method for reporting improper behavior ?

I just finished a game that involved a rather odd tactic.

Things were going OK, genial minor chat & I was, luckily, about to win when this message flashed onto the screen, posted by opponent.

[Removed by Moderator - Please don't repost private correspondence in the forums.  Report abuse if you feel action should be taken.]

Momentarily distracted as I looked at that, the clock ran out, opponent won.

GOOD GIMMICK, eh ? Distract opponent with a misuse of a "spiritual" message.

Ghostmirror, who admits to being an inveterate, left-field tactician, applauds [Name Removed by Moderator] on this , uh, "Hail Mary" last minute ploy BUT I believe this particular method violates chess.com rules, doesn't it ?

Other than posting here, what's the proper way to report such abuses ?

How can I know what might be done in this case ?

You should submit a Support Ticket via this link:

http://support.chess.com/Tickets/Submit

Thanks! 

OK, support ticket message got transferred.

What happens next ?

Any other comments on original post ?

@OP: Since you asked...

Your opponent was unsportsmanlike to distract you in time pressure and cause you to lose. However, religious discussion is prohibited in the main forums. While you have not exactly done this, you have shared his post verbatim, which wasn't entirely necessary. You could have merely summarized his words here, instead of quoting the entire thing.

Also, you gave your opponent's name, and this should have remained concealed. "Naming and shaming" in the main forums is also prohibited. Next time, please report the individual directly to the staff. If you'd like to warn the community about a person's behavior, then inform us of the tactic while keeping the offender anonymous.

[1] My commentary on this as a distraction tactic was tongue-in-cheek; I'm sure they were sincerely tryna save Ghostmirror from hell...though why they presumed that neccesary I can't say. A more effective tactic might be posting an embedded image of a scatily clad person.

[2] I posted the item unaltered (other than shortening) & un-paraphrased to reveal it's , uh, distinctive "flavor". While I understand yer advice of circumspection in these matters, let's face it, this involves someone with no such behavioral compunctions themselves.

[3] If there's a prohibition on such postings in discussions forums, shouldn't there also be prohibition of such proselytising aimed at members anytime ?

@OP: Regarding point #2, I completely understand, and I do not fault you. Regarding point #3, you're right, and there is such prohibition. Your opponent simply violated the rules, as you originally suspected he had.

Still haven't heard from admin/mods re any questions or outcome from this, even after the "support ticket" filed.

How do these things usually go ?

@OP: Sometimes they get busy and/or backlogged and thus delayed. If you reported him, then I would just forget about him.

Can't do more than that...although exposure of bad behavior seems best, even if frowned upon.

Yes, but please remember to keep it anonymous in the future. Naming and shaming is against forum rules.

!!!

My point here is not to argue but exposing someone's agenda is not the same as attempting to "shame" them.

That is an interesting take, but the person being exposed may regard your post with chagrin (to say the least), which could foster some bad blood. The staff would prefer this not happen, and so we should keep players' names secret, out of respect. Do expose the agenda, but please don't divulge the identity.

If someone is being labled a cheat or rude or unsportsmanlike, that's a name and shame.

YOU KNOW WHAT, I AM PLAYING CHESS WHILE INTERRUPTION IS DESTRUCTING OUR GAME, AND ITS NOT MY FAULT OF BEING ABANDONING THE GAME, 100% I RHATE YOUR FAIR POLICY BECAUSE YOU ARE UNFAIR AND TELLING ME LIKE THAT, I HATE YOU GUYS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE IN THIS WEBSITE WISH THERE SOMEONE WHO CAN DESTROY THIS UNFAIR WEBSITE, BUT IT'S TIME TO IMPROVE YOUR SIGNAL MORE STRONGER, I HOPE YOU WILL READ THIS REALIZE YOUR STUPID AND UNFAIR SIGNAL AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH MY SIGNAL IT'S YOUR'S NOT MINE YOU LAZY PROGRAMMERS

 what a douchebag.

Weird!