YOU people dont deserve ME.

I have to agree that Rael's post (#41) is a sobering and objective view

on what may be going on here.  If someone needs to spout or leak

it could be better they use this vehicle rather then a destructive

alternative.

Hey Rael, thanks for the inspiration. Here's a few facts from my life. In my early 20's I wrote a 300 page Sci-Fi novel that never made it out of my bedroom. Even 20 years ago I lacked motivation. In my mid to late 20's I wrote two screenplays, one of which I sent dozens of copies to literary agents and studios in L.A, all were rejected. The one I sent out (1990 or so) was about a child with magical abilites that was transported to a magical land with some of his school chums and met fantastical creatures, blah blah blah). Of the 8 responses I got, most said that that genre is DEAD/no market, etc. Some years later a lady named JK Rowling seemed to do pretty good with THE EXACT SAME PREMISE.

As recently as this summer I was writing another screenplay but abandoned it about 20% of the way finished. Do a little research on how to sell your screenplay and you'll see that UNLESS you know someone in Hollywood, there is a ZERO chance of selling it. Every single screenplay ever sold can be traced to the friend of a friend of the aunt of the child of the Disney Studio's janitor's daughter, or similar line. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Perhaps someday I'll write the next LORD OF THE RINGS (my favorite piece of literature BAR NONE). The sci-fi/fantasy genre is pure CRAP today. Until then, I'll hone my skills here. And I make this promise to EVERYONE. If I one day manage to motivate my lazy butt to actually put pen to paper and write a novel that DOES get published, I will dedicate it to the members of chess.com. I'm a slow mover, though. Give me 10 years.

I honestly do not get the opposition to cheater_1 here.  Heck, if we don't KNOW him, then why are we making generalizations and spatty remarks towards him?  I have been kind of getting bored of the same old same old forums, so this was a nice spice to the forums.  Seriously, you guys who think Erik is cheater_1 don't have logic involved in this.  What would Erik have to gain from creating cheater_1?  Nothing.  I think cheater_1 is a guy who probably is exaggerating his situation, but is not lying.  My take is truthful until proven a complete liar.

P.S.  I already know I am going to get a lot of flack for this, but don't use the poor guy as someone to vent at.  That's what happens after a long day.

Well there is a logic behind Chess.com having something to do with cheater_1. The staff of Chess.com are working hard to make the website more attractive and interesting right? well cheater_1 can be just another tool for doing that just like tactics trainer, chess mentor and maybe that guy who loses on purpose, Lenny I think. I thought about this before but I have no reason to look into it, I enjoy the site either way.As of right now I don't think that this is true, but I realize it's a possibility.

As for cheater_1, I don't really have an opinion about him but if his goal is to get such a wide audience like he has now then gratz on doing that. I have no reason to hate him as of now because he hasn't done anything against me. At the same time I do not acknowledge him because he hasn't done anything that I can't do.

DaPharaoh

'that guy who loses on purpose, Lenny I think'

Lenny plays a varation of chess - he does not try to lose at all, in fact he trys very hard to win.

Cheater

'Some years later a lady named JK Rowling seemed to do pretty good with THE EXACT SAME PREMISE.'

I think that the success of the books were mostly due to her ability to write and develop characters - the success was not based purely on the genre.

Sorry to split hairs.

But don't worry I'm a scumbag, because I've not actually read any of the books - that is just the opinions that I've read/heard from different sources.

*Edit* Sorry, had to jump in and stick up for a fellow Jock :)

KillaBeez

'I honestly do not get the opposition to cheater_1 here.'

Me neither. I've always thought that he has a very subtle, witty humour often displayed in his avatars, which are great.

fried, fried indeed

cheater_1 save the sad story for the ladies, I'm sure if your novel was on par with JK Rowling's it would have gotten the attention it deserves. Care to post an excerpt, maybe you could get some good feedback. Rael, nice point about pitying an individual such as this. He is truly deserving of our pity more than our hate. I have no doubt your proposal of mental illness or such fits the situation.

