Is it good sportsmanship NOT to resign?

I've since returned to chess after some 30 years, and have been playing on Chess.com for  the last month or so.    I've met many folks from around the world, and really enjoy 20 min, because there is a little time for chat.    Here's my question:   When I've clearly beaten an opponent, and I'm up say two rooks and a queen to a bishop in an end-game, there are opponents who will make you chase their king around, eliminate every pawn and force you to to inevitably mate them.   I suppose they have  hopes of me making some incredible blunder.    If I'm obviously beaten, I concede.

So, I'm of the opinion that (especially in online games like this) that if you are clearly bested,  it is sportsmanlike to resign.   You are respecting your opponents victory, and chosen not to waste their time.     

My question:  therefore is it UNsportsmanlike to NOT resign in the same situation?  

it is unsportsmanlike to make forums that will devolve into meaningless arguments where nobodies opinion is changed

Agree

It is not unsportsmanlike. 

They have the right to play till checkmate. Of course, they have the right to resign as well, if they wish to do so.

Apart from them hoping for a blunder, they could hope for a stalemate as well in such a position.

The only thing that is not ok is if they stall the game by not resigning, instead just waiting for their time to run out in a clearly lost position like that. 

Thanks.  I appreciate the feedback.

What the others said, except the old fuddy duddy's. They seem to be all over the place here and think they're somehow intellectually superior to everyone else. Just ignore them. I have a situation right now where there is only one obvious move and he's taking the full 2 days to make it. I've never gotten mad at someone waiting the full 2 days until now. In 5 seconds anyone could evaluate this move and make the move. He either needs to get on the stick or resign. The problem here is he may be having some other life problems. So you can't really get mad at people for taking the whole time. At lower level play when to resign is questionable. For masters they know when it's over.

My thought is: in normal rated games, sure everyone has every right to play on however they wish. This means that both the person in the losing position can continue to play, and the person in the winning position can choose to mate as quickly as possible, promote to practice uncommon end games, or promote all pawns before proceeding to win. It works both ways.

In Arenas, however, if a game is clearly won, refusing to resign is not only wasting your opponent's time, it is preventing the loser from moving on to the next opportunity to get points. It is the epitome of being a sore loser.

The fuddy duddys are complaining because this topic has been tossed around for years and it all ends up as to each his own.

As in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWdqyhWceVw

The reality is this: it is proper etiquette and good sportsmanship to resign lost games. That's why you almost never see a GM get checkmated: they resign. It's part of the game. Unfortunately, this site is flooded with potatoes who have no idea what good chess etiquette is and insist on either getting checkmated or they disconnect. The same potato players will insist that it is better etiquette to waste everyone's time even when their opponent has a position that they could win vs Hikaru. Down multiple queens? They play on. Potatoes!

All things are relative. You are correct in that if the game is lost the opponent should resign and look towards the next game. I think the do not give up attitude  goes a bit far in the lower levels. Watching tournament games where players of low skill level move the king around waiting for a draw  in poor sportsmanship. Resign and get ready for the next round.

Now you have me wondering if arbiters in OTB can stop games in order not to waste everyone's time. No quick info on the Internet.

Amazing

It's good sportsmanship not to resign only when you're not sure that your opponent knows exactly how to defeat you.

If you're sure both players can see a clear path to your opponent's victory then it's respectful to yourself and to your opponent, to resign.

If you're playing on with no hope then your opponent might be wondering how you can't see that you've already lost but they won't mind showing you.

I was really asking to understand - not to anger anyone.  Of course everyone has the right to play as long as they can - understood.   I also appreciate those who are appreciative of their opponent's time.   No need to keep going on.   Thank you everyone.  Peace.

I try to message anyone when they make a particularly beautiful combination - especially when the moves are forced and the final blow comes out of nowhere ).   I can see that for an ending as well.