Why Aren't Titled Players More Active In The Forums?

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ghost_of_llama

And looking at the first page of topics in "general discussion" I realize none of the topics are specifically about chess, at least in the sense that that a titled player would not be more qualified to respond than a beginner.

Even topics like this:
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/whats-a-good-milestone-after-1500

Are only tangentially related to the knowledge and skill involved in playing a game.

On a related note, that's why you'd mostly find titled players in the opening forums, because that's a place where being on topic often involves posting positions and lines.

ghost_of_llama

Look at this topic which has a game in the OP:

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/i-beat-an-nm-2?page=1

Not a single comment mentioning a position, move, or using notation.

You ask why there aren't more titled players, I'd ask whether you're actually paying attention to what these forums are.

athlblue

Truly interesting

BryyMurph

Playing chess teaches you to lose gracefully. The more you play, the less titled you'll get over time.

Lotus960
chessterd5 wrote:

random user asks legitimate question. titled player feeling generous with his time answers question. random user poses second question contradicting what titled player says. titled player politely suggests that the information is incorrect. random user says show me! titled player shows him with concrete evidence. random user instead of saying, you know maybe you're right. I'll go look it up. says you don't know what you're talking about! titled player says i see my work here is done.

You're right. It reminds me of the programme "Kitchen Nightmares". Gordon Ramsey, a top international chef with 13 Michelin stars to his credit, goes to a failing restaurant.

He checks out the menu, observes the cooking methods and looks in the fridges and storerooms to see what the produce is like.

Usually he then tells the restaurant owner or chef that the place is failing because the ingredients are not fresh, the cooking is poorly done (microwaved mostly), the menu is uninspiring and stuck in a rut, and so on.

The response from the chef/owner? "No, everything is fine here. People love this food."

[Amazed, Gordon looks around at the mostly empty restaurant ...] 😳😳😳

The moral: people often don't want to improve and can't take criticism or honest feedback even when it comes from people who are highly qualified to give it. So they stubbornly labour on in mediocrity.

ghost_of_llama
Lotus960 wrote:
chessterd5 wrote:

random user asks legitimate question. titled player feeling generous with his time answers question. random user poses second question contradicting what titled player says. titled player politely suggests that the information is incorrect. random user says show me! titled player shows him with concrete evidence. random user instead of saying, you know maybe you're right. I'll go look it up. says you don't know what you're talking about! titled player says i see my work here is done.

You're right. It reminds me of the programme "Kitchen Nightmares". Gordon Ramsey, a top international chef with 13 Michelin stars to his credit, goes to a failing restaurant.

He checks out the menu, observes the cooking methods and looks in the fridges and storerooms to see what the produce is like.

Usually he then tells the restaurant owner or chef that the place is failing because the ingredients are not fresh, the cooking is poorly done (microwaved mostly), the menu is uninspiring and stuck in a rut, and so on.

The response from the chef/owner? "No, everything is fine here. People love this food."

[Amazed, Gordon looks around at the mostly empty restaurant ...] 😳😳😳

The moral: people often don't want to improve and can't take criticism or honest feedback even when it comes from people who are highly qualified to give it. So they stubbornly labour on in mediocrity.

Show me an example of this actually happening.

People confuse stories that sound good with truth.

athlblue

There are a few reasons that come to mind why titled players do not create forums.
1. The ratio of non-titled to titled players is very large, so it is more likely for a non-titled to create a forum.

2. There is no reason to create a forum for a titled player. They don't need to ask questions about chess, as they are better off asking their colleagues.

3. Chess.com forums are full of trolls and such, so they would be better off posting in another social media.

idilis
ghost_of_llama wrote:
Lotus960 wrote:

*Snip* people often don't want to improve and can't take criticism or honest feedback even when it comes from people who are highly qualified to give it. So they stubbornly labour on in mediocrity.

Show me an example of this actually happening.

People confuse stories that sound good with truth.

Have actually seen this on the forums. I'm sure you have too. May be too difficult to find actual examples amidst all the spam.

dpnorman

My honest answer is that I prefer other chess websites to this one, so I (relatively) don’t spend nearly as much time here as I used to.

These forums are entertaining, occasionally you even see something posted that makes sense happy.png

I’m being a bit goofy of course, but there’s a lot of silly/trolly stuff posted here, and the same sorts of questions over and over again. I’ve been at least somewhat active on these forums for over a decade, including when I was a beginner, so I’ve been around. I guess that history is one of the only reasons I keep coming back (albeit much less often): to help people with some of the same questions I used to have back in the day!

ghost_of_llama
idilis wrote:
ghost_of_llama wrote:
Lotus960 wrote:

*Snip* people often don't want to improve and can't take criticism or honest feedback even when it comes from people who are highly qualified to give it. So they stubbornly labour on in mediocrity.

Show me an example of this actually happening.

People confuse stories that sound good with truth.

Have actually seen this on the forums. I'm sure you have too. May be too difficult to find actual examples amidst all the spam.

In the old days, sure. These days there are hardly any chess discussions at all so not much chance for it to happen.

I've seen a few people argue with titled players in the last few years, sure, but it's very rare. Even more rare for it to be the OP or a non-troll.

Most people talking about chess are beginners, and nearly all beginner are grateful for responses from titled players... I mean really, the worst is they ask a question then disappear.

ghost_of_llama

As for examples backing up my explanation, I already gave 2 links. Here's a 3rd (titled players mostly posting in opening section because it's where being on topic means actually talking about chess positions).

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/why-would-anyone-play-the-french-defense?page=7

ghost_of_llama
dpnorman wrote:

These forums are entertaining, occasionally you even see something posted that makes sense

That's a very nice way of putting it.

More bluntly: 99% of posts are nonsense... and even people with US flags routinely post in broken English. Nearly 100% of the posts here are annoying to read.

ryanovster

cuz they are snobz and feel en"titled"

FlyingHoneyBadger

@Boxjellyfish is very active in some of the clubs I'm in like banana galaxy

FlyingHoneyBadger

wait wrong person I am trying to remember his user correctly

FlyingHoneyBadger

OH it's @BoxJellyFishChess

Chessisafight

Some titled players never play Chess on a computer.

LorddVandheer

I don't really think Pfren was joking XD

deleted-user290723

They are probably busy with developing themselves instead of chatting here for nothing

Ygtboi

I don’t know.