Welcome! This site is where I provide chess enthusiasts with updates on my activities, (my) interests and important chess news from around the world. Everyone can productively discuss or ask questions about various chess issues! Your contributions & comments are welcome! PLEASE KEEP IT CIVIL & RESPECT OTHERS! All posts in this blog are the opinions of the authors and not this blog.
I cannot please everyone with this blog and I blog what I think is interesting. You can nicely make suggestions or recommendations to enhance this blog. I appreciate the suggestions and I do adapt many of the good suggestions. However, I will not tolerate rudeness. All obnoxious posts will be deleted by the moderator police immediately as there are a number of readers under the age of 16.
If you want a site with serious chess analysis, I recommend ChessToday.net with GM Baburin (paid subscription). If you interested in unique tidbits or colorful “debates”, I recommend Mig’s site. If you are interested in full featured articles and game analysis, I recommend ChessBase, Europe Echecs (French), etc. If you want a site to download all the latest games, I recommend TWIC. If you are looking a good chess forums, I recommend http://www.chessdiscussion.com/ and ChessGames.com. There are also many other good sites such as ChessVibes, Dennis’ Blog, ChessDom, CLO, Russian Chess, etc. Sorry I left out other good sites. This is not intentional.
Chess enthusiasts are lucky to have so many good sites to go to. No need to be negative daily. If you think you can do better, it is easy to start your own blog and share with others. Enjoy!
I wonder why these people keep coming back to read your blog if they don’t like it? Hehe 🙂
I love the blog, Susan (and Paul), but there does seem to be an unusual intolerance for dissent. Simple questions and disagreements are routinely and rapidly purged from the comments section. You certainly have the right to delete anything you want, but if you do it such a heavy-handed way, you will lose readership and support. There is nothing that quashes good discussion faster than rapid and effective censorship. When a few “negative” comments (read: disagreements) are censored, a great many interesting, well-reasoned ideas and discussions are stifled because people become less and less inclined to join in the discussions.
The lively, interesting, but oft-times rancorous discussion and debate in a free society is preferable to the nicey-nice but empty pabumlum of the “idealistic” police state.
[And, yes, I wholly expect this “mean” post to disappear within minutes.]
I can only agree with the above comment. I just don’t get people that keep on complaining yet seem to come back. If you don’t like this blog, stay away. Simple as that.
Keep up the good work Susan.
Yes, I am intolerant to rude and obnoxious people and this was never hidden from the public. People of ALL ages from across the globe read my blog and I try my best to keep things positive. This is my blog and I will promote it the way I see fit.
It is not the disagreement that I have a problem with. It is the way how things are phrased. People who cannot express themselves without using insults, accusations, insinuations, etc. will have their posts delete every time. This policy will not change on this blog.
The moderation team deletes at least 20 posts daily which contain profanity, insults, false information, and other things that are not allowed in this blog. If people want to read this, create their own blogs and go for it. I want to have a blog which is appropriate for everyone.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.ChessDiscussion.com
Chessaholic, I think “these people” “that keep on complaining” generally like the blog overall, but come back briefly to explain why they may not be coming back for long. In part they do so as a courtesy to help Susan by pointing out why some readers leave. She doesn’t have to listen, but if she’s wise, she will at least keep her ears open.
Right, she should listen to all these “anonymous” advisors. Wanna buy the Golden Bridge? What a bunch of ….
Thank you for having such a wonderful blog Susan! I see that your readers seem to take care of themselves when colorful personalities appear to attempt to disrupt the discussion, whether it be about GM Kasparov (Which I think the captions are totally hilarious!) to discussion of daily Chess Tactic. I tend to think that some people who are abusive in here may be some of your detractors in disguise. I think we know who they are… As long as people don’t feed the trolls, you have nothnig to fear. Keep up the good work and keep blazing your trail of success. No other woman GM has created such a powerful blog such as yours. I feel that a publishable magazine could be created with the content in your blogs. Again thank you to you and FM Truong for providing a place for all voices in the Chess world. It is way better than the USCF chess chat room, by far! 🙂
Interesting! A few rude insults from an anonymous (“sarcasm said”) who happens to agree with Susan. Will they be censored? No, if the past is any indication!
If deleting posts with personal insults is the guideline, she’ll have to delete her own post: “I am intolerant of rude and obnoxious people…” Sounds like an insult to me! And then, “People who can’t express themselves without using insults, accusations, insinuations, etc.” Another insult! What makes them insults is that they are directed at people themselves rather than a specific action or comment they make.
Now one understands why women don’t stick around in chess and many kids just drop out. Who wants to deal with all these ego maniacs who like to whine and complain day after day and never lose a single argument. Get a life people! Jesus!
5-6 year old kids act better than some of these posters.
” Anonymous said…
Interesting! A few rude insults from an anonymous (“sarcasm said”) who happens to agree with Susan. Will they be censored? No, if the past is any indication!
If deleting posts with personal insults is the guideline, she’ll have to delete her own post: “I am intolerant of rude and obnoxious people…” Sounds like an insult to me! And then, “People who can’t express themselves without using insults, accusations, insinuations, etc.” Another insult! What makes them insults is that they are directed at people themselves rather than a specific action or comment they make.”
