Making Chess simpler for Americans - Chess Forums - Page 4

sstteevveenn

Mar 25, 2009

0

#61

TheMachineKiller wrote:

Ok so we'll just say that we made the light bulb better. We just made the automobile better. We just made the outcome of the war better, because I'm not sure what lies you have been told but you were getting your butts kicked. You made American colonies, we made them better and then kicked the crap out of you. See where I'm going here?

If americans made the car better, they've certainly let it slip the last few decades. American cars are famously shoddy nowadays. Replace 'better' with 'bigger' and you have a point.

Of course America made the outcome of the war better, refer to my use of the word 'vital'. Not to be confused of course with, as some people would try to claim 'only'. The fact is, America came in late, and frankly that limits any great claims some Americans like to make on the internet. It's frankly a bit tacky to argue about it like it's some sort of competition anyway.

I would probably disagree that you made the colonies better, but this is just opinion and actually depends how you meant. Maybe you did make them better - they might have been crap before, it's just that the end product - present day America is far down the list on countries I would want to be living in. Frankly in many respects it seems like a pretty messed up place. It seems that almost every key point regarding the country is the opposite to what is 'right' to me. I'm guessing this will work both ways, and is why I'm glad I live here, and you're glad you live there. If you simply meant, you improved the colonies at the time, well you probably did. I mean most people would tend to improve the places they were living in. I dont think the people went all the way over to america to set up some rudimentary settlement and then decide they werent going to take it any further!

Kenmack, you dont deserve a response, but I will say that I would hate to live in a country where that passes as subtle.

sstteevveenn

Mar 25, 2009

0

#62

TheMachineKiller wrote:

One final point, you make it sound like it is some sort of trivial thing that anyone should be capable of at a moment's notice to just estimate the population of the entire planet. It isn't, and you are no more capable than he is. However you are perhaps more knowledgeable about what the official estimate is. Knowing an estimate is not the same as estimating.

I'm not that great at estimating either, however I have the COMMON knowledge to know that the population of the entire world isn't even 8 billion, much less any single country.

ok, this is getting confusing. The person I was replying to had taken the estimate to be of the world. ie 8 billion instead of 6.x billion, which would be extremely close if it were actually just an estimate made by one person. You are correct though in that the original post which was clearly a joke, was claiming it as the population of china.

sstteevveenn

Mar 25, 2009

0

#63

*sigh* I probably should have just let the lightbulb thing go!

jhuschstp

Mar 25, 2009

0

#64

I like the US. I'm proud to be an American. It's where I'm from. I also kind of being a citizen of the uncontested super power. I bet English people were pretty proud when the British Empire dominated the world (although I would argue that the British never were as close to a hegemon as the US is today). I like English people too, or the ones I've met, and I bet England is a great place. Never been, but I'd love to go. I don't think I really know any Welsh people. They're probably pretty cool too. I think most people are probably pretty cool. I also like taking part in exaggerated nationalistic banter, especially against Europeans. I find this forum very very satisfying. Thanks guys!

sstteevveenn

Mar 25, 2009

0

#65

You're an American citizen of China?

bld47

Mar 25, 2009

0

#66

bcronmiller wrote:

May I direct your attention to the light bulb, the air plane, the microchip, the transistor, the automobile, the mobile phone, the personal computer, email, the internet, the space shuttle, GPS.

And not to mention dental floss and flouride in the water (but you wouldn't know about those in whales, I guess).

All invented in America along with 1000s of other things. Including Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_inventions

Also, the KKK, slavery, vietnam and the iraq wars. for starters. "youv'e got to know the truth before you say that you got pride."

sstteevveenn

Mar 25, 2009

0

#67

I think at the very least the Romans had slavery before America did.

dbull50

Mar 25, 2009

0

#68

wow this is possibly the worst topic that has ever been posted on chess.com your comment is for one a false stereotype and is nothing more than a stab at America this is not the site for that in my country we have freedom of speech so i wont stoop to your level but i will tell you that your topic is a waste of space on a site that has no political or specific cultural ties. you have wasted mine and so many other members time with this post you should be banned.

Manchero

Mar 25, 2009

0

#69

Nothing like a good old political argument. I am really shocked at how little Welsh bashing took place given the English involvement on the site; it is normally only an attempt at being politically correct (which doesn't count for much online) that prevents such participation.

Particularly amusing has to be the insults flying from people who can not spell very well! Priorities kids!!

Irony...not even going there...but most countries don't understand typically English methods of communication. Try being sarcastic among English speaking foreigners - you'll know what I mean.

Did anyone really put Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy in the same sentence? The legend and the 'alleged' woman beater? Funny how he never sued the newspapers if it was all libel!

lastwarrior2010

Mar 25, 2009

0

#70

however both hilarious and hurtful this topic may be, the political debates in this forum should are strictly against the rules.

