Trash talking - Does it belong on the chess board?
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That's what I'm talking about Izzie!
As long as it's nothing serious like profanity or something, it's really nothing.
Were I a professional chess player, then I'd be more amenable to the idea of talking trash as a means of getting inside my opponent's head and hopefully taking him out of his game. However, as someone whose kid's choice of universities does not hinge on the complete destruction of whomever might be opposite me at the chess table, I see no reason, win or lose, to adopt any attitude other than civility and graciousness.
Before you discuss "trash talk", you should really first determine what the definition of "trash" is. What is trash to someone may not constitute trash to someone else. It all depends where you come from, what your environment is like and so on and perhaps even your command of English. English, by the way, is not my first language either. On this website, we are dealing with people from all over the world. What is considered to be an insult in one country may not necessarily constitute an insult in another country. Several examples of what 'trash' could mean are:
a.Worthless or offensive literary or artistic material.
b.Disparaging, often abusive speech about a person or group.
c.Empty words or ideas.
d.A person or group of people regarded as worthless or contemptible.
Do you really want to indulge in thrash talk? Perhaps we could use the expression "banter", which means to exchange mildly teasing remarks, or to speak in a playful or teasing way. There should be no problem with that, but even then you have to be careful. I agree with those who said that you cannot be too careful when you meet some other player on Internet for the first time. If you cannot control your urge to throw frivolous remarks at your opponent, perhaps you should make an effort to get to know this person first.
Having said all this, I am also the first one to suggest that it is better to be lighthearted with one another than deadly serious all the time. There are enough problems in this world. Lighten up but try not to offend others.
Aug 24, 2007
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#25
Thanks Dylan (Bob? Thomas?) for your analytical foray into trash talking. That was a fun read.
I don't engage in trash talking. If my opponent does, I just play silently. To each his own.
erik wrote: trash talking is an amazingly FUN part of chess... as long as you have the past relationship to sustain it. i NEVER do it online, but always do in person with my friends. :)
i think this sums up the subject pretty well. Yes dylan we all have freedom of speech but remember in tournments you may get time taken off your clock for using that freedom.
trash talk only belongs if your opponent knows its only for fun. I love to trash talk with my friends but when i dont know the other person i would see it as being rude and offensive. Some people take things the wrong way and are easily offended you need to be carefull when trash talking in chess.
I never trash talk. Besides, none of my friends are members in this chess thingy... really, i would say hurry up.. but thats really it.
; "Laughing"){kind=small}
I found myself playing a quite low-level player the other day, and his immediate comments before I could say my usually "Hi there. Good luck & Have fun" were "u ready for good ol english ass whoopin?"
I always thought that chess players were mature, but I think that psychie of when small guys pick fights with big men? Becuase he is quite low on points, he has to be arrogant on the board?
I consider respect and courtesy an imporatant aspect of playing. Insulting your opponent solves nothing...it only makes you look dumb.
norseman wrote:
Talking Trash - We're on-line so I guess its to be more expected, but does it belong? We've probably all come up against them: "prepare to lose", "you don't have a clue do you?", "move faster, faster", "you're too slow", "have you ever played before? This is chess in case you were wondering".....these are some of the comments I've experienced....I realize the best way to beat them is to defeat them on the board; but does this kind of talk belong? Here or anywhere else for that matter? Food for thought......
There are come comments at the limit of "abuse". If you tell to a responsible webmaster, "they" receive a warning. If it is too stupid, they are 'terminated' from a chess site. It's very simple in fact. It's often about people who are not at all experts and have only comments to prove themselves how big their Ego will become....:)
Would you say it face to face over a tournament table? Would saying it in person result in a black eye or lost teeth? Would Kasparov or even Fisher have said it? This isn't AOL and I can't wait for a feature that will allow chat to be shut off when someone gets rude (any plans for that, Erik?). Even alot of polite chat during a rated game could be construed as poor sportsmanship.."So Anatoly, any plans to go to Yalta this summer? I've got to get a new roof put on the dacha..."
Talk has always been cheap, you have the freedom to say what you want but I tend to ignore stupid comments and never let it get in my way of kicking them off the board. Those are the ones when I take every last piece even when I could have mated them and force them to quit.
i guess trash talking, in my opinion, belongs say in a game of basketball or any sport where you are face to face with the intent to "psych" out your opponent. in a relaxed(sort of),classy,professional game of chess-it doesnt belong. i believe it demeans the game and says to your opponent-im just not good enough to beat you without talking trash.
Aug 25, 2007
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#35
I prefer to use good sportsmanship and good manners while playing chess. I suppose for some other sport like football or something then it is fine, but not for chess.
Aug 25, 2007
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#36
Whoever brought the US constitution and free speech in the debate was totally out of context... perhaps we should allow free speech in international chess tournaments, that way I can go shout at the players while they're playing? Or maybe go talk about lemurs in a chess conference? And it's Erik's website, so he's going to decide what the free speech is going to be, just like, in your home, you decide what free speech is going to be.
No, not out of context. The constitution was a side note. I happen to be a big fan of freedom of expression. The debate is about what sort of expression is appropriate and so the concept of "freeedom of speech" is, perhaps, the definition of context.
But like I said in my post i do not think it is the main issue, just an important one.
PS
In my home my wife and kids say what they want, no matter what I decide.
Aug 25, 2007
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#38
I think Etienne is quite correct. While I'm a staunch believer in freedom of speech, speech can be, and should be, controlled or abridged, in certain places under certain conditions. I'm also a constitutionalist, but the constitution, whether as a side note or a main event, must take a back seat to private property.
"chess.com should not ban any expression of speach" does not really sound like a side note anyway. The administration here has before, and probably will in the future, restricted speech to some degree. As private property, it's their right to determine when and how speech should be restricted on their property. Ultimately it's for their good which translates to the symbiotic public good.
While I would agree with the concept that the least restriction is best, I would disagree with the concept that all restriction is bad.
yes, yes, and yes.