Sore losers

I have, like all writers, a keen interest in human nature. One of the things I always wondere about, is why my opponents chose their username. I chose my username hoping that it would invite less abuse from chess hooligans than I have seen on chess websites, including Chess.com despite the best efforts of its administrators.

It does not work. Here is a note I received to-day from an opponent who lost miserably after calling me an idiot after exactly one move.

"You are an idiot with a jerk style of play and a miserable coward ! I beat you anytime with only one hand (left one) and my eyes closed, bitch!

by dragosniculescu"

I find this behaviour very puzzling. My rating for standard chess is about 1500. At that level I am, to put it at its most flattering, a very mediocre player.  There are hundreds of thousands of players with higher rankings than mine on Chess.com. I play thousands of games, and lose about half of them. I feel not a thing about it. It says nothing about me, and nothing about the noble game of Chess. The game can do quite nicely without me. Whether I win or lose a game, means nothing at all even in the smallest schem of things. At least, when Ilose, I might learn something.

So why do people abuse those they lose against? We say they are just sore losers. But, surely, being a sore loser does not mean you are stupid? So why then be so stupid as to reveal to your opponent not only you poor standard of chess, but also that you stupidly feel hurt about an utterly insignificant loss. And, which is worse, you reveal that bad flaw in your character and education which lets you abuse total strangers about trivialities.

I was taught that chess develops and reveals the quality ofyour mind and character. Perhaps those who have neither, or the kind that can only be expressed in nasty notes during an after games, are playing the wrong game.

@little blossom. everyday i see atleast one player complaining about their opponents being rude when they lose. instead of complaining you just ignore them. its not worth it.

And every ten minutes there is another thread like this! Hi Kaynight; are you employed freelance to try and get a rise out of the OPs? (-8

Approximately 14.6% of humans are rude morons. Chess is not exempt from human behaviour unfortunately.

Indeed, keep up the good work! It's amazing how many people chew.

And why, o' why, is when someone makes a post they feel the need to publicly shame those people?
I understand that that behaviour is disrespectful, but in my eyes, so is this.

It is unnecessary to post name of offender, sinks to their level a little. But wait, I just read the actual comment properly: "... I beat you any time with one hand (left one) and my eyes closed, bitch!"

Hahaaa! Specifying which hand they would tie behind their back is pretty good. Could you not take some humorous solace in that?

Clearly they were taking the piss? Playing chess one-handed as a handicap offer?! Heehee.

I've taken a look to the game. Mr. Culescu's comments don't describe the situation properly, I'd say.

I think its more funny when they tell you how bad a chessplayer you are AFTER you beat them.They basically insult themselves

        You are not much of a student of human naturre if you cannot understand and acknowledge that some people, including myself, find losing at chess, or anything else, upsetting and damaging. It is simply the way we are and I, for one, can do nothing about it. I have tried to rationalise it all my life and it has made no difference. However, this trait does not make me inclined to be abusive to opponents.

Interestingly, that hurt feeling that we create within our own self has nothing what so ever to do with losing a friendly game of chess.

A wise person would definitely take time to investigate this phenomenon and eradicate it.

Irradiate? Wow, that would be harsh! Unless you mean in terms of illumination?

Yeah, at my very low level (650-750 rated, I only really play 5m) I've had a few people cussing me out, sometimes even when I point out I've just made a blunder. One or two who've said "you think you're good?" to which my usual response is something along the lines of "no, I think we both suck". Thankfully there are far more lovely people on here than asshats :)

hehe. Thank you.

        As I said above, I've tried. I've had these feelings all my life. I know, like all sensible people, that losing a game is not the end of the world. This does not help. Losing sickens me. Why, if this is so, do I persist in playing? I have no answer to that.

Where can I buy one of those asshats? Just in case I need it. 

I much prefer when a player starts verbally abusing their opponent in an otb tournament. Such fun to watch. It's so boring when done on the Internet.

For all the occasional complaints about poor losers, I am happy to report that a huge majority of my opponents are honorable and sporting. I usually play slow games. Perhaps the bad sports are more common in blitz.