Smithrey38

Mar 25, 2009

0

#71

Also, the KKK, slavery, vietnam and the iraq wars. for starters. "youv'e got to know the truth before you say that you got pride."

I believe slavery was invented in ancient times. Britain occupied Iraq in the 1920s (had a difficult time too). As for kkk, I don't see how making fun of stuttering furthers your arguments. I think it's cruel.

jhuschstp

Mar 25, 2009

0

#72

sstteevveenn wrote:

You're an American citizen of China?

China has a big military, a rapidly growing economy, and a couple nukes. They are by no means an uncontested super power. People have been saying the Chinese are going to take over the world since 1950. Yeah, they're a big deal, but the US dominates everything. Our president (either this one or the last one) goes to the bathroom and it's front page news world wide. How many Chinese politicians have you even heard of?

Trey243

Mar 25, 2009

0

#73

Beast719 wrote:

Think about it - 8 billion people live in China and can you name a single Chinese chess player? Of course you can't they all play Go over there.

You sir, are a hilarious genius. I laughed for like 30 seconds straight. I am pretty high though.

eaglex

Mar 25, 2009

0

#74

apparently china has more people than the whole world combined

walter72

Mar 25, 2009

0

#75

Beast719 wrote:

Chess is is great game with a long history but like football it can never be considered truly global until it has conquered the most wealthy country in the world. Think about it - 8 billion people live in China and can you name a single Chinese chess player? Of course you can't they all play Go over there. It's a cultural thing I think.

What I would propose is a similar approach to that which worked so well to break the game in the good old U S of A. To recap from Pretzler's seminal work The American game:

"The game was radically simplified here to cater for the domestic American market. The King and Queen were removed ("What's with this Limey Monarchist baloney?" source: Robin Fischer GM) and replaced with a single all powerful President which could pretty much do what it wanted. The other pieces were all replaced by Cowboys with big hats and bigger guns. Time control was strictly limited to ensure games did not out-last the attention span of the indigenous population. The game can now easily be completed in its entirety during the advertisement break in The Simpsons over a Bic Mac supper..."

These small alterations had units literally flying off the shelves and General Electric's Chess TM was the biggest grossing game ever in that short period which constitutes American history.

I'm sure some small changes could be successfully made for the Chinese market any ideas Chess.com?

Opinions are like A-holes everyone has one

TheSushiBoy

Mar 25, 2009

0

#76

Beast719 wrote:

Well if you will elect the stupidest man ever to hold public office TWICE what can you expect?

What? we've only voted him into office once. And he's already spent trillions of dollars. Ah well, a fool and his tax payers money soon part.

TheDuke850

Mar 25, 2009

0

#77

walter72 wrote:

Beast719 wrote:

Chess is is great game with a long history but like football it can never be considered truly global until it has conquered the most wealthy country in the world. Think about it - 8 billion people live in China and can you name a single Chinese chess player? Of course you can't they all play Go over there. It's a cultural thing I think.

What I would propose is a similar approach to that which worked so well to break the game in the good old U S of A. To recap from Pretzler's seminal work The American game:

"The game was radically simplified here to cater for the domestic American market. The King and Queen were removed ("What's with this Limey Monarchist baloney?" source: Robin Fischer GM) and replaced with a single all powerful President which could pretty much do what it wanted. The other pieces were all replaced by Cowboys with big hats and bigger guns. Time control was strictly limited to ensure games did not out-last the attention span of the indigenous population. The game can now easily be completed in its entirety during the advertisement break in The Simpsons over a Bic Mac supper..."

These small alterations had units literally flying off the shelves and General Electric's Chess TM was the biggest grossing game ever in that short period which constitutes American history.

I'm sure some small changes could be successfully made for the Chinese market any ideas Chess.com?

Opinions are like A-holes everyone has one

not everyone

oinquarki

Mar 25, 2009

0

#78

I think this topic should be locked. Although I must admit it's a bit funny.

Eternal_Patzer

Mar 25, 2009

0

#79

Beast719 wrote

Not at all. In Wales sheep got the vote last year and women will be getting it next year.

Where's the mop? I spit out my coffee laughing.

I might as well admit it, I'm a sucker for sheep humour.

This has been great fun.

jpd303

Mar 25, 2009

0

#80

i think beast is a great poster of forum topics, he seems to get the pot stired well by using absurdity and a refined sense of irony. while his original intentions are known only to him(or her) i dont think he was meaning to offend anyone...if so, good for him he's got brass balls. the only reason we (americans)havent tweaked the rules and pieces of chess is...wait Fisher actually did change the rules of chess nevermind...