Leaving Chess.com due to continued support of Russian Aggression

But what about my Russian friend who I play against regularly. What have they done to deserve a ban?

*is still on chess.com *

me?

Nooo not you. Gymstar ain't no quitter... I think he's referring to the OP

ahh

Nothing. Nor has the average Microsoft consumer. Nor has the average McDonalds customers. Nor has your friend that enjoys watching WWE. None of those people deserve to be banned. But that's not how sanctions work, that's not how war works. 

We don't get to have it both ways. We don't get to say we support one side, while actually supporting the other. We don't get to pick and choose which parts of the war we agree with, and which we don't. Most countries (and businesses) know how bad it looks to continue operating with the aggressor.

The innocent Russian citizen, who has nothing to do with the actions of his leader, and even opposes his leader, isn't the target of all these countries and businesses cutting off ties and being banned. But all these countries and businesses do it anyway because they believe it's the ethical thing to do. 

I am anti war. Full stop. I don't want to involve innocents or promote the involvement of innocents

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Those who want to block all Russian members, please address this point.

It is very hard to get news of what is actually going on in Ukraine into Russia.  The government completely controls virtually all the media.  Independent news sources have either shut down or censored themselves on the subject, and those who fail to do so they face a prison sentence of up to 15 years.  It is nearly impossible for Russians in Russia to safely spread the news of what is actually going on.

However, social media is one way to circumvent this total control of the news media.  People who are in Russia can learn what is really happening through social media.  That may be the only method they have.  If you cut them off from social media, you cut them off from independent news, leaving them with nothing to counter the government propaganda.

Chess.com is different from McDonald's, Microsoft, WWE, and other businesses that have completely cut all ties with Russia.  Chess.com is a chess site, but it's also a social media site.  There are a lot of Russian people on here, and a lot of them have non-Russian friends here on the site.  Many of them have Ukrainian friends here on chess.com.  Some of them will inevitably be discussing current events with their friends - and thus obtaining news that they cannot obtain from other sources, information that counters the propaganda they are getting from their government.

As a result, chess.com is actually playing a small but potentially valuable role in helping to get accurate information into Russia.  This information can contribute to countering propaganda, possibly leading to Russian citizens forcing a change in government policy (even authoritarian governments sometimes change unpopular policies in an attempt to prevent a popular uprising).

If all Russian members are blocked from the site, you will cut off this source of information.  As a result, you may actually be hurting the goal of changing Russia's behaviour.

Is that really what you want?  How else do you propose to get accurate news from Ukraine into Russia?

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+1

According to this mentality Kasparov can't join chess.com

We should also ban Rush Hour as it sounds a bit close to Russia. And Ian Rush as they share the first syllable. And anything red... That'll send a clear message

red white blue also 🇷🇺

I made a music video with a message for peace in Ukraine, with story told by a game of chess.

Ban Chess.com till they remove Russians.

India abstained in the UN vote to denounce the Russian invasion.  Will you ban your own country too?

dude you are from the US how many wars have you begun???

No, I am just saying that he could've been banned too. 

and by the way, don't you think 1.3 Million deaths in those wars is nothing?