how can u be 500 elo?

when I started playing chess 3 years ago I did only know how the pieces move. I did not even know the castling rules and en passant. I played a few games with a friend at work and after around a month I logged in on chess.com. My first rating was 1043. So how can u be 500 if a complete beginner has around 1000?

GM Ronen Har-Zvi told a story that his only experience was playing with his friends, and it only took him a year of tournaments or so to get his GM title... of course his friends were IMs and GM so that was like getting free coaching... also he didn't say for how long he played outside of tournaments.

The point is everyone's experience is different, and by your own admission you weren't a "complete beginner" when you started on chess.com. Maybe you'd played other chess-like games? Maybe you're just naturally good at visualizing so you had an easier time than other beginners when it came to not giving away pieces for free. Who knows.

oh you mean like when u always play 500s u will play like a 500. and when u always play GMs u will play like a GM.

As a chess teacher, I have seen many types of students and their playing styles. Mostly what I have seen is that the kids don't put in any work when they play. Many simply believe that if they play games they will get better, but with no review, they never improve. It really all depends on the person and how they are able to perform when an effort is put in. Also, some people are just more skilled than others it happens. I have a friend who is rated 200 because he just kinda moves pieces with no calculation.

Exactly as Isaac said. They just move pieces for fun and see where the ship strands. There's hardly any calculation or visuo-spatial insight going on. I was just over a 1000 when I started, just right off the bat after a few Fried liver youtube videos which taught me how checkmate patterns worked on f7. And that's enough to play a basic King's gambit. So like you, it's also for me hard to believe how anyone could land under 1000 - since we have a brain. But yeah, they just don't make any connections probably because they don't take it serious - this often happens with individuals who lack confidence - they subconsciously think they're not getting anywhere and as a result, they indeed don't. The human mind is just one big self-fulfilling prophecy.

Like Issac and zone said, more than likely 500s aren't taking it seriously. Have to admit, I don't either. Rarely play rated, and few days ago switched to Play mode. By mistake pressed Play and it took me into a rated game, when I was half asleep and just wanted a minor brain exercise before going to bed. My current rating is around 850, and certainly is not a reflection of my IQ. Also, I'm bad at end games, it could be subconscious. Perhaps I shouldn't play only 20 min before going to sleep... 

You are so right. I work with kids and I agree with everything you say.