Well, let's not miscategorize anything.

@ Maradonna - you'll notice cheater_1 never said anything derogatory about Rowlings specifically - all he pointed out was that he wrote something quite similar (not hard to imagine) and that it's a fickle industry. I'm a writer too, and in all honesty it's not the case that the most meritorious books get published by any stretch of the imagination. He's right when he hints that it's all about who you know - like most of the "arts" industries. It's not about the manuscript you have, but who you know - truly. Also: Rowling is a hack who just happened to catch on. There is nothing unique about her work, and I can assure you that she's not advanced in the "character development" department. All of the characters remain static representations except for Harry who goes through the a-typical Hero's Journey as typified by every myth since the beginning of time (see Joseph Campbell). She just happened to expemplify a trend, get some advertising and suddenly every soccer mom on the planet thought that reading Harry Potter to her kids = good parenting. Rowling is trite, unsophisticated, baby pulp and the only people who enjoy her drivel haven't read anything else.

@Royalflush1991

if his novel was better than Rowlings it wouldn't necessarily have gotten the attention it deserves. The writing industry is not on the basis of merit, believe me. Also - I was speculating about possibilities, not feeling good about myself by claiming that someone has some kind of issue. I have tons of personal problems, like we all do. I think it's pretty hard to determine whether a person is truly deserving of my pity through the internet, but I like to maintain a healthy perspective as I concieve it. Even if it were the case, well, it's not like that would be something you'd look down on someone for, right? If I told you I had a sister with schitzophrenia would you mock her? I don't, but you get the idea, right?

_______________________________

Our sense of personal self-worth ought to never derive from debasing others.

_______________________________

I'm also not saying I advocate a hands off approach either. I've given him some shots in the past - but always as a fellow combatant. I do like to go toe to toe with a deserving villain, and he certainly does his best to draw it upon himself, so by all means, say what you feel, right? I just like reflecting on the metapicture in all instances, and I liked following down the implications of what it would mean IF he were being 100% truthful, in the psychological edge.

______________________________

And even if he weren't, I still say he could make a good writer if he put his mind to it. But yeah. I just didn't want anyone to mistake my intentions here. I actually don't pity him. Pity is insulting too. His life isn't over. There's still a lot more ahead, and he has a lot more than many people in the world, however bleak he's framing his situation. He has good language skills and access to the net - that's already a lot. He must have employment, so he's not in poverty, or in some third world country worrying about all that. I don't pity him in that way.

____________________________

But Christmas is coming and, ultimately, we're all some kind of family (however absurd or dysfunctional) here, and even though, like some eccentric uncle at the gathering, he insists on being the way he is, we are who we are too - and that meant, for me at least, that I could be me - and I'm the type to say hey man - don't get so self-loathing here, I think you're good at such and such, and likely the fact you try to rile us all up is explainable by yaddy yaddy.

______________________________

Sorry, I have a problem writing long posts these days. Feel free to scan right through.

/yaddy yaddy IS a real medical diagnosis
//it was discovered by Professor Yaddy in the 18th Century
///characterized by long, run on monologues or internet posts
////I has it

same here. TJSaltdog

Well if Erik is not cheater one, then maybe he could grow some . . . and control cheater_1's outbursts a little more! Seriously, is chess.com so weak that it doesn't have the guts to say, "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone"?

 Well that was long enough and in some parts worth skimming. First off, being a good writer has less to do with imagination than writing ability. Your comments about Rowling are ludicrous and completely biased. If you'd have read her books, you'd appreciate the skill she took in the plot and the true challenge of producing such a long and truly entertaining series. Mind you, my favorite author is Dan Brown but honestly I could care less about character developments when the author spends so much time into creating such an interesting and twisting storyline. Clearly your disdain for the publishing industry played a role in your completely prejudiced and untruthful comments. On your comments about hypothetically having a sister with schitzophrenia, I never said someone with mental disabilities should be mocked. In reference to my earlier comment, I said he should be pitied, not the same by any means.

