Comparing chessforums.org to the other forums - Chess Forums

Fromper · 09-18-2007, 01:31 PM

Spawned from one of okgame's spam threads.

Originally Posted by deanmadden

I don't think I'll come here anymore, chessdiscussion.com is much better

Originally Posted by Endeavour

With no moderators around, this type of spam will never be controlled. The new owners just might as well use the forum for something else because as things stand, it is a complete and utter fiasco!

Because one spammer has posted the same thing 8 times?

Yes, I agree that the moderators need to check in more often and delete junk like this, but the site is hardly falling apart because of 8 spam posts.

It's falling apart because people are abandoning it in favor of chess.com and chessdiscussion.com, so there just aren't as many active users here as there used to be. Which is a shame, because I think the three forums seem to each have a completely different focus and target audience, so I think there's room for all three to succeed.

Susan Polgar's chessdiscussion.com seems to be more focused on discussion of grandmaster level chess than the others, with a large percentage of posts so far being commentary on the current World Championship tournament, issues with USCF and FIDE, and other general issues. I've been surprised by how little actual game analysis or playing and improvement discussion there's been on that site so far.

Chess.com is the busiest of the sites by far, with a much higher percentage of new players and social players than the other two. There are a few strong players there, and some discussion of playing and improving, but again, it tends to focus on beginning players trying to work their way up to intermediate level.

Just based on the people who posted here in the past, and the types of discussions we used to have, this site seems to have the best focus on serious intermediate/high level players trying to improve their game, which is what I mostly want in a forum. But this place doesn't have a pgn viewer to make it easy to post positions and games online in a format that's easy for people to play over, which the other two have. And again, the moderators here are mostly MIA, so there's just enough spam being allowed to scare people away.

I still think there's a spot for this site to have its own niche and succeed in the grand scheme of things. But right now, it's definitely heading in the wrong direction to do so.

--Fromper

gorckat · 09-18-2007, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by Fromper

Just based on the people who posted here in the past, and the types of discussions we used to have, this site seems to have the best focus on serious intermediate/high level players trying to improve their game, which is what I mostly want in a forum.

Agreed. I like the fact that people will review games for/with people. The political stuff (USCF/FIDE) has its place, and somewhere has to be the honeypot that attracts players to the game, but I like here for actually getting better and learning something about my games.

StuntPope · 09-18-2007, 03:39 PM

I'm sorry that those spam threads were posted so often, usually if I see spam posts in my RSS reader I log in and delete them. I hadn't seen these or my RSS reader hadn't refreshed yet.

At any rate, the threads have been removed, okgame has been banned permanently, I have zero tolerance for this kind of crap as such, it will not be tolerated.

Sorry for the delayed reaction.

We've been quiet here lately while we wait for Sandro to put the finishing touches progamming touches on some nice new features I think we will all enjoy.

Fromper · 09-18-2007, 05:36 PM

I hope the top priority for programming features is a pgn viewer, to make it easier to post and play over games online.

--Fromper

Perseus · 09-18-2007, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by StuntPope

I'm sorry that those spam threads were posted so often, usually if I see spam posts in my RSS reader I log in and delete them. I hadn't seen these or my RSS reader hadn't refreshed yet.

At any rate, the threads have been removed, okgame has been banned permanently, I have zero tolerance for this kind of crap as such, it will not be tolerated.

Sorry for the delayed reaction.

We've been quiet here lately while we wait for Sandro to put the finishing touches progamming touches on some nice new features I think we will all enjoy.

I must say I'm pleased to see the threads gone fairly quickly after sending my PM.
If I may, I suggested in the feedback section there be a way to report posts/threads to a moderator/administrator. A 'report' button of some sort. I hope something of the sort is being worked on, if not, I would offer the suggestion again.

(note: I'll put my signature back in place immediately

)

Crash · 09-18-2007, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by Fromper

Spawned from one of okgame's spam threads.
Yes, I agree that the moderators need to check in more often and delete junk like this, but the site is hardly falling apart because of 8 spam posts.

It's falling apart because people are abandoning it in favor of chess.com and chessdiscussion.com, so there just aren't as many active users here as there used to be. Which is a shame, because I think the three forums seem to each have a completely different focus and target audience, so I think there's room for all three to succeed.

