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From	Message
wrecking_ball 06-Apr-14, 18:53	New GK feature options likes/dislikes/misc. gameknot.com
wrecking_ball 06-Apr-14, 18:54	Deleted by wrecking_ball on 28-Apr-14, 01:02.
wrecking_ball 28-Apr-14, 01:10	Deleted by wrecking_ball on 28-Apr-14, 01:14.
wrecking_ball 28-Apr-14, 01:14	I may have mentioned this before,either in the link above or elsewhere.But I would still like to see any blitz games played on GK to be able to be completely transferred into the forum of your choice(like my club forums) with the move for move game board as it is with game board ID # transfer with the correspondence games. This would be a much better learning tool in tactical study and blitz study in general...rather than simply doing a PGN transfer and have someone trying to painstakingly set up the blitz board that way.Perhaps there is a way to do the thing I described and i'm missing it or maybe there is some kind of program out there that can set up the sequential board from the blitz room....WITHOUT manually plugging in each and every move!That might take way too long and takes more effort than I want! Any smart club members know how I can accomplish this with next to no effort?
hogfysshe 28-Apr-14, 04:40	PGN viewer not what you are asking but perhaps useful... I use the chess tempo PGN viewer to play through your blitz games. I believe there are other PGN viewers out there as well. chesstempo.com But I don't know a way to post a game so that it can be opened with one click as with a regular GK game. And I don't know if there is a way to take a FEN from the PGN viewer to display a position. Even though it is not one click, it is quite fast to copy and paste a PGN into the viewer to play through the game. Until a better way is found, maybe post the link to a viewer right under the PGN so there is less chance that club members will not review the game. other viewers www.365chess.com www.chess.com
wrecking_ball 28-Apr-14, 06:04	Thanks Todd,I was aware of those PGN to board viewers.I suppose I was looking for a direct way to have the board already set up and ready to read by forum readers in the string.But I guess that is not possible.Too bad that GK simply does not have a board # to transfer(in blitz) like the other games.I suppose a link post would be the next best thing as you suggested,then any club member can just copy/paste the FEN and look at the board that way.Whether they take the time to do that,however,is another issue.I will start loading some of those links in the posts over the next week or so.
wrecking_ball 03-May-14, 15:00	Quick start on the join game section should be located to the upper right of the game list,not way at the bottom that you have to scroll down in any way. Minor,but just an observation. Also,as I have mentioned before,a new code should be introduced similar to bd=,but for blitz board game links.Maybe bb= or something like that.
wrecking_ball 03-May-14, 15:08	Gk strongly needs to create an edit function on forum posts already posted.If I see something that needs a correction or an update,you can't do it without posting another post or deleting the original post and starting over.Now does this "edit"option exist on other forum sites AND chess forum sites?Yes,indeed it does.So,its not impossible to do and would be a fantastic upgrade.
wrecking_ball 03-May-14, 16:10	Lets see what else?This may be unnoticeable to some,but very noticeable to others. When I first launch GK from my icon screen,there is a bit of a slow down on that GK game page loading and I discovered why.Those little link tabs like "g+1" and "f like" sometimes takes a bit more time to fully load into the game page.I can observe this by looking down at the bottom edge of my loading info screen and it is actually telling me that it is still being loaded.Now the wait is not much,perhaps 3 or 4 more seconds,but it is an "additional" wait indeed.I told GK a long time ago that I did not want those tabs there.If you want to get on google or facebook,no need to be on GK to select G or F!That is a sales pitch in my book.Everyone knows about f and g,no need to have it plugged in below a GK game list. Interesting enough,when I use chrome directly with GK as my primary site which it searches for and delivers,instead of the direct GK icon on my screen which gets me to GK a bit faster,there is NO extra waiting period for g or f to load.But I prefer the chrome icon,because it leaves a nice address bar on top,where I can switch back and forth with arrows to go from one site back to the next. But,I was just noting that,regardless of what GK has told me in the past(and they previously disagreed with me,that this slowdown could not be happening).They are dead wrong...period. I'm not blind you know.I see the slowdown as the G and f links are "appearing" 3 or 4 seconds later AFTER the GK page is loaded and visible.In that 3 or 4 seconds,I must still wait to click on other games or GK pages.They would never admit that revenue gained from g or f could be a bad thing,so slowdowns,must be in my mind(according to them) and do not exist.Hogwash of course,and I am not a computer wiz,but I see what I see and do as I do and observe the results.No,there is nothing wrong with my computer or system.Again,just my opinion....get rid of those sales (or what they call info links) below the game lists.Go on f or g using your regular ways.
