Vacation Time: Let's be honest with ourselves.

This is an observation that I have made during the 2 years I have been a part of this community. It is not a complaint, just something I've encountered frequently. And I'm just wondering if anyone here on Chess.com shares the following opinion.

Vacation Time for all paying members basically means that such a player may add time to his/her game by simply going on "vacation." It also means that an opponent in a losing position (or being material down) may pause the game every time it's his turn, allowing himself more time to analize the game. While I am flattered to a degree that some of my opponents, of whose ratings exceed mine, feel the need to have more time on their clocks, I must point out that this is unsportsman-like even though I have won every game in which this has happened.

Now for the opinion: I think the way Vacation Time is being used by some members deters others from playing or continuing to be a part of the Chess.com community. Especially when you leave a Chess venue, (go on vacation) your clock doesn't stop and you may lose the match.

Opinions anyone?

I aggee with you,i lost some games because of this special tool they used,if using computer assumed to be cheating then this one should be assumed cheating too

GAWWD!  Good point. Just saying.

I think you misunderstood. I was not complaining, just wondering what others thought of this behavior and if it deters some people from playing online. Keep in mind that I have won 100% of all games so far in which my opponent has done this; I am quite patient and persistant.

But chess.com has to justify the fees it takes for memberships. These are some of the unjust perks I guess. 

Everyone gets vacation and can use it, including basic members. The only perks are that premium members get and can accrue more of it and get auto-timeout protection. 

The auto time out protection has saved me a number of times.

Me too Dr. :)

I seriously doubt people use vacation time to more deeply analyze their turn-based games. They're either:

1) Actually on vacation OR

2) haven't logged into chess.com in a while and are on auto time out protection.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there are "no vacation" games/tournaments you can play. 

3) They want to [Edited for language - Mod.] people off by making them wait.

I would agree if it wasn't for the fact that 100% of the time during my games my opponent pauses the game when it's his turn during or near the end game - EVERY MOVE.

But, quite honestly, while auto time out protection is a nice thing to have, it is much like having an arbitor stop your clock during a real tournament when ever you feel the need to leave the table. I personally would not use it.

When my opponents take advantage of it, I just wait patiently down to the last minute, they move and then I make mine a day later. And they go back on vacation again. I am now in the habit of automatically thinking it will be a winn for me (which so far it has).

You have won exactly 16 CC games during your "two years" on this site. 16.

I had this whole rant lined up about how it makes less than no sense to think that more time could possibly benefit anybody in terms of giving them more time to analyse a position in a CC game... Then I saw the 16.

Words fail me...

I soon as somebody says "I'm not complaining", brace yourself, because here comes a complaint

its just the nature of the beast.

you can't be impatient when playing online chess.  that's the point.

Mostly they want people to know they're not emotionally invested in it, so instead of "I feel for you" or "suck it up" they want responses that relate to the points they've made. E.g. that it seems vacation time is frequently used outside of its intended purpose.

A response the OP is looking for is something like "the intended use is broader than the name 'vacation' implies" or "it's useful enough to the majority that chess.com is willing to allow the abuse from a minority" or "there's no objective way to differentiate between someone who is abusing it and someone who frequently forgets to log in" etc.

I suppose your right MrD, I'm sure the op DOES want all the replies to relate to the logic in his first post.

but I think Logic needs to be a two way street.   if "vacation time" is Not being used as it should.  "online" games are still games of patience, and games where the opponent can spend a LONG time thinking (vainly) on how to get out of a losing position.

the only thing to say is that a losing position is a losing position.  the win will come.

Your reply was very practical.

I've completed, according to my stats, 427 games here. In those 427 games, I have experienced precisely 0 where my opponent abused vacation in the ways you described. Several times I've had my opponent, and I've done this myself a few times, go on vacation for a week or two, then come back and finish the game. Which is how vacation time is supposed to be used.

This is not to say that abuse of vacation time doesn't occur, but I don't think it's that common.

Its like most things.  if you "think" someone cheated against you, then you start suspecting everyone of cheating as soon as they: disconnect/reconnect, move to fast, move to slow, find moves you dont think they should have found, and any number of other self induced reasons.  

"Vacation abuse" is no different.  As soon as someone goes on vacation, and or they dont move as fast as you think they should..."they are abusing vacation" Or the classic..."My opponent is taking 3 days to make each move" (in a 3 day per move tournament/game)

I think the interwebz makes people paranoid to a certain extent.  If you really examine what i wrote, youll find one common denominator.  All of these examples inconvienence "ME"  We have forgotten how to just enjoy the game of chess.

I think that vacation time should not be repeatable, meaning that you can only use it once in a match.