The Prettiest chess player!

So posting published pictures from Chessbase on a chess forum is only ethical if tournament performances are discussed? That's like saying that it's unethical to post pictures of actors unless one is reviewing their films. It's never good to take things too seriously :-)

It is unethical to distribute a good portion of paparazzi-style photos...what universe do you live in? ;)

We're not talking about legally allowed behavior, we're talking about ethical behavior.

Being upset about someone posting photos of Ivanchuk or Pogonina saying that they look good does sound a bit taliban to me.

I agree with btickler. I think you have to figure out the intention behind this posts. It is to feed your appetite for the sake of your appetite. There is no greater good involved in this. 

For instance if you were looking at girls pictures on  a marriage site, and talking about them with other people, hopefully, your intention would be to get married. Here you are not using the pictures to feed your lust and desires, but putting your faculties and senses to use for some greater good.

The chess players intend to play only chess. They don't purposefully ask their pictures to be taken, which celebrities do, and purposefully pose for them, for money, all the time, everywhere, whenever, as much as they can. Their name, face, and existence is their currency. That is the game they are playing. They expect and want people to look at them. Of course these too quickly descend into the distasteful.

These chess players are not trading in the currency of fame. They are chess players and only expect their games and ratings to be discussed. No doubt the inevitable consequence of playing chess well brings you limelight and fame, and the spectators thinking that these images, since they are public, and they have it on their computers etc, belong to them, and can be used as they please, is where the wrong lies. 

Isolating them for their looks alone, treating them like objects for your own gratification, at whatever level, from the hamless appreciative glance to the leering onanism, is using them for purposes otherwise intended.

Of course it may seem excessive, the female chess players are not being harmed in any way, and this is all just a fuss about nothing.

But I don't think any one would be posting their mothers, sisters, wives, daughters playing chess in this thread. This is an inappropriate context. In the proper context, in a family album, we would be happy to have those pictures.

So the respect we extend to those we love and care about, should be extended to these women. This is a matter of personal choice. I cannot taliban you into doing it. You have to decide for yourself.

Longtime lurker, first time poster. Signed up just to say thanks for sharing the pics of the hot chess women. Beauty and brains make for a great combination in my opinion.

But talking about the chess skills of men and women on a marriage site, now that would really be unethical and leering intellectual onanism, just like commenting on the looks of Pogonina and Kosteniuk in their photo shoots instead of their chess is inapproriate.

Somehow, i kind of had a feeling there would be some people who have an uncontrollable need to spoil an otherwise enjoyable conversation.

8/

I agree.

To some, it may seem distasteful to be focusing on the physical attractiveness of female chess players. However, it's not as if we're expecting them to suddenly tear off their clothes and become a centrefold. Some may have done already for all I know, but that's their decision. After reading through this thread, I can't find a single comment that's sexist or misogynistic, and in fact, in keeping with any discussion/debate, is polite and free from insults/mud-slinging etc. Surely the mods would have deleted this thread/banned members if they thought otherwise?

Focusing on the physical attractiveness of female chess players may seem off-topic when it comes to chess, however, that's why this thread is posted in the 'Off Topic' section. Women are more than welcome to discuss attractive male chess players too. Indeed, I see no reason why they can't discuss it in this very thread. After all, there's no indication in the thread title that suggests otherwise. Equal opportunities after all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vaTT8jcDf4

Like the "Bard" says. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Just enjoy.

We shouldn't forget Vesna of course! RIP!

Yes, Kramnik for men, definitely! 

Seriously, who cares? At least I don't.

Exactly.  The vast majority were taken during games/tournaments and some look like casual photos.

Carlsen!

(Ingrid, I think. )

Wow, here's a really bitter one :-)

Taliban.

Lol, I am a volunteer dungeon monitor at a BDSM venue and I play with/see lots of women...

The difference is, if I am going to leer at a women, it's consensual and she will be looking back at me accepting it because she signed up for that ...

Learn to respect women and leave the sex/desire out of it until they are on board with the idea.  It's not hard to get a women on board...women love sensuality, they just don't like being used...just like any human being.

You and hotkiki seem to have trouble with the concept of appreciating beauty in any form without connecting it to "masturbation", "not respecting women", and to which extent they are "suitable for mating". Then it's another thing that the photo shoots of Kosteniuk and Pogonina et al hardly are connected to their finding it unethical if someone would comment on the photos "without their permission" :-)

What are you on about, exactly?  Are you some kind of puritan?

Sheesh.