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Subject: Re: About Playing Strength

Author: Rolf Tueschen

Date: 16:28:13 11/27/05

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On November 27, 2005 at 18:29:04, David H. McClain wrote:

>
>Rolf,
>
>I didn't participate in the debate with and about A. Steen but I have a few
>items I have to state.
>
>This is all well and good for all of us.  What I don't understand is why all the
>secrecy and "cloak and dagger" mystery when all these GMs enter and exit forums?
> I see this many times.  They are their own worst enemy when they do that.  What
>is their problem with a valid identity to establish their credibility?  Are they
>so much above the rest of us peons in character and intelligence that they are
>ashamed to have it known they associated with mere mortals on an Internet forum?
>
>I think it's time you gave us a break on this and perhaps consider that the
>finger of accusation can also point in your direction.  DHM


You were NOT in the debate but you have suspicions and you see a misbehavior on
my side. Fine, I can live with that.

But I want to defend these names against you and the like. I find you give a
good example for what would happen if a name, I mean a famous name, would play
an open game. In principle you had nothing to say but if more of your kind of
posting unite the whole event gets spoiled. You insinuate with your speech but
you have not to tell something substantial.

You made yourself the observation that all these master hide their identity here
in CCC. But you feel it's justified to fantasise about the possibility that the
accusing finger could show in my direction! That is an insult. I did never
insult masters or expert players in CCC. But you did, I mean the members here.

Now you ask a question and I will answer it.

Why these experts work with anonymity?

Because they sense the danger to be humiliated, attacked, accused and insulted.
Perhaps with following disadvantages for their career and/or business.

And you must see that this is a very concrete risk. If patzers speak their
opinions it's their business with no consequences. But if a famous name is
attacked for speaking "nonsense" as a "loudmouth" with "insulting" valuable
members of our community, he is in a strange position. He knows that this is all
crap, his master collegues know it too, but the crowd might believe the rumour.
That's why it's safer to keep out of such groups.

But in sites where it's about chess with a little chat here and there they are
very active as I could see on playchess.com. But also there I could see that we
have some in our hobby whose premature or puberil situation pushes them into
insult-like assaults the moment a VIP appears the room. It's an automatic
reflex. The VIP isnt welcomed like a role model but like a buddy who at first is
measured by his ability of talking nasty or ignorant or insulting gutter code.
After this scheme: "hey alter, warum biste so feige und spielst nicht gegen XX,
wichtigtuer!" English try to translate: hey sucker, why are you so much a coward
to avoid a game against XX, imposterer! One single idiot of that sort can spoil
a complete climate in such a group. Naive others feel invited to join etc. -
This is all a question of the internet anonymity.

In real life such an insulter would directly be thrown out or stigmatized as a
fool. On the net we have some who want to tear such valuable human beings doen
on their fantasies or really low level of education. Everybody can buy a PC and
a chessprogram...

I dont know if I can convince you. But a masterplayer doesn't hide because he's
a coward or feels he cant make himself common with the low sphere humans but he
must defend himself against idiots on the net. He takes the higher risk while
e.g. Michael Drexel wouldn't lose a sent if A.S. were Short and would state
during a comeback that Michael is a really stubborn chess thinker or some such -
just as example not that he would say such things. Can you accept this
difference? Also think of the many anonymous members, what risk would they run
if they were talking nonsense to deminor a real expert? Here you have the answer
on your question at the best I could give it.

All the best,
Rolf



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