Sadly, some of CG's most active posters have left due to harassment by stalkers. This is also why Susan Polgar doesn't post here anymore.

There doesn't appear to be any solution to this problem. CG could perhaps open a social section to try to separate the nonsense from the chess. But I doubt that would prevent stalkers from lurking around their targets.

Perhaps if these were learned discussions, they wouldn't be such a turn off.>

Yep, that's been an ongoing struggle for some time, although its certainly not unique to cg.com. Practically any online discussion forum will see this problem, so at some level, participants need grow a "thick skin", and know when to NOT respond.

<There doesn't appear to be any solution to this problem. CG could perhaps open a social section to try to separate the nonsense from the chess. But I doubt that would prevent stalkers from lurking around their targets.>

I think that the user chess forums were intended to be social sections. And cg.com did create the ignore feature to prevent certain users from posting in a specific user's forum.

However, I think that the ignore feature is poorly implemented for other reasons, and those reasons make it an unattractive option for most people to deal with this problem.

<In addition to stalking, another buzz kill here is the constant bickering. People don't come to a chess site to read arguments about politics and religion. Perhaps if these were learned discussions, they wouldn't be such a turn off. But alas, the level of argument roughly matches the chess ratings of the participants. Patzers polemics.>

I don't think the problem is the off-topic discussions, as long as those discussions are confined to user chessforums (or other forums where permitted, e.g. Rogoff). Such topics are bound to produce some disagreements and even heated exchanges. However, there are always some people who participate in those discussions, but contribute little besides insults and snide remarks. These people do tend to drag a site down.

I think that if the ignore feature were implemented better so that people would use it, then it could help cg.com identify the most offensive people, and correct & eject them.

I had made a few recommendations to cg.com in the past that I thought would help, and some were even favorably received, but none have been implemented so I don't bother them about it anymore.

Another thing that cg.com could do is provide an attractive diversion that gives people something to do besides bicker.>

One of the problems with modern computers being so strong. Tournament discussion forums don't require chess players to “actually” converse about games/moves/positions.

If we had the internet “without” the modern chess computers. Discussions would probably be about “actual” moves, and game discussions. Instead of Magnus in pampered fishbowls, and Giri's draws.

<internet “without” the modern chess computers>

They used to post here.

<Ohio> The number of forum posts has been declining sharply for years. I doubt it's a mystery- our webmaster refuses to apply any kind of consistent or acceptable standard for enforcing the <posting guidelines>. After a decade of abject failure on this front, he's on the point of running his otherwise fabulous website into the ground.

Do you <really> think it's normal for a doctor, a medical professional (whatever) to be saying this to <anyone> be it real life or on the internet, below ⬇️

<Mar-05-12
Domdaniel: OhioChessFan: <Am I the only one curious about the good doctor's recurring claim to have "got(ten) inside somebody's head"?> No. <I think he's correct to a large degree.> But I'm not sure what the endgame is. A greatly mitigating factor is the really intense series of threats levelled upon him.>>>>

1) Forget who the person is. Do you think it's perfectly normal behavior from a doctor, any doctor, to be using terminology like "I'm now inside your head. This is all too easy!" (That's the exact quote) when speaking with someone either in life or on the net?

2. You say "A greatly mitigating factor is the really intense series of threats levelled upon him". Okay let's say he was "intensely threatened?". Do you think it's perfectly normal behavior from a doctor, any doctor, to be using terminology like "I'm now inside your head. This is all too easy!" (That's the exact quote) when speaking with someone either in life or on the net? Or should he have called the police if the threats were so intense? <Or>...do you think the doctor in question brought it upon himself (you just said it to me in the cafe!) by constantly interfering in things that are nothing <whatsoever> to do with him?

3). Look at the trouble he's caused on the So page, the Carlsen page (what he did to frogbert was despicable), the Kramnik page, basically every single flame war since the incarnation of chessgames dot com... Do you think it's perfectly normal behavior from a doctor, any doctor to behave in this manner?

4. I'm sure you're a decent fella in real life but your loyalty to a man who's quite possibly mentally ill astonishes me and not just because you're a Christian. If TheFocus, Jay-B or Rogge posted pictures of other members families in their bio I'd <publicly> tell them exactly what I thought because I know right from wrong. Sometimes I think it's my Blackadder soh (I copy his obnoxious sarcasm and only English and Norwegians seem to get it!?) that you don't understand, Elvis.

If you truly believe a doctor, any doctor should be behaving the way he does then maybe you need a doctor yourself. He's quite easily the most disliked person on this site. He has no qualities, he's twisted in the head which is of course the reason he used Keyser Soze every now and then when he needs back up in an argument that he starts. He knows full well Keyser is "odd" and uses him before discarding him until he needs him again. There's only you and Keyser who defends tpstar's actions. I understand with Keyser because he has <very serious> mental problems and I'm not being sarcastic, insulting or funny when I say that. It's a fact and you don't know what he's been getting up to.

