Why doesn't Lichess have an option that permits players to pre-screen and approve their opponents? As it stands, creating a game guarantees a pairing with a random player whose credentials, playing history, sportsmanship record etc. are not available beforehand.
Suddenly, you find yourself locked into a game with a player whose rating is provisional, who may (for all you know) be a cheater or have an abusive personality or other poor habits, and you are essentially forced to play a game with that individual since, if you abort or do not move, you are then "timed-out."
The entire foundation of such forced matchmaking seems ridiculous. If you want to play someone, there should be an option where you "request" to play that person, without any obligation on their part to accept the game. This will give the individual time and opportunity to do a brief background check and make an informed decision. If players want to be randomly paired, then they can go into that pool as well.
Why is this not an option?
That's because you've already pre-filtered players with seek settings (click the gear icon in the lobby, refine seek parameters). There is no review period beyond time-out to play the first move. Either play whomever accepts your seek with the parameters you set, refine your parameters, or get-gone.
The match-making is not entirely forced. If someone issues a seek for the same variant, and time-control, then you are assigned someone who simply did not scan the lobby deep enough.
You don't get this option in tournament matching. You DO have options for manually instigated games.
Stop complaining and play. If you don't like it, go somewhere else and play. If you think that LiChess could benefit from an option which seems reasonably simple to develop and implement, something you see somewhere else, then suggest it.
And, you can "request" to play a person, if a person allows requests (i.e. from those not on their friends list; check your "challenge" settings in your own personal settings). So, I don't know what you're going on about. Explore the interface a little -- and stop complaining about the obvious.
The Lobby, at large, is a "random" pool -- you can accept seeks from other players, and other players can accept seeks you issue. Or, you can challenge a player directly, if that player allows challenges, etc...
C'mon -- figure it out. All of this is already covered. Why do you not get these options?
On a separate note, I've gotta ask (seriously): WTF is your problem dude? (Like, Gomer Pyle Major Malfunction, or something like that?)
You are incorrect. As far as I understand, there is no option to pre-screen *individual* players, only large subsets of the available pool based on generally shared criteria. Pounding the existing system loudly doesn't mean it makes sense, and it certainly is not a defense to tell people to "get-gone."
My suggestion is simple: If people want an option for random pairing, they can enter into that pool. However, the other option should be that, if you create a game, it should not simply be open, absent your approval, to anybody that happens to click on it.
You spent a great deal of time explaining things that have nothing to do with my post. Perhaps, next time, if you have nothing constructive to add (and, you don't) follow your own advice and "get-gone."
I hate repeating myself (again) ...
<< "That's because you've already pre-filtered players with seek settings (click the gear icon in the lobby, refine seek parameters). There is no review period beyond time-out to play the first move. Either play whomever accepts your seek with the parameters you set, refine your parameters, or get-gone."
>> "You are incorrect. As far as I understand, there is no option to pre-screen *individual* players, only large subsets of the available pool based on generally shared criteria."
EXACTLY.
THAT IS EXACTLY THE POINT.
GROW-UP! (Get with it. Pay attention. Pick your poison.)
IF YOU DO NOT LIKE IT THEN DO NOT PLAY. Go find this feature on another site, and then come back here and suggest how to implement it reasonably and efficiently. (OR, Just STFU. And play chess.)
Please go back and read-read your OP (original post), and then read what I said. Look into what I said. Pay attention to the way things work. They're not going to work the way you want them to work simply because you're a despot or think yourself a demi-god or something dumb like this.
You can fork the code-base and start your own site with your own rules that you can develop and enforce any way you like. Have fun!
I see I've stumbled upon the resident troll. I understand full well that a particular feature does not exist. I am suggesting that the feature be implemented. Is this really that hard to understand? It is not, unless you are being deliberately obtuse.
Now, get-gone. Thanks.
Since you clearly think you know more about how a chess site should work than the people who have been successfully running one for years, I suggest you go start one.
I see the trolls work in pairs.
For reference, see also (this whole thread, with a theme of: "I can't be wrong, things have to be my way") ...
lichess.org/forum/general-chess-discussion/sudden-grandmaster-syndrome#9Talk about being deliberately obtuse ... don't get your way in one thread, start another ... and then say everyone who disagrees with you is a "troll." (Yes, I'm a troll, but not because I disagree with your whole "I can't be wrong" attitude and perspective -- but because your stuff came across my radar yesterday and today.)
That is all.