Commentator

Ok Mig. Your site. I'm just a hater like the others, and of course you are right.

I too am disappointed by the profanities. One can
disagree on a number of issues and yet keep the discussion civil and polite. Another irritant is a number of posts that seem hastily typed and incoherent.

IMO, use of profanity often indicates that the individual doesn't have adequate facts or reasoning to back their claims/arguments.

Here's to spirited and civil discussions.

Cheers,
Kapalik

Kapalik,

While it may be true that some posts are hastily typed, you would have to concede this board rarely rewards strong arguments no matter who writes them. Even if a person has clearly proven a point, you don't see much of the "Hey, I thought about your post and you are right" kinds of comments. I got one from Duif a couple of weeks ago, but that was a fluke. It's usually - Nah, you're wrong. My idea makes sense or yours doesn't. Listen to me while I tell you how it is. After a while, this lends itself to insults. Moreover, since none of these posts is being considered in any meaningful way that will change the infrastructure of chess it seems inherently worthless to spend that much time constructing meticulous arguments.

As Shakespeare wrote, brevity is the soul of wit. Mig's quips reflect this - "Back to the decaf", "Enjoy your cake", "Excellent, comrade", etc. These are the most useful comments, IMO, b/c they provide entertainment, which is all this site can ultimately do.

Jimenorules,

That was a coherent response lacking any profanities :) I do agree with the bulk of your argument. This forum is for fun discussion and not to change the world.

However, I did get my questions answered by kasparov, albeit indirectly. And possibly our arguments could convince Mig to persuade Kasparov to adopt a more flexible approach towards unification :)

Kapalik

I think its in the nature of this comment board that there will be disagreement. Thats why Mig is happy to see all the posts and heated argument.

I know many times I would go visit friends and my wife would leave thinking my friendship just ended over an argument about the structure of the college football bowl system. Of course, she was wrong. We had grown used to a certain amount of ridicule with our arguments. Twisting the knife a bit can be fun if the other guy is smart and can take it and give it back. If you don't know whether the person is that bright then its just mean. So if I insulted you, please, take it as a compliment.

As far as typing I know mine stinks and I can't proof read on a monitor well. I sometimes hope people just assume english isn't my first language.

Jimenorules writes: "It's usually - Nah, you're wrong. My idea makes sense or yours doesn't. Listen to me while I tell you how it is. After a while, this lends itself to insults." Perhaps, but it doesn't have to. It is one thing for a person to strongly argue a point, one does not then have to step over the line by casting aspersions upon others. Unfortunately, not everyone carries such a value system where one can respect the person while disagreeing with something this person has written.

Niceforkinmove writes: "I sometimes hope people just assume English isn't my first language." Whether it is from haste (and surely we all have more important things in our lives) or from lack of ability (for whatever reason), typos, misspellings, and mangled grammar should always be overlooked as much as possible. Indeed, when I quote someone's remark, I always attempt to correct spelling (and even grammar).

Steve Craig Miller writes:"Whether it is from haste (and surely we all have more important things in our lives) or from lack of ability (for whatever reason), typos, misspellings, and mangled grammar should always be overlooked as much as possible. Indeed, when I quote someone's remark, I always attempt to correct spelling (and even grammar)."

I agree. I always overlook grammar and spelling errors. After all, nobody likes a pedant.