I think Susan is concerned about the peanut brains that come in here to flame. Sarcasm is clearly in his bounds to be sarcastic, however if his “intention” is to insult or degrade blog users or Susan and Paul directly, then it is within the right of Susan or Paul to delete the entry.
Now if Sarcasm is used to describe a situation (Ex: About how Kramnik lent the Chess crown to Anand). Then Sarcasm becomes a wonderful lubricant to the conversation as we all clearly know that Kramnik is a whiny loser! 😉
So, all that is required here is a love for chess and some respect for our hosts. I am sure you would not welcome a guest into your home who wishes to insult you in your face. This blog is the home of GM Polgar and FM Truong.
Thank You.
Sad to see people having nothing but mean spirit. I’m glad to see strong moderation. Keep it up.
Since readers cannot post on the other post regarding why certain posts are deleted. I want to comment but must do so within a topic that’s outside of the other subject.
First, I agree that this is Mrs. Polgar’s site and she can do as she pleases with it, post what she wishes, and delete what she (or the moderation police) wish.
I used to really love this site. I’ve kept up with it since it began severa years ago. Yet, since the USCF election I have noticed an incredible amount of increased sarcasm, insults, and all forms of disgusting posts.
These should be deleted.
However, Mrs. Polgar, you are in the chess world one of the most famous people alive. I respect you greatly and only wish this blog would return the way it was just year and a half ago…that is, more chess related topics and less politics.
Injecting politics into a chess blog, though it is yours and you can do as you please with it and post whatever you wish, the subject material has become more political, less about chess, and the responses are due to this.
You can freely write what you wish, censor whatever you want, and everyone can choose freely to never visit this site again.
Everything that is posted here as a “subject,” though it is your site, due to your world wide recognition is going to get a response.
What disappoints me, and I really doubt anymore that you care what one reader thinks, I’m a “nobody” to you, and that is fine. However, it saddens me that someone who I used to consider a hero, a role model, and objective person….has, in my opinion ( and let me be fair and say this is my opinion only), allowed this often read blog to degenerate into a panorama of silly responses, unwarranted political topics for readers to comment on, and this is just as harmful to children than what readers say.
The title of this blog is “Susan Polgar Chess Blog” and not “Susan Polgar’s Chess and poltical opinion, blog.”
It is your right to make this blog what you wish it to be. But, all you have to do to be fair to all the readers is add “politics” to the title.
It might not matter to you that you have truly and forever lost a fan. I never would have dreamed two years ago that this blog would so obviously tilt toward what is your own political ideas.
This is what hurts. It’s having someone you always admired and considered a hero smack you in the face.
I will never allow my children to read this blog. Further, I will stop visiting this site myself. You might think that losing one loyal fan means nothing, and I’m sure you don’t care. However, I think I have (at the very least) a right to state my OPINION (or shall it be deleted by your moderation ‘police’) since I voted for you in the recent USCF election, bought all of your books (which just make you money), DVD’s, etc.
I just wish you would drop the political nonsense and concentrate upon chess.
But, hey, it’s Your blog. So, I would do the same as you. But, you are no longer my hero. And that hurts. And you should sit and think about it. You are a role model to so many people.
It is too bad, and so sad…why mrs. polgar, did this blog have to degenerate into a maelstrom of nonsense?
You can always fall back on the fact that it is your blog. I just hope that others will go back, look at the archives of this blog from psst years, compare it to the presetn, and make an informed decision as to whether to ever visit this site again.
I wish it weren’t so…but, it is. And, it’s there for the world to see.
But, you are free to write what you wish, post what you want, censor whomever, and that is what America is: Freedom.
But, readers can freely choose to never visit your site again. What will it become if this happens? It will be nothing more than an “online diary”.
It should not be this way. Please, make it better and concentrate more upon chess, less upon politics, and just live up to what you are: A superstar in the chess world.
“Cicero”
However, I will add to be fair to Mrs. Polgar that, as President Lincoln so wisely said, “You can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people SOME of the time, but NEVER ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME.”
So, with my previous post, just because I am disappointed does not matter. In the overall scheme of life and the universe….I don’t matter. My opinion doesn’t matter. In 100 years, it will not matter what I think on this day.
But, despite the numerous typos in my last post…I mean no disrespect. I just cannot agree with what this blog has become. When one is as famous as you, I guess it’s hard to keep such a large number of visitors civil in discussion.
Yet, the topics posted that readers are supposed to concentrate upon do matter and it is up to you or whomever helps you.
I respect your right to freely express your ideas. However, I can along with many others, freely choose to never involve themself or allow their children to view a blog stained with political innuendos.
“Cicero”
Cicero,
Thanks for your post. As I said before, I do not have a problem with people who disagree with me. As you can clearly see, many negative posts stayed. But if people cannot behave properly, their posts will be deleted immediately. My moderation team is unpaid volunteers. Mistakes will happen and we have to live with it. I will not use my power to influence their decisions.
I understand your position and I respect your decision. But there are many factors that you are not aware of and when I am at liberty to say, I will discuss them publicly.
