Ethics...

What I'm saying is that rushing one's opponent with misleading and childish messages (as in the original post) in order to distract their attention, cannot be considered best behavior by anyone with a reasonable grasp of right and wrong. What do you think?

You aren't going to like what I think.  What is best behaviour?  Your idea of what should be and shouldn't be can vary markedly across the chess playing community...you only have to look at the number of posts saying they don't have a problem with it.

I have already stated that I have no problem with these sorts of comments, it is all part of the game.  As someone has already stated it is very easy to disable the chat, so it is the choice of the player as to how much or little they take on board.  A lot of people would find it quite fun, on both sides, when these sorts of games are attempted. 

Nothing wrong with it at all in my POV.

I just concentrate on the game. Not into trying to trick a player.

I do believe there is some pyschology to the game and some people do try and use to get into their opponents minds etc .... ?

Thanks for the interesting topic, Devout_Monk.  I enjoy chess because it is a test of who I am.  Am I smart enough, patient enough, clever enough to win?  Can I manage my own thoughts and feelings to keep me from blunders and can I be objective enough to keep from tricking myself or deceiving myself into making poor choices?  I never thought of chess as a moral challenge, but I can see from your questions that it is.  Do I have what it takes to win (since that is the game)?  What am I able and willing to do to win within the rules of the game?  I don't know if it means I am a "weasel" if I use some of the psychological tactics you mention -- sometimes I have, and I feel happy if I win.  But I know I feel a deeper satisfaction when I can win through skill and calculation -- which is what chess primarily tests.  An interesting question might be: Do I use guile primarily to keep from the unpleasant feeling of losing, or do I do it to further test and increase my skills?

You didn't really answer either of those questions Prawn...so how about it?

It is a good question Anthony...I find it difficult to not comment when there are others that try and dictate their standards for all.  Of course you are correct in that it is generally a pretty pointless exercise, maybe I have a masochistic streak in me

LOL, Ian, I didn't realise you were so tied up in a ball over me.  Try to get over it champ!  LOL

And goldendog, you have just proved what sort of dog you really are...a lap dag!  LOL

You forgot to add

Proverbs 18:2 (The Message) 

 ...Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse; 
  all they do is run off at the mouth.

 The logic may be too sophisticated for *some* but I was quoting the bible.

It's ok to have ur say but to always be little others in order to do it? Someone who doesnt consider their words or actions when doing anything is un-wise/idiot. But we don't have to be that way.

I didn't come on this forum to put you down Suggo. I came to see opinions on ethics in regards to the original post and still find u happy to put others down all the time while defending ur position or someone elses. This is what fools and bullies do since they don't have better words to explain the same thing without putting others down all the time.

Idiots act without much thought and speak without much thought as well. Your intelligent enough to choose ur words better i would hope, yet u don't.

If my definition of a fool/idiot is wrong i will take the correction on advisement, but if not then consider what i said please when ur jumping into arguments.

So do we have a moral code for playing chess?