Why Cheat?

I’ve been wondering why so many people cheat at online chess? At my local libraries chess meets, more than half the usual crowd has admitted (mostly bragged) to being habitual online cheaters. Having had the opportunity to play said cheaters in person, I can say without a doubt, cheating hasn’t improved their ability to play! They may have a rank of 2000 on lichess but, they play like rank armatures in person. So obviously they don’t do it to improve their game.

I wonder, what is the draw to cheating? I would really like to know; because to me, cheating seems like a pointless waste of time.

Let's be honest: Trying to become better is a pointless waste of time, too.

@sheckley666 said in #2:

Let's be honest: Trying to become better is a pointless waste of time, too.

playing chess is a pointless activity of lazy deluded people who think they are more intelligent than those who do more productive activities.

@sheckley666 said in #2:

Let's be honest: Trying to become better is a pointless waste of time, too.

@michuk said in #3:

playing chess is a pointless activity of lazy deluded people who think they are more intelligent than those who do more productive activities.

Interesting: So both of you cheat because you feel it's the only way to get ahead. Thank you for the explanations of why you cheat.

"because to me, cheating seems like a pointless waste of time."

losing to cheaters is also a pointless waste of time, I think that's the answer - a player plays, he understands that he's cheated, gets tired of it, but still wanna play online because it's easier than going to a club, and still wants to play longer than bullet games, so he starts cheating. - because he doesn't want to be cheated.

I used to play on Yahoo! Chess when the internet was a baby, it was a complete anarchy, I was thinking there for a Long time - (stockfish didn't exist yet), no matter how strong I strained, the opponent would have perfect moves out of thin air that you can do Nothing about. I lost. What did I get in return? "lol", "what a loser".

lol... what a rip-off...

I used to cheat a Long time ago - Very unprofessionally - Prince_Abubu on lichess, but I don't remember the reason I started, I Think it's because of frustration because there were so many cheaters.

https://lichess.org/@/Prince_Abubu

But, as you can see from school - some people are just plain evil... the dumb thing is, there's so Many cheaters, that cheaters probably play against each other.

I guess what the good guy should do, is not being all That lazy - go a few times to a club, meet people, and the ones he trusts, he can play online with them. I'm too lazy, guilty as charged...

@Mr_Quintessential said in #4:

Interesting: So both of you cheat because you feel it's the only way to get ahead. Thank you for the explanations of why you cheat.

Cheating at chess is even more pointless than pointless activity of playing chess. Try to keep up.

@Mr_Quintessential said in #4:

Interesting: So both of you cheat because you feel it's the only way to get ahead. Thank you for the explanations of why you cheat.
Can you imagine that there are people who play just for fun, and not "to get ahead"?

@michuk said in #3:

playing chess is a pointless activity of lazy deluded people who think they are more intelligent than those who do more productive activities.

Total nonsense.

First, "productive activities" are meaningless and relative as a statement based on subjective judgement.
Furthermore, skills from chess are proven to be beneficial for the mind.
Finally, "pointless activity" says more about you then chess.

In summing up, it is always those that don't commit to chess who fail to comprehend the profound deepness of the game.

P.S Nobody obtains a GM title with lazy thought!

@Firegoat7 said in #8:

Total nonsense.

First, "productive activities" are meaningless and relative as a statement based on subjective judgement.
Furthermore, skills from chess are proven to be beneficial for the mind.
Finally, "pointless activity" says more about you then chess.

In summing up, it is always those that don't commit to chess who fail to comprehend the profound deepness of the game.

P.S Nobody obtains a GM title with lazy thought!

I'm expressing an opinion about my experience in chess and about my views, and about my outlook on the game.
You don't need a GM title to express an opinion on chess. That is intellectual snobbery and I stamped that out years ago with my chess community where amateur and professional were allowed to talk freely about chess.

@michuk said in #9:

I'm expressing an opinion about my experience in chess and about my views, and about my outlook on the game.
You don't need a GM title to express an opinion on chess. That is intellectual snobbery and I stamped that out years ago with my chess community where amateur and professional were allowed to talk freely about chess.

Total bullshit opinion.

Just another example of post truth nonsense. Chess has a proven and tested intellectual history of scientific cognitive development that isn't refuted by private group chats.