wrecking_ball 09-Jul-14, 13:21	Deleted by wrecking_ball on 09-Jul-14, 13:55.
wrecking_ball 09-Jul-14, 13:55	Making it free to post in clubs.... In looking over the general GK forum,I noticed the post on..."making it free to post in clubs". In addition,there was discussion about not enough people posting or participating in the clubs,so it was suggested that it be free for more people to join and thus,participate. Its my express opinion that,no,it should not be allowed for free members to post anything.Infact,if I had my way,free members should not even be allowed to post even 1 word in the general GK forums either.What keeps this site one of the best on the internet(if not the best),is financial support.Not freeloaders!!!!!!!!!!Period!!!!!!!!!!Hey,I say it the way it is and I will not "candy coat" my words with pink cotton candy!!!! GK Clubs(like this one) in my opinion,are the spoils and rewards of the paying GK members money.So we pay $$ and the freeloader should be allowed to share in the rewards and walk on that golf course,swinging a club????Please!!!!Kind of like a private club outside of GK which requires financial support.The equip,hardware,software,troubleshooting,GK employee manning and much more needs like this require members to pitch in and support this site and create improvements.You can't afford to spend a few dollars a month????Ask you daddy,if you don't have the money.How about mommy????Then...my opinion is leave now!!!!!And no,i'm deadly serious!!!!Ahhh..your thinking that the free member will probably become a paying member?Well,I got news for you!Most free members STAY free members and only a smaller moderate amount of those freeloaders become paying members.But that is besides the point.Becoming a paying member later STILL does not give the right to the nonpaying member to share in all the options this site has to offer.There is a logic behind the incentives. The problem isn't leaving in more freeloaders to participate.The problem or actual question is...."how serious do you take your chess"and how much are you willing to take the time,energy and effort to participate?????And that includes the clubs that are not chess related like the arts clubs.Don't try and pass the "buck" to others by making up a feeble excuse that not enough people are participating.I see this nonsense all the time.In my last club,I made it a rule that if you were not going to participate(at least a little) and do it once in a while,then you will be ejected out of the club.I have not done it in this club yet because the crew is fairly active,but there are one or two that have not even given the courtesy of introducing themselves in the intro thread,like I asked you to in the club front page.Perhaps I may eject them out without explanation,not sure yet.If you join a club outside of GK....say a social club of some kind.....do you plan to sit in the corner and stare at people walking in the door and never say a word or hello?Then why did you join the club?To be a mute and a moron?????See my point?????And if I had to eject out most of the members for non participation...well,then,so be it!Then logically,the club was not worth having in the first place. So,look deep into yourself and begin to actively participate in the clubs!Because you can have over a hundred members and maybe 200 with freeloaders.....but this will not guarantee that those extra 100 "freeloaders" will say anything or participate anyway!!!!!See??? I have personally made observations of some of those big clubs on GK with over a hundred members.Many of those members have either never written a word or contributed any more than an ant crapping in the middle of the Sahara desert.So,numbers mean nothing.Quality means everything.And quality goes back to the individual who takes the time,energy and support to do so!!!!Just in the club to read the posts?Why?You can do that outside of the club!!!!!!!!!!What other weak excuse do you have that I can expose???? Support of GK means that the paying members get more options than the free members and I will not start to list them here,because you all know what they are,including faster loading speeds and no ad banners.I firmly support the idea that clubs are also on that list and should remain that way.Again,I see clubs much bigger than this club with paying members who contribute little.So,if you believe that a free member or members will contribute more simply due to the fact that their numbers will pile up in the clubs...think again!!!You mean pile up like corpses,right? Now bigpeta kind of supports my thoughts on this issue as well.But he also mentioned this: "the real problem with lack of posts is that members have to consciously look for them regularly. I think there would be more participation if members were informed automatically that there were new posts." Not informed?That is not exactly true.Everytime there is a new post in the club,I see it highlighted as the new post and it is shifted to the top of the club posting list.Ray Charles can see that,if he were alive!!!!In addition it it usually near the top of the "active