Manners and Greeters

     I volunteered to be a Greeter here for two reasons. The first was because chess.com has given me so much in the way of pleasure and mental well being. When I was going through cancer treatments (chemotherapy and radiation therapy) this website saved my life: I was able to keep my mind off of the pain I was in and keep my mind off of what a bad medical situation I was facing. I had a chance to pay chess.com back. The second reason I became a greeter had to do with game improvement. Being a Greeter allows me to play a large number of unrated games against players of various levels of skill. What makes this interesting is that you don't know how good your opponent is until you get into the game. Playing unrated games also allows me to experiment with openings (which in my case almost always fail) and other tactics.

     I've always had good experiences with people new to chess.com. I try to start a conversation with them by asking them if there are any questions they want to ask. Either they don't reply, which is fine since some people disable the chat feature in order to concntrate, or they converse. I had one "Greeter" game that kind of struck me as an odd display of behavior.

     Without going into detail (the person's online name), they guy started in with the lines; "come on man," "you wimp," and finally "wimp." My response was simple, "nice manners." I checked up on my opponent via his profile and was relieved to discover that he was under 15 years of age. I understand the "folly" of youth since I was a foul mouthed kid who was thrown out of two High Schools for bad behavior. However, I think it's important to lay the foundations for good behavior and, since Greeters are the first people you come across when playing a game (for the most part), do we as Greeters offer friendly advice to rude players? I would like to know what you folks think, especially the staff of chess.com. While I don't believe anyone should be repremanded for dumb bahavior, I do think something should be done. Personally, I don't care what people call me (since I've been called worse by better people), but it would be useful to nip this at the bud before it turns into more time consuming problem. Again, any thoughts (other than calling me an idiot for bringing this up or suggesting: "sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me").

If anyone started off that sort of thing with me in a game I'd just report them. I'm sure the staff would give them a warning.

Thanks Ian. You right but the kid is just that and I feel bad about reporting him without first saying something. I hate being a tattle tale (I believe it's tale not tail). My wife just said (after reading over my shoulder) "what did you do now?" She didn't see the original posting so she thinks I did something bad. LOL!!!!!!!

lol I know what you mean. That's just what I'd do personally. Someone else on the site may not have as tough skin. lol You're the bad boy, the Sid Vicious of chess.com.

Thanks Grakovsky and of course the always great Atomichicken. It doesn't really bother me, but I've had beer bottles thrown at me while playing music so I can take a few ill placed words. However, there are some people for who this becomes a big deal. I would say for some people it becomes a big deal and they write about or post multiple times but that would describe me at the moment (so I think I will not use that as an example). M wife still thinks I started trouble (LOL).

I kill them with kindness, and then explain how childish that type of dialogue is. It usually leads one of two ways, an apology, or disabling chat, which is fine either way. But I wouldn't waste time reporting them, unless personal threats are involved.

I think it would be very appropriate for a greeter to let the newbie know that chat is for respectful conversation.  One might also point out the "disable chat" button and let them know that is what you intend to do, and others will also do, if they feel the need to continue with the insults.

Thanks. Points well taken.

Say nothing. And beat them.

p.s. If you can take every piece they have on the way to beating them, double dessert for you.

~B-)

lol, here's one of my experiences...

Zzanzibar: Welcome to you!

X: ?

X: hurry up

Zzanzibar: just our way of saying, Yo!

Zzanzibar: lol most games take one move a day

Zzanzibar: It gets a little slow, but there's Live Chess too

X: wow

X: ...

X: ;-)

X: 2 days for a day

X: thats a little over board

X: mm

X: ****

X: no

X: i

X: just

X: pushed the

X: astirisk button

X: {_}

X: \/

X: {_}

X: \/

Zzanzibar: Yeah, some people actually take a couple days, if that's you're game setting. I like having a lot of games going at once

X: lol

X: hi

X: =)

X: skooseskoose

X: thats my key word

X: my name is [-------}

Zzanzibar: I'll remember! lol

Zzanzibar: I'm Jeff

X: why are u taking so long to make a move

My friends for I know at the most of times, t'is not easy, but keep up the good work, for we are few that continue to endure the impossible!

You speak of manners but still cling to a hopelessly lost game in a tournament which;

1. Your game is meaningless, you will not advance whether you win or lose.

2. You are behind a queen, a pawn about to queen, and a king to nothing.

3. You are the only unfinished game in the round, meaning EVERYBODY else has to sit and wait for you to lose your meaningless game.

Talk to me some time about manners.  You should be banned from playing tournaments.

Well, if that newbie is insulting you, let him be.

Just disable chat and get on with your life.

Whatever the newbie is doing is his problem, so why not just care about your own self?