to chat with young people about the most important election of our lifetime, and I've had a long one. I've seen 'em all.

Join us at 7 Texas time on Monday, and we'll fire this puppy up! Thanks for the support.

GP

I'm back, and updating both my fans. The focus of the steam will be casual chess, the kind most of us play with our friends. I'm a big fan of Levy Rozman since he had 5k subs. He says he is on a crusade to bring chess to a wider audience. I want to help. I want to show skeptics you don't have to be a grandmaster to enjoy chess. The clock makes it fun! That's the update. Suggestions welcome. Thanks.