The Gray Area of Chess: Unintentional Distractions by Opponent

@GenderNeutraleHenk said in #18:
> Am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous that an opponent shows up sick. It's unethical in my opinion, to not care about other people's health and take the risk of spreading a virus to your opponent and everyone else who was there. When you are ill, just stay home please...
I agree, but for really high level chess this is often not possible...even for lower rated players if you spend thousands of dollars to get to a large tournament sickness might not hinder you from playing.

@ebk1976 said in #21:
> I agree, but for really high level chess this is often not possible...even for lower rated players if you spend thousands of dollars to get to a large tournament sickness might not hinder you from playing.

People should get chess tournament insurance with their travel arrangement. Or the tournament should last long enough for day time scale surprise sickness to be cause for postponing the game without destroying the pyramidal logistics.

@ebk1976 said in #7:
> So @Durarbayli what do you propose people should do?
Just stay silent so our gentleman could win the game. Or else call the arbiter and have them call the game a defeat for the opponent who was sick for coughing. I mean, obviously, the reason that they lost was the coughings. Otherwise of course he would have won.

Doesn't even take in to consideration that while the sound of coughing has distracted him from thinking, the whole act of coughing has thrown the opponent (who's also very much interested in deep thinking) off of thinking.

@GenderNeutraleHenk said in #18:
> Am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous that an opponent shows up sick. It's unethical in my opinion

What if they have one of the many chronic non-communicable conditions that cause flu-like symptoms, should they just never be allowed to play chess over the board?

@MBurns2020 said in #5:
> yess a fm was couhing against me and i lost at the start!!
you lost cause your not good if there would be durabayli or any other GM he would not blunder
someone coughing doesn't distract me

@chessfan124 said in #24:
> What if they have one of the many chronic non-communicable conditions that cause flu-like symptoms, should they just never be allowed to play chess over the board?

Ofcourse not, that is not what I am saying at all. I am saying when someone is sick, he should stay home, otherwise you are just selfish by risking other people's health.

However, if some one has a chronic non-communicable condition, it would be decent to let your opponent('s) know beforehand what your condition is. We had some one like that at our chess club, he had Tourette's I believe. But because everyone knew, it wasn't a huge deal.

@MAGNus_204 said in #25:
> you lost cause your not good if there would be durabayli or any other GM he would not blunder
> someone coughing doesn't distract me
AHEM I AM 1775 (1800) ON THE BOARD

idk, I've never played competitive chess, but. can't you just train yourself to tolerate distractions better? or maybe wear earplugs?

visual distractions. and immune system priming... I think LAN online chess might increase the population that can access OTB podiums. why select against sensitivity to surrounding information, why not give all the chances to the otherwise creative and fun to play with, chess players. no just those with top stubbornness and ability (or disability to see) to suppress otherwise normal social cues.

@ebk1976 said in #7:
> So @Durarbayli what do you propose people should do?

In my opinion, it's essential that arbiters take a more proactive approach to address distractions during chess games. I believe that training arbiters to identify and address distractions early on in the game would be a significant step forward. Currently, I have observed that arbiters often do not fulfill this role effectively.