message threads in all club forums".So,members ARE informed of new posts on a regular basis,just like this one,which will appear at the top of the club list and highlighted after I press the post button!!!!Sure,they will cease to be at the top after someone else posts another topic,but it is easy to see it for quite a while...unless your blind or come back to the club once every 2 or 3 weeks!!!!See????Coming back once a month or so is the REASON that clubs remain too dormant or docile....and free members joining in is not necessarily going to improve that situation.I know this from experience on other chess sites over that last 15 years. So,no,I do not believe that free members deserve to share in the fruits that we paying members pay for,including clubs.And don't get me started on so many of those freeloaders that collect welfare because they are too lazy and make up tons of excuses to not work.I talked to one guy a few weeks ago who was young with no college education,but he graduated from HS.He told me he will not work for 12 dollars an hour and prefers to make babies and have the state pay him until he can get an 18 dollar an hour job.I said..."do you have any experience"?He said no.Then I said,you expect to make great money without working you way up the ladder,getting the experience...like many Americans,including myself did when I was your age?You really think that MacDonalds should pay you $16-17.00 an hour for flipping burgers????I said,get rid of that overly priced cell phone that momma pays for and 200 dollar sneakers,stop being lazy and go out and get the job experience,instead of making me support you through taxes!!!!He told me that there were no jobs out there.That is feeble!!!I said to him,do you have a resume?He said no.I said,do you look on the job sites and apply everyday or do a drop off foot walk of your resume or fill out apps?He said no.I said,are you also going to keep feeding your mouth with hamburgers,fries,soda,not work out and look like that fat Christmas tree for life????? I also mentioned to this guy that there were plenty of "packing"jobs right now in your area that pay almost 18 dollars an hour and with the economy and in the area you live in,that is actually a very good wage.I went on to say that this is a good way to get introduced into manufacturing,make a good wage with benefits and gain some experience to move on to higher plateau's,even management later on.He said...."packing product in boxes is beneath him".I replyed .....So collecting welfare is NOT beneath you then????? Another hopeless being on this planet that I must support in one way,shape or form. Same with GK.I do not wish to support anyone,in order that they can chat a few words once in a while in the club that I pay for!!!! So,if your asking me why I would possibly compare the above welfare scenario(and yes,some need it,but not him!)...to this free GK club thing???? A brain dead ant in the middle of the Sahara desert can figure that one out,so I will not even respond! Enough said. Have a nice day! WB
saintinsanity 09-Jul-14, 14:10	heh That is quite an outpouring of emotion. Would you support making the clubs completely inaccessible to non paying members? They still get to read the clubs, I think.
wrecking_ball 09-Jul-14, 14:18	I'm on the fence on that one.I think,technically,one should be able to read the club forums,even as a free member in ORDER to see if that club truly has enough flavors in it for that member to join later on,AFTER They become a premium member.So,the posts alone are kind of an attracting incentive and an eye catch...if you know what I mean.But the right to contribute is much different.So,yes,I think free members should be able to read the club and general GK forums,just not contribute.Sure,they can gain free knowledge,but without interaction and involvement,that knowledge will be kind of limited to them on a personal help basis.
saintinsanity 09-Jul-14, 14:25	i agree Obviously, I support free members to be able to post. But if they can't, I certainly think theyneed to be able to read, in order to decide if they want to join. Truly, the only reason I pay is to participate in the clubs. I don't play enough games at a time to gain any other benefits.
wrecking_ball 09-Jul-14, 15:18	Its kind of the same as looking through a window in a private club or storefront with your nose against it...watching people having fun,learning,chatting,eating,drinking and all you have to do is get a few measly dollars together to join in the festivities.So,it is an incentive and good for all in the end.Many things are free in life,but then not necessarily everything is free...nor should they be. And do not get me wrong.I accept and appreciate different viewpoints and do not hold it against anyone.But I have to give my reasons and logic as well. Those who do not say a word in our club after several weeks or months,are worse than someone who has a different view than me and at least says something! I'd rather have a constructive argument with a neonazi,than speak to a wall in a GK club with any members...free or paying.
