A matter that concerns me.

[Graham Banks]

I have always made it my policy to keep politics and religion out of computer chess, as I think it's a hobby that we should all be able to enjoy, regardless of our opinions in those areas.

Recently, I had contact in discord from an engine author (who shall remain nameless), saying that they were blocking all contacts who were unprepared to condemn the Israelis for their recent actions.
When I replied that I wasn't prepared to give my opinion, based on what I'd written above, I was consequently blocked.

Okay. That's fair enough if they're going to do that with all of their contacts, but when I see them happily chatting to others in TCEC, I'm wondering if they've sold themselves out in order to have their engine participating there, as I don't believe for one minute that they've given all others there the same ultimatum.

[CornfedForever]

While in a perfect world, I personally would not mind a wee bit of politics or religion as an aside in a chess forum (think 50 yrs ago, when people were more reasonable)...we know all too well that not everyone is of like mind or adult enough to be able to handle it properly. So, yes, best kept out of a public forum as someone will inevitably get all bent out of shape and spoil the whole thread for everyone.

In this day and age, people are able to spend a large part of their lives behind a keyboard, anonymous and free from consequence or having to look others in the eye...and so they more easily let their worst tendencies loose for all to see. Also, some people actually appear to be born a sucker for 'a cause' to support...or condemn - either, without their case being fully thought through. That's a sad combination.

In your instance, personally, I would have loved to ask if I had missed where he was also blocking those who did not condemn Hamas slaughtering some 1200 (and taking about 250 hostage) on October 7. My guess is 'no' as to do so would not exactly align with his/her chosen 'cause'.

[Frank Quisinsky]

Hi Graham,

not important and in my opinion TCEC is just a tournament between chess engines.
For me your smaller tournaments are much more interesting than TCEC.

What can we do with TCEC?

- not enough games
- hardware nobody has and nobody needs
- a lot of advertising

OK, it's a nice animation for everyone here to organise their own tournaments, talking about the good old living room tournaments.
Such tournaments are much more interesting to watch. A lot of people just look at the results, download the engines and do not do much with them. The main reason for this is that energy is expensive.

I never need the work around engine tournaments of others, I look at my own games, stats and results and have fun for over 40 years.
Hobby should be fun and not work.

Also, CCRL is not an official organisation.
Most of what we have is completely private.

Not every engine has to be tested by yourself.
If one or two, ten or twenty engines are missing in CCRL ... really not important.

I had some problems in 2022 like the Ukrainian colours on my website. I got death threats, the main reason I shut down my old site. I think we live in a very tense political situation. So I try to understand people whose lives are in danger. I often think that the whole world is a danger zone.

But this has nothing to do with computer chess.

Best
Frank

Furthermore, obviously need some programmers an enemy image and are aggressive in their behaviour. Nothing new, same for users of chess programs. I've already come across hundreds of them ... people they come and go. And often I have a bad day too and should not do anything.

[Frank Quisinsky]

Since I have blocked everything that is privately available (will not have it, do that more than 15 years) I have much more fun. There are enough chess programs available. Besides it costs too much time in writing mails and so on. Jealous people who want the same. What do you think how many such mails I got in Winboard times? Time can be used better. And if you do not give such things to others, new jealous people try to make problems, often with different names and often in the past in the chess forums. This is always the same, people have not changed. Not everything is nice when you work in the first row. Many people do not understand that we do not have a first row in computer chess. Most of what is really interesting is organised privately since the beginning of engine protocols.

[towforce]

An engine author that doesn't want people using his engine if they don't support his politics. I wonder who that could be?

Hmmmmmmmmm...

There is an engine author who has form for this behaviour, and I'm 65% confident that our suspect in this thread is the same person.

[kasinp]

Sorry to hear this is happening to one of the classiest and generous people on this forum. In these difficult times it takes a special quality of effort to maintain an inclusive environment. The incident you describe is just a form of bullying.

Peter

[Norm Pollock]

Hi Graham,
I'm sorry that you were abused by this aggressive bully. The only aggressive behavior permitted in a chess forum should be chess moves on a chess board.
-Norm