One more comment before I depart : "Also - I was speculating about possibilities, not feeling good about myself by claiming that someone has some kind of issue." Feeling good about yourself, and speculating about possibilities of someone having mental issues should not go hand in hand. I hope you misphrased what you actually meant.

Rowling is trite, unsophisticated, baby pulp and the only people who enjoy her drivel haven't read anything else.

Ah, come on. You know well enough that sophisticated, well read people have enjoyed Harry Potter books.

every soccer mom on the planet thought that reading Harry Potter to her kids = good parenting

Simply not true. My sister reads Harry Potter and other books to her children - but she also does eeverything else a good mother would do.

The impact of Harry Potter is something I judge from what I experience in my day to day life. What you said does not match my own experiences.

However, I do sometimes wonder if she would have been as successful if she was not pretty (Geez I can see myself having to defend that statement in a minute). She is very marketable.

So, what have I learnt from all this?

Cheater_1 needs a make-over :)

Sweetheart,

aka cheater..

sounds like you need a hug...

*bex wags tail and offers hug*

we all need someone...others in a different capacity...so by the looks of things you have developed quite a following...

it's amazing how even negitivity will gain recognition...

with all seriousness...I wish you the best in life and if you even want to play a game I would love the opportunity...after all that is what this site is primarily about correct?

Hilarious. I knew when I made them that the Rowling comments would garner me some caustic comments. Oh well. I have vigorous opinons on this issue because I am myself a writer, just as you might be more caustic about Guy Ritchie movies if you were a filmmaker. Are his movies watchable? Of course. Are they high art? No.

I do find it hilarious how readily people are willing to go to bat over her though. I knew when I even broached it that given most people's mentalities that the point would be missed and this would become a Harry Potter thread. Sorry if my opinion of those books is that they're unimaginative and dumb.

...bledore.

@Royalflush1991

my favorite author is Dan Brown

Gotcha.

Feeling good about yourself, and speculating about possibilities of someone having mental issues should not go hand in hand.

Re read my post. It's obvious that's not what I meant.

i think it is a sad day when people actually defend harry potter as literature. while it is entertaining in the same way that gummi bears are nutritious, it is not an overly complex or thoughtful series. 

'I do find it hilarious how readily people are willing to go to bat over her though.'

I'm glad I entertained you.

not to go into rowling bashing......but......

If you take the ratio of quallity/revenue for her harry potter series, it would be

much, MUCH less than JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, for instance.  Clearly, her success is at least partly due to chance of publication time.  The series are 923423 pages of plot.  The biggest problem with fantasy books are that they last...........too................long.................................................... her 1st book was a solid book, character development, humor, and a nice plot.  However, the character development AFTER the 1st book was lacking.  The series somewhat stagnated in development and merely continued in plot ( which is the most addicting quality of Fantasy.  Why else would people read The Wheel of Time)  If you ask English Professors, many of which I have talked to, they almost all agree it is significantly sub-par to its monetary success.

To Cheater_1:  I hope you try to publish your written works and/or write new ones.  Im sure you could post it on here if you wanted to... or link it to some other site.  Your unique and powerful opinion on things would certainly make your literary work stand out among others.  I applaud your previous efforts in writing and encourage you to pursue it.  It is never to late for such work. 

Good Luck ^^

Okay let me rephrase that - I'm surprised it's such a charged issue. It's just one book amongst many - but some people give it this unique status, as if it's okay that I would dislike Dickens, or Austen or Tolstoy and people wouldn't blink an eye, but when I take a shot at Rowlings, well now I've crossed a line.

And moreover, it should be clear that I didn't intend to insult you personally. Geez! Who knew this was such a fraught issue!

/Can we please pretend that Rowlings was never mentioned and stop derailing the thread?