Everybody hate to lose...

...but only few players know how to lose with honour. The great majority of the people I play with in live chess get so angry when they lose a game that they just left the chat. No gg no tks for playing, nothing. I always thanks my opponent, especially after a good game. I always do that. Lose or win. Not because I'm polite. Because I think that chess is more than ego. Is not just about winning or showing that you're better. Is about respecting people. This is chess. The rest is crap. 

But then that attitude, by definition, makes you polite...

Some people think they are being mocked or taunted after they lose and I say gg or thanks for playing. So I do not say it anymore and just leave the chat. Sometimes I say gg after I lose and I was impressed by my oponent's game. Some imature players also like to taunt after they win -"ha-ha", "lmao" and so on.

But if somebody is offended by "Good game", then they have issues and were looking to be offended.  I cannot be held responsible for how my message will be received, but I am responsible for my message itself.  I will always say something nice, as the polite gentleman above does, and then where the chips fall is beyond my control.

I usually say something like "thanks for the game" which is more personal than "gg" and you have to try pretty hard to be offended by it.

That might be better, I agree, but still, "good game" is not something that anybody sane would ever take offense to.

It may be a cultural or language issue. I do not know. I've used to say gg after each game. After I got several obscene remarks I stopped doing it. I still usually say if I lose.

 I actually searched the forum for "gg". Apparently, a number of people do feel gg is a sign of arrogance. One person commented how "gg" is mostly said by the winners.  

I wish there was a way we could insert a handshake symbol in the chat after a game or something non-controversial like that.

I have to confirm that the average player here at chess.com is very poor in sportmanship. Even frustrating in some way. Is one year that I've got membership and my opinion about the site is that the quality is amazing about contents, videos, tactics trainer, etc. And also the staff people are really collaborative. But. I've played with peoples from all over the world, and this could provide for an incredible experience. Is it, indeed. Is only sad that all of this is not producing a better quality of understanding the real values of chess. Respecting the other player. The person wich is on the other side. I'm thinking that perhaps a good idea for the website staff would be to find some ways to promote and spread the idea of sportmanship in chess. At the end isn't just about winning, right? 

We all know that "GG" is short for "Good game", but I do wonder about the semantics involved.  I always write out "Good game", and take the 0.5 second to capitalize the first G.  So I wonder if the point of contention is the sentiment "Good game" or the unwillingness to write it out, and to instead abbreviate it as "GG" or, even worse, "gg".  I too have seen the posts you refer to, but I do not recall seeing anything distinguishing "Good game" in all its splendor from the poor man's version, "GG", or the pauper's version, "gg".

I agree with you on all points except for this notion of an average player.  There is no average player.  Just a collection of players, some with more manners than others.  Happy 2012!

by TheGrobe
Calgary Canada

Whoa -- just saying handshake automatically implies that it's reciprocated.  I don't know about you, but if someone walked up to me, grabbed my hand as it was hanging by my side, and forcibly engaged me in a handshake I'd find that to be the height or rudeness.

That's why I say "Hand extended in the offer of a handshake" to which the appropriate responses are "Handshake offer accepted, and handshaking commenced.", "Handshake offer declined" or nothing at all (same as declined).

Equating disrespectful with impolite is, perhaps, a bit of a leap.  I try to be polite, but sometimes I'm not.  Sometimes, I play on the toilet and can't type 'GG' because I have to pull my pants up.  Sometimes I'm tired.  Sometimes I'm playing bullet in such rapid succession that moving my hand to the keyboard would be so much.  It's tempting to complain about impoliteness, but not necessary.  The trick is to find those polite people and make friends with them (like life!)? 

Complaining about trash-talking is another issue.  Trash-talking sucks.

point well taken

l.o.l. forced handshakes are no good.  same with forced hugs.

Classic.