Why do so many resign or abandon mid-game?

Hi Everyone - I'm new here. I'm curious what your experience is with people who abandon games before they're done. How do you handle that?

Because they get upset quickly and close the door. I am also terribly affected and so, scared to get a superior position

Thanks all. I find it frustrating. I just want to play and learn and make mistakes and finish games! LOL 

If you "win" this way I feel like it's artificially bumping up my ranking. 

i don't really care if my opponents do that, if they commit no harassment or violation, then i have nothing to complain about

Sore losers. I get pissed when I'm losing but resign the game or continue until the end. I don't mind if they are continuing to play. But resign and admit that you lost

Resigning is a tricky issue.  Some resign at the slightest setback in a game and others will not resign even when the position is an un-saveable loss.  I have resigned even daily games I thought were hopeless only to find that the analysis tells me I had a move that would have swung the game if I had only played on.

Letting the clock run down - or going on vacation for weeks when losing a game - is a sign of  immaturity.  In those circumstances I just relish that feeling you get when you are clearly winning a game, and knowing that the opponent is just prolonging his suffering.

I abandoned today as my wife unexpectedly needed taking to the hospital. I felt it was a little important than on line chess

I would highly recommend you play casual games. I do that on Lichess if I might be interrupted so I can resign and do whatever I need to do 

That's a pretty reasonable thing to do. I hope your wife is ok! I also hope your case is the exception, and that few online chess games are abandoned for hospital emergencies! 

I think the etiquettes differ per community. I found Agadmator saying Resigning is not at all fashionable in modern chess, especially in online chess. while on the other hand have watched plenty of vids in an OTB chess channel where players play in a dead lost position until the very last moment where they get mated or the clock hits 0. 

This definately the exception, without any question. Abandon instead of resigning is unfortunately far too common for there to be that many people abandoning to take someone to the hospital.

What a story??? I think it's a 1/100 chance. 99/100 of losers who abandoned are Jerks.