Why does Chess.com auto-penalize disconnects but not stalling?

If your internet drops for 30–60 seconds → immediate “abandon” and rating loss.
If your opponent just stalls for 5+ minutes → the system protects them, “maybe they’re thinking.”
Losing rating in 0.00 drawn positions (like fortresses, opposite bishops, perpetuals) feels totally unfair.
Proposal: If eval is within ±0.5 when a disconnect happens → auto-draw instead of loss.
This balances fairness: losing from winning positions still counts, but equal ones don’t screw you.

You know what you get with online play.

Good question. I am in favour of maximum times to be allowed for moves, as I find the unsporting practice of stalling extremely annoying. And it doesn't seem as if there are any sanctions for players who stall. Personally I think if players repeatedly stall, then maybe they should have their account suspended for a period of time. Maybe a week to begin with, then longer periods for repeat offences.

Maximum times per move might be a good idea, but I'd suggest 3 minutes on games up to 10 minutes, 10 minutes on games up to 30 minutes, 20 minutes on 60 minute games etc. Perhaps this could be offered as an option, players could select a maximum time for moves in their gameplay options, and avoid the stallers.

If your internet drops for 30–60 seconds → immediate “abandon” and rating loss.
If your opponent just stalls for 5+ minutes → the system protects them, “maybe they’re thinking.”
Losing rating in drawn positions (like fortresses, opposite bishops, perpetuals) feels totally unfair.
Proposal: If eval is within ± when a disconnect happens → auto-draw instead of loss.
This balances fairness: losing from winning positions still counts, but equal ones don’t screw you.

So stallers can just turn of wifi instead of stalling, great idea

If your internet drops for 30–60 seconds → immediate “abandon” and rating loss.
If your opponent just stalls for 5+ minutes → the system protects them, “maybe they’re thinking.”
Losing rating in drawn positions (like fortresses, opposite bishops, perpetuals) feels totally unfair.
Proposal: If eval is within ± when a disconnect happens → auto-draw instead of loss.
This balances fairness: losing from winning positions still counts, but equal ones don’t screw you.

Also, most repetive stallers or Aborters are punished, i once won 8 elo from a game with 0 moves when my opponent waited the 1 minuted in rapid and it auto aborted

They are the minority of players

Check out this #chess game: Mohamed-nofle vs JohnnyErasmic - https://www.chess.com/live/game/143534588670

@Cythaera

I have absolutely no problem with people taking time to consider a move, especially when the position is complex. But in the above game, on move 26, with 17 minutes remaining, my opponent only had 1 legal move, which was Kh1, after which I had Qf2++

I waited about 5 minutes for him to make the move then thanked him for the game and asked him to please play his 1 legal move, or resign. He offered me a draw, which I declined. 3 minutes later he offered another draw, which I declined. I then had to wait the remaining 12 minutes before he made the only possible move.

This isn't a case of someone taking their time to consider a position.

At the very least they can not do repetitive loops

I am also a new player, but if I can not think of a move in around 15 seconds, I play the best move(That I think I can) and go on with it. This is what people should do in the early game, and not stall like you guys are saying. Just my opinion.