I think the players are a little more serious here than on those other sites. I also read Chesstalk.com a Canadian site but have not gotten around to posting there. Those players are probably even more serious than the ones here but they are potential opponents so the focus is somewhat different. I have to send an email to the site owner before I am allowed to post (which I haven't done yet). That site has a lot of stuff about the Canadian Chess Federation which would probably bore most players who don't live in Canada.

Chess.com has more players than this site but the signal to noise ratio seems lower for some reason.

Polgar's site looks interesting mainly because she is a grandmaster and does answer posts there though we have had at least one GM posting here. Again, the signal to noise seems a bit lower there so far. I like this website's organization (categories of posts) better than those other sites.

I do check out those other sites but this one is my first destination and I normally only visit those other sites once I have made my posts and read everything new here.

Originally Posted by Fromper

Just based on the people who posted here in the past, and the types of discussions we used to have, this site seems to have the best focus on serious intermediate/high level players trying to improve their game, which is what I mostly want in a forum. But this place doesn't have a pgn viewer to make it easy to post positions and games online in a format that's easy for people to play over, which the other two have. And again, the moderators here are mostly MIA, so there's just enough spam being allowed to scare people away.

I still think there's a spot for this site to have its own niche and succeed in the grand scheme of things. But right now, it's definitely heading in the wrong direction to do so.

--Fromper

I normally cut and paste pgn or text into SCID so that I can do my own analysis so the pgn viewer doesn't seem to be a big deal to me. I am sure that there is stuff out there that you can just add into your website without having to do a lot of programming.

I think everyone should give it time. The best assets of this site are the people posting here. A few spam posts shouldn't be a deal-breaker as long as they eventually get deleted and the abusing posters are banned.

Crash

vitor · 09-18-2007, 08:13 PM

This site is fine by me. I do not see any other site head & shoulders better. We have many fine informative posters here. JMHO.

videoman · 09-22-2007, 05:54 AM

I don't mean to toot my own horn in a "spam" way, but I think chess videos . TV should be mentioned in this conversation. I'm not trying to dissuade you in any way from posting in this forum because it has some great content, but if you are looking for some videos or other tools we have a nice selection to choose from.

If nothing else just watch the (free) videos by IM Luis Coelho, they really are quite enjoyable and educational.

Arrogant-One · 09-23-2007, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Crash

I think the players are a little more serious here than on those other sites. I also read Chesstalk.com a Canadian site but have not gotten around to posting there.

I tried to join chesstalk a couple times. I'm originally from Canada, and therefore had a little bit of an interest in the chess scene there, but the sign up procedure for that site is just too cumbersome. As such I prefer the other Canadian board run by the Ottawa Chess Club (and accessible from their homepage). But both sites are technologically inferior to this VBulletin based site.

I have been lucky as an administer of OzChess, as no spam issues have raised their ugly heads so far.

I am interested in the 'new features' spoken of by Mr Pope (any details ..... please?) Regarding the pgn viewer, I am aware of one already in existence for a VBulletin site - but the owner wants nearly $500 for it - which I think is ridiculous. As such, I am curious as to this sites development of a pgn viewer.

A stop gap measure is to do this:

But its still, far from ideal if a pgn viewer can be added.

Persona non grata · 09-23-2007, 11:23 PM

I think that as crash says <I think the players are a little more serious here than on those other sites> To me this indicates that we have forged a good little community here.

Of course chessforums can't compare to the bigger, professionally run servers but I think that even though this is not my primary chess home, It makes an excellent secondary site that I use in conjunction with my others. There are some benefits to smaller sites, ie; every regular knows every other regular.

However I must question the fact that the owner of chessforums barely seems to care about this site or even chess. <Stuntpope> <I'm sorry that those spam threads were posted so often, usually if I see spam posts in my RSS reader I log in and delete them. I hadn't seen these or my RSS reader hadn't refreshed yet.>
Quite honestly it boggles my mind why you need to rely on a RSS reader. If I owned this site it would be my baby I would log in numerous times a day and join in with my chess community.

Suspicions and conspiracy theories rage through my mind.

You need moderators I would nominate Crash who is the most excellent and important member you currently have.

I have tried to stay staunch for this site but if things don't change soon, I will just leave and eventually, it will just die.