Yes I had to go to my solicitor to show her everything. Then I contacted someone at this site for advice and both my solicitor and the person at this site said I should go to the police. I did. I can't say much more than that.

Do you know how many times tpstar has said he wants people's families to visit this site? Do you know how many "psychological evaluations" he's "conducted!?" at this site, how many people he's told they need immediate mental help?

Do you want to know what I think. Well I think that once upon a time he bought you a membership and for some reason you show loyalty to him that's far above and beyond being a friend. A friend will tell his friend. "Hey. That's wrong" when they're wrong. You've never once done that regardless of the overwhelming evidence he's definitely in need of help. If you want to help him out, if you want to be a friend, if you <really> are his friend and you don't just get involved in arguments he causes then maybe you should tell him it's him who needs the help? Everyone else can see it, well most right minded people can. People like Big pawn (I think we can both agree he's insane with those other usernames) just egg him on. People like Keyser get used. What's your excuse??

A Star Wars quotes. "I've never seen such devotion in a droid before!" #Cronyism or... You're mad.

<Ohio> The number of forum posts has been declining sharply for years. I doubt it's a mystery->

<Ohio>

Thanks for dropping your list of top <Stones> tracks in my forum- you put some thought into that, and I have to say you're on point. That is, I agree with the high value of your selections.

Here are a few of my top selections that weren't covered yet by me, you or <T-bone>:

<Gimme Shelter> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbm... An anthem from a record that features at least two (2) other anthems of comparable quality.

<Out of Time>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFe... I like the idiosyncratic arrangement and instrumentation in this one- courtesy of Brian Jones when he was on top of his game.

<<<Elvis.. I'm not here to make the site better <or worse,!>. There's no clause in the chessgames dot com contact where you have to agree to make things better!? I could give a rats ass about making things better not worse, I'm here because I like most people (99.99% of the site!) and I'm on the internet a lot, I like chess, and.. Why on earth do I need to explain this to you!? Lol. And okay let's share some final thoughts on this. Tpstar accused me of threatening his wife and kids. No proof whatsoever never happened. Then he posted pictures of my family, my 11 year old niece and my then also underage nephew. I told him <repeatedly> to mind his own business regarding me and Miss Keisha (all the 4-5 years of stalking and you think I <shouldn't> have gone to the police when the owner of this site advised me to and also a well respected member of the site! You say I deserve stalking for doing something to stop what he started <originally>) and he lost his mind and posted those pics, I reported him to quite a few Medical Centers and American medical people until I found the correct people to spreak to and I struck gold around November last year. There's people from this site who've seen proof of everything I'm telling you <and more> what I aren't!

Would you care to explain what's false in that narrative??^^ I mean. I expect it from Miss Keisha she's a complete headcase but a man of God? Never, lol.

You'll always be on Tony's side even when he's wrong, I've seen you defend him to domdaniel before over what was quite frankly a disgraceful thing for a doctor to say to anyone be it on the internet or in real life..."I'm now inside your head. This is all too easy!".

Just stick me back on ignore if you don't like me because I'm not here to make things better <or worse>.>>

And this one too..

<<You're a grown ass man and a Christian (whatever) t'boot! You need to smarten up old fella.. I thought you'd taken me and Abdel off Iggy Azalea so you could get on with us, or at least try to??> We were getting along okay until your latest round of stupidity>>

In fact. Perhaps you'd like to explain this quote? My latest round of stupidity you say yeah? Well let's hear it then? Because as far as I'm aware tpstar started it, I commented on his stirring post and you and Keyser Soze joined in!? Well let's hear it then Mr Always Right? You can't even address what I posted above because you can't defend the indefensible. Pathetic. You're a grown ass man who involves himself in other people's arguments and disputes and it's alaways the same "man" you're defending.. The most disliked human being on this site. Just stick me on Iggy Azalea for good this mind your own business>>>>

As I predicted, she will crack very soon.

The guy talks (lies) and whine about me and others for all over the site but can't accept a rebuke? And go cry about being "followed". Whatta crybabe

I understand that nobody likes you and your only friend is an insane doctor who uses you like a rag doll and you have a sad life and live in abject poverty.. But even so Miss Keisha. You fancy a man now!?? Lol.

I used you #48lawsOfPower.

Tony uses you #InsaneDoctorWhosTooScaredToOpenHisForum.

<Now either be a man and let's talk about it and clear the air or put me on Iggy Azalea and don't talk about it?>

Well. Fancy your chances <one on one??>

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