hogfysshe 09-Jul-14, 15:30	well, you have other benefits whether you use or appreciate them or not: games saved (lost after 30 days with a free account); extended rating graph (one year only with free, in small window); ability to see other people's full stats; personal opening database; fuller access to gk games database; satisfaction of supporting a site you enjoy the benefits of; etc. makes it a better site which probably makes for a more diverse and interesting field of players. I don't need a premium membership for number of games but do like it for all these other reasons.
wrecking_ball 09-Jul-14, 15:38	Ditto hogfysshe. The thing to remember is that its the paying members that are primarily responsible for the added features that I have seen over the years and further gives the GK administrators and programmers the financial resources necessary for these features and added improvements.To say that free members deserve this feature and that feature...is wrong.Sure,they need features to try the shoe on to see if it fits,but with limits!You want that fancier shoe now?That better suit?That lobster instead of that sirloin steak?Well this is not the welfare dept!Get the money and i'll give you that Italian suit!Don't have the money?Then keep eating that cheap hamburger or leave!
saintinsanity 10-Jul-14, 12:35	then again As club founder, you could simply decline to admit any non paying members.
wrecking_ball 10-Jul-14, 15:43	The deeper agenda.... Pawntificator.Yes,I would not admit non paying members.But other clubs would admit them(probably)...and I would still disagree with that as well.Since GK is firm on the issue and agree's with me and bigpeta for many of the same reasons,I think that there is a higher/more supreme order of logical fairness and business concepts intertwined with the reasoning's behind NOT allowing a big flow of free members into the clubs,even if it DOES increase the chat in those clubs.That would be nice,but it is NOT enough of a solid reason to do so.You can have 300 members in a club and if most of them are "dead heads",then all those "extra"members might as well be corpses piled up in a trench.Sure,paying members can be dead heads too,but that is more acceptable!Why?Because they already gave their support for GK,so they can do as they please.But most paying members do,indeed,take their chess more seriously than the bulk of free members(since they are paying for it)and logic dictates that they will,in most circumstances,make a more concerted "effort" to be active in the clubs. If I remember correctly,this exact issue came up over the years and GK has not changed their policy...not yet anyway.Like you eluded to,however,I would not let them in anyway for the reasons mentioned,even if GK does change their policy. And then it boils down to my personal respect for paying members vs free members.That is something others do not put into the equation!Since I obviously think this is the best site on the internet and spend a ton of hours each year on this chess site,including hours of club post work,....I strongly feel a much higher order of respect towards paying members and would give more of my personal time and help to supporters,rather than non supporters!See?This is only human nature when I take something seriously as I do with GK. I know many of the other chess sites limit free members to many things,whether it be a limited amount of games that can be played in a month,not being allowed to observe live games in progress(blitz)as a visiting 3rd party,smaller vs bigger game boards,better graphics and a host of other things that I cannot think of right at this moment.ICC,Instantchess,Chessworld and a few others limit the little extra's for a reason.And extra's do not always include the general forums on those sites,but the personal clubs are not the "general forums".There is a big difference. Again opinions vary on this issue,(and that is fine)but I have given my reasons and I stand by them.Looking way into the future with more bells and whistles and improvements on GK....this can only be accomplished with financial support.So,I need not say any more on this issue and it is intertwined with my reasoning's behind not only clubs on GK but other options as well that the free member should NOT have. If you go into a 5 star restaurant and either have no money or only 20 dollars to your name,what makes you think you have the right to sit along side the guys,be waited on first class and sit aside of those who have already paid or are going to pay their big bill and leave a tip bigger than that $20 dollars you have for the whole meal?That restaurant has a big overhead,just like GK.So,the waiter says.....go into the alley with this brown bag....and when they throw the scraps out you hold the bag up!!!Good day sir,they say....and now leave!!!!And take that smelly dog with you!Ha ha! There is a hidden message in there somewhere! WB

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