This Is Wrong Chess.com

Many of you in the Chess.com community are not aware of this situation, but today I want to bring it to light.

A month ago, I reached out to Director of Written Content, @ColinStapczynski stating my intent to write a blog about Adolf Hitler’s only recorded chess game.

After explaining to Colin the angle I was writing from, I received this

He advised that this topic would be best to be avoided but said that posting the blog would not be against the rules.

I heeded Colin’s advice and whilst writing the blog made sure it was 0% Pro-Hitler or Pro-Lenin. What I wanted to do was simple: Share an interesting story with the chess community, which as Top Bloggers we’re charged to do.

After a few weeks of writing and editing, I posted the blog.

It was well received and started an interesting discussion about the story in general. But less than a day after I had posted the blog, I received this

Chess.com had removed by Top Blogger status. As far as I had been aware at that time, no one was offended by the blog. Chess.com staff nearly immediately noticed the blog and stripped my status away.

I believe their main problem was the thumbnail with Hitler’s face on it, (which is a fair argument) but if that was the big issue, why was my blog allowed to remain on the top blogs page for nearly a week? It didn’t make sense to me.

My blog was eventually removed from the top blogs page, but it still left me wondering: Why did you wait so long, and why do it RIGHT NOW?

I was and still am left in the dark about the situation at this point.

I believe the situation could’ve been easily resolved by just taking my blog down right away and issuing me a warning.

Once the situation was made aware to members of the chess and blogging community, there was instant support for my situation. You can check out my profile to see all the names of all the users who have supported me during this.

3 days after I lost my status, I received this comment on my blog. I also received a message of good luck and thanks from a Jewish Top Blogger.

It was abundantly clear that no one was offended by my blog. Not only was I not being informed of exactly what was happening, I also wasn’t given any staff members names so I could talk to them directly.

I would be extremely surprised if Chess.com staff even read the blog. I believe they just took one look at the thumbnail and deemed it to be “hate speech” or whatever you want to call it.

There is only one truth, and it is this: I wrote a historical article under the premise that I wouldn’t be breaking any rules. I was then punished for writing a 100% clean article that was appreciated by many.

I love writing for Chess.com, but this has nearly diminished what I loved about being a Top Blogger: Sharing a story.

I know Chess.com probably doesn’t feel the same way, but there are many people out there who do.

Today I charge Chess.com to reevaluate their decision.

#JusticeForHornet

Thank you all,

- @HornetCruise

#JusticeForHornet

you can add my name to your bio if you want

probably said this already but I also think this was a stupid decision

It does change things if he said he warned you three times that it would be best to avoid this topic. Even though I didn’t have a problem with the blog itself, if he told you that, then posting it really wasn’t a good idea.

#Justice For Hornet

He said it wasn't breaking any rules tho, which should imply that moderators shouldn't interfere

the ones who okayed the the removal likely didn't even read the blogpost. it was in no way inflammatory, and neither supported nor glorified the man

His tone was misleading..

He said it would probably be best to avoid it, but it wasn't breaking any rules..

If he didn't mean that, his tone was very misleading

at this point i think chess.com's made so many poor decisions that it's not really worth asking. i hope you get tb back but i wouldn't count on it

shows that chesscom has their priorities straight lol

I think he was just implying it was a hot button topic, and to post with caution

In other words, don't worry about the mods, worry about how the community would take this in. The community took it fine, and funny enough, the mods ended up being the problem

I agree Lazy

Justice for you ong

on second thought, can anyone name a major decision chess.com has made within the past couple months, maybe even years, that were good decisions that the community either asked for or gave positive feedback on? I don't think so. not complaining, just saying that mayyyyybe you should consider the consumer aspect rather than only the administrative?

i am trying soooooo hard not to talk about variants, play magnus, and many other possibly controversial topics but i might just make a blog about it

Its good that we get a bit more context into the situation. I seen the blog, it was very interesting, the fact that two imperialist world leaders came together to play a chess game, truly marks how timeless the game, and how popular it is. I seen your blogs, they are really good, I def see how you got the title of Top Blogger, a deserved title, as more and more people will see your blogs. I know of the horrible actions of Adolf Hitler, but this blog has nothing to do with him, it did not praise him or had nothing to do with his actions. I don't know how it can offend any Jews, this blog is just a mere reference to him, and just talks about his game, and the two people came together. No idea how the chess.com team think this is "Hate Speech" or whatever it is. Hopefully this is cleared out, and soon, you will be able to make your high quality blogs again with the title you deserved.

#JusticeForHornet

- @TheChessKnight2000

P.S I know some of you seen my troll posts, this is not one of them, I am giving my thoughts

If you write an article or blog on a chess game that was played by Charles Manson...... you probably won't get Top Blogger for that either.

Yeah utter nonsense. Sorry this happened brother.

A bit late for that. They proved that during the whole Karjakin bs

me waiting for @Martin_Stahl to reply to this topic