Resigners who say "gg" are the Bodhisattvas of the chess world

Why are you trying to find the worst in the implied straw man of your point?

How does it sound like gloating? This is strictly a chess.com thing. On Heroes multiplayer, Age of Empires, Age of Mythology etc.) Both players always say GG and nobody thinks it's gloatig or disrespectful. I was surprised to find that this wasn't the case on chess.com, the first 2 player game I had ever seen where it is not common practice for both players to say gg.

First of all, why do you think a loser is "stinging from the defeat"? Chess is just a game, losing a chess game isn't like getting passed over for a promotion. If I lose a chess game, it means nothing. If I start a chess game and then get interrupted by something out of my control, I'll just offer a draw and then resign if it is turned down. Who cares? Just more games for me to analyse and learn from. I don't imagine my opponents curled up in a ball sobbing if I beat them, I imagine them either going "hey that guy played pretty well" or "dang I wish I had done something different on move x". There's nothing emotional about this, and your logic assumes that people take losses personally. 

By the way, nice use of magnanimousness. I had to look it up, I'd never heard that word before.

No idea what straw has to do wit this but...The only place i see people having an issue with kindness is here.  In OTB tournament play obviously no one here must play, or they arent true to there online shenanigans. 

@xman That just tells me you're stubborn and out of touch with reality. There are plenty of videos and stories of the best chess players, often who have big egos, getting extremely bothered by losing. It's obvious. It is glib and ignorant to presume everyone will live up to the ideal of the detachment you *claim* to have.  You have now acknowledged you know that at chess.com and in the chess world, people do not tend to take a 'gg' from the winner in great spirits, so proceed with your own hubris if you persist, and stop being surprised that people respond unfavorably or at least regard you that way.

I think I can see where you're coming from.

I think that the general attitude of chess.com is one reason why I like to say gg. I think after hearing people say "I hope you die of cancer", "go die in a hole noob" and other such things, it's refreshing to hear someone who, win or loss, ends the game with you and says "gg".

That being said, I think it is an overreaction to say that the majority of people will take it wrong, but I do see the danger. It is my opinion though that it's always better to give my opponent the benefit of the doubt. To me, it seems insulting and even arrogant to assume that my opponent is crying in the corner because of his defeat. It is much more respectful to assume that my opponent is a good sport. This is logical to me.

However, because I see where you're coming from, I'm going to make sure to send longer messages in the future that are much less likely to be misintepreted. Perhaps "thanks for the game" or "well played, good job." There's always room for misintepretation so it's my opinion that saying nothing to avoid it is extreme. I can tell you that if I have heard nothing all day and then one player says "gg" after a game (win or loss), it would actually make my day. So that is why I believe it is worthwhile, even despite the risks, to try to stay respectful of my opponents.

I'm sorry for not considering the other side of the issue though. With your ideas in mind, I do think I'll change my behavior a little.

I can tell you that sometimes, my gg's have gotten very positive responses from players. One time, because I said gg, my opponent was so thankful it opened up a dialogue where we both analyzed the game together. I've gotten "thank you" and "gg" back as well. So I think it is very much worth it to be respectful, regardless of animosity or community affiliation.

@xman, I might have thought abstractly about it as you are until I was on the receiving end of a game I thought I played well and did up until some blunder, and lost and was momentarily pissed about it. Or alternatively, playing tired and sloppy.  Not playing a good game. Lose, and someone says "gg", then I feel they're just been patronizing and condescending.  Rituals are not uniformly appreciated or understood. Like I said, both players bowing before and after a game, as a totally established ritual would be fine.

I understand the dilemna you have, but I always like to give my opponent the benifit of the doubt. Because the answer is only the one I've come to myself them, I withdraw my previous outrageous assertion; if you don't want to say gg, that's fine with me. 

gp good post. I like the gg ers but there are so few of them. The chat window in a game may show lots of disgusting words... :(

You dont keep #1 waiting

It's weird. I'm not unfriendly and have many good chats with players.  But when I've been playing serial blitz for awhile, all I want to do is get on with the show.  A different part of my brain is engaged and active, and that's the part of the brain that is not full of social grace. So when someone hits me up with superfluous gratuities, sometimes I am internally bugged, but out of duty I usually say hi back, or some humorous but not rude thing. Sometimes I  just ignore it an then feel guilty. Am I monster?

Dont let others dictate your kindness

Nowadays, 

Winner says gg = 

Loser says gg = 

We ain't sincere no more... 

Wasn't he banned?

Don't hate the haters, hate the hatefulness.

You're the worst kind of monster....

You should bow your head in shame and beg forgivness....

People like you give Homo Sapiens a bad name...

Throw yourself on the mercy of Our Saviour, and Redeemer....Jesus Christ, and cleanse yourself in his love and light.

Amen.

The aftermath comment "Good game" has a tendency to become a patronising insult. I've won and lost games where the opponent has said "gg". I'm like, "really?"; that was a sh*t game.

I think when they say hello after the game starts they're trying to win on time, if I have to think about and type a reply.

Jesus did not say win on time, Jesus said win for all eternity, and abide his Father's great Palace of Chess studying middle game variations forever with angels.

"I have blocked you proactively".

Who is "proactively"?

I can't find that username in the database.

And now kaynight wants "unproactivley" blocked too...

Problem is you can't know what's in the mind/heart of the opponent. Is it respect? Is it humility? Self discipline? A dumb ritual/cliché? Is it an insult? Is it a joke? But yeah, gg after a crappy game or when I was on the verge of a brilliant win but blundered egregiously - that's a bit difficult to take well.