I do not spend all day and night thinking about each post and debate should it go or should it stay? I have said the same thing to my moderators.
I make 10-15-20 posts daily and I move on to the next topics. There is too much chess news to cover. Dozens and dozens of people write me daily from all over the world. I get countless calls from chess media and other sources. There are only 24 hours in a day.
I do not tell people on which site to go or not to go. I try to promote chess in general. Before you or anyone else wants to make judgment on people like Mig, Dennis, or other well known chess bloggers, it is not an easy task to please everyone.
You may not want to know about something while others do and vice versa. None of us have the time to sit here and debate, especially not me. I have too many things to do with my life.
The sad part is there are too many people who think that their opinion is the “only” correct one and if they do not get what they want, they behave badly.
I wish there is world peace. I wish there is no hunger on earth. While others sit there and talk about it, I am out there doing things that I believe in. And if that is not OK with some people, so be it.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
Some people behave like kids. Too many pictures of this player. Not enough of others. The puzzles are too hard. The puzzles are too easy. The color is to feminine. The color is too masculine. You censor to much. You don’t censor enough. The analysis is too technical. The analysis is too casual. How about just shut up, appreciate and enjoy what we have? No wonder why there’re wars all over the world. People can make big issues out nothing like this, imagine what they would do if they have their finger on the nuke button? Just do what you think is right and ignore the primmies.
Susan, there is a fairly long series of posts here filled with rude name calling, insults, and personal attacks. But since they are in agreement with your policy, the posts stay up. Earlier today, I posted two polite, measured, and well-reasoned disagreements with you. No insults, no name calling, no personal attacks. My posts were immediately deleted. To me, it looks like it is disagreement rather than tone that warrants censorship.
You certainly have the right to remove any posts you do not like for any reason you choose. You state “The moderation team deletes at least 20 posts daily which contain profanity, insults, false information, and other things that are not allowed in this blog.” It has become clear to me that the “other things” includes disagreement with you or any sort of criticism of something you do, while their is an exemption for insults so long as you agree with them.
You’re entitled to your opinion.
You may think you are the most polite person on the planet. Others may disagree. We just have to live with it.
This thread is now done.
Dear Mrs. Polgar,
Censorship in any form is the enemy of creativity, since it cuts off the life blood of creativity: ideas. Please, do not become a “judge of normality.” They are already present everywhere. We are in a society of the teacher-judge, the doctor-judge, the educator-judge, the social worker-judge….but has it come down to the Chess GM “Judge”.
Since all comments on the topic ” The $64 question aswered, again!” have been stopped. It has created a firestorm. The topic must be carried on into every other subject posted until…what? Every person is not allowed to post an opinion. The last person that posted there insulted no one. All insulsting messages (and anything related to it) should be deleted. But, it is becoming more evident that it is not merely insults being deleted but also differences of opinion. So be it.
How long shall it take for this to be deleted? Before it deleted surely some will read it. Thus, some quotes to remind us all that we can “agree to disagree” as long as it is not insulting and all remains civil.
“The liberty of speaking and writing guards our other liberties.”
–Thomas Jefferson: Reply to Address, 1808.
Your actions are doing great deeds for chess in America and the world and I can’t see anyone questioning your committment and hard work toward this end.
But, it is clear to many that many posts are delted not because there is anything insulting in them….but merely words that apparently go against you and your staff’s personal opinions especially when it comes to politics.
When you post something politics there will always be disagreement. Many of the posts deserved to be deleted. However, before some were deleted, many read them….came back to this site later…and they had been removed and there wasn’t as single word that was insulting.
It is this point that makes all the difference. I, and I dare say others, are not speaking of the insulting posts that should be deleted. It’s the ones that are just a bit “spirited” but not insulting.
But, it all comes down to this…the only retort you have:
“It’s my blog and I’ll do as I wish with it.” You are correct.
“Create your own….”
We come here for your expertise on the subject. However, something has changed dramatically within recent months. A year ago, tolerace was the rule here and now, even posts that aren’t directly insulting are being deleted.
This is sad. And the readers are, I suspect, increasingly noticing
this and are becoming disillusioned with deleting posts that are not insulting but just a difference of opinion.
Go ahead and delete this. But, before it is, again, there will be people read it and see that there wasn’t a single insulting word in it.
Again, you have been proven wrong. There have been many posts which are not in agreement still around. If a post is deleted, there is reason. Try to repost politely. I cannot explain the reason to every single anonymous poster. That’s unproductive and silly.
Why are things change? Because it is not my full time job to moderate people who cannot show proper respect to their fellow chess players. It is also not the job of my moderation team.
I stated the policy. If you agree, great. If you cannot agree, fine. We are humans and we will disagree at some points. But at the end, I have to do what is best to protect the majority of the readers of this blog.
How much time have I wasted going back and forth with this issue. Why not rephrase the post instead of keep on complaining?
It reminds me of a story about a guy driving 2 hours out of his way so he can save a nickel on a loaf of bread. It would be so much simpler if people just follow the rules instead of complaining.
This is the last absolute last post on this subjecr. All future posts about this issue will be deleted.
Susan Polgar