I'm sure he is frustrated with the machine voting against Aneta.

I'll hang in there until she passes 7,000 and then I'll stop.

The World vs N Pogonina, 2010

I have reached out to numerous "oldies" with little response. While <Tabanus> has been kind enough to respond (as well as a few others) most have not. What are we "newcomers" to do without a little guidance? I really don't even know who these "oldies" are for the most part.

If one were to state "morf, stop all the nonsense kbitzing, you are hurting the team" I'd do it. If one were to state "morf, you are new, so you are limited to 3 diagrams the whole game" I'd do that. If one were state "morf, run all your ideas by me first" I'd do that. But what do I got? Nothing...and so I keep on posting.

Do you understand where I'm coming from? I want to help. I asked you for your opinion that essentially relegates me to a very subordinated role with little kbitzing, because I thought it was best for the team. But what did I get? Nothing

Communication is two-ways. If the oldies won't engage the newcomers, then the newcomers will just try to do what they want without any guidance.

I don't mean to reference you, for you are trying to get things straightened out for the next game and for that I apologize.

<I have reached out to numerous "oldies" with little response. While <Tabanus> has been kind enough to respond (as well as a few others) most have not. What are we "newcomers" to do without a little guidance? I really don't even know who these "oldies" are for the most part.>

Here's a Reader's Digest response:
In terms of the Pogo game, the reaching out is too late. Try working this hard for 5 games and seeing people not go along with the program and you might get an idea of the frustration. And while you are trying, it's very obvious most people simply don't care. <imag> <Tabanus> and I about did headstands warning the team not to choose the line that was played. And nobody cared. We might as well have howled at the moon.

<If one were to state "morf, stop all the nonsense kbitzing, you are hurting the team" I'd do it. If one were to state "morf, you are new, so you are limited to 3 diagrams the whole game" I'd do that. If one were state "morf, run all your ideas by me first" I'd do that. But what do I got? Nothing...and so I keep on posting.>

The posting was fine. Your posts were clearly better than the average kibitzer. Of course you should have kept on posting. The problem was for the first 20 some moves of the game the senior analysts were routinely ignored. It's not like you need to take that personally. The people who don't post but just vote are the ones that antagonize me the most.

<Do you understand where I'm coming from? I want to help. I asked you for your opinion that essentially relegates me to a very subordinated role with little kbitzing, because I thought it was best for the team. But what did I get? Nothing>

I couldn't answer that off the top of my head. I will make this quick response and say all the planning in the world apparently <doesn't matter> because we will have a large group of newbies next game who simply won't care. And we will have some of the same voters who didn't care this game or the last or the last or the last.......and won't care the next.

<Communication is two-ways. If the oldies won't engage the newcomers, then the newcomers will just try to do what they want without any guidance. >

I think the oldies were routinely ignored this game. This game was by far the worst in that regard. I recognize part of the problem was so much of the old crowd left after the <PZ> uproar. I was stunned people couldn't even be bothered to use the Engine Room. That's been part of the planning for how long now and it was lightly used and pretty much abandoned halfway through the game.

<I respect your opinion and I hope you understand the point of this post. >

I very much appreciate the thoughtful response. You've always been up-front with me: “ragging-me” when I'm wrong and giving me credit when I'm right or close to right. Thats the way I like to treat people and want to be treated. There's no need for you to apologize for anything.

That’s a fascinating response from Reader’s Digest and how the “oldies” were routinely ignored. Do you think it was a case of the regular voters just ignoring the suggested moves or was there another “senior-type” member or members undermining the concrete analysis?...or both? Since I didn’t enter until turn 9, the origins of this event remain murky to me. If one wanted to avoid this situation going forward, the origin would need to be determined.

I remember your frustration with the engine room process. Once I understood what they were intended for, like you said, they were pretty much abandoned. (I would like to add that the forum structure employed this game is very good. The only suggestion I have is to create a sub-forum for short-term improvements working under ER1. Other than that, the structure is great if everybody would use them.)

<The problem is that large crowd who doesn't. I am very discouraged about the future when I think all the efforts you are making now will be ignored.>

What makes this game different from the previous games?...the short format?...a much larger voting-base?...I’m curious as to how this game got so out-of-control since the previous games seem to have been conducted in a much more placid atmosphere. In other words, look at the previous games, find out why they were much smoother affairs and use that as a framework for future games.

Again, thank you for your response. There are a number of issues that could be addressed. There is no one solution. However if each area of concern is improved at least a little, then the game will improve on the whole. Try not to get too discouraged. Chess is here for our enjoyment and is not meant to be endured.

Well, everyone's humor must be a little up now, with GM So qualifying for the World Blitz Chess Championship.

I'm usually around the site reading in players' pages and chessforums, so I know some people through their posts, too. If I may say, humor is something most of us Filipinos possess in abundance.

Very well said on your recent brace of posts over at the admin page.

You struck a good balance between scolding and respect.

Unlike my previous 20 posts there that were - well basically hysteria I suppose.

At any rate thanks for speaking up like that.

You carry "weight" around the site because you don't complain all the time (unlike some- such as the writer of this post here).