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Dark Knight / Le Chevalier Noir
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---- Nous avons besoin d'un traduction français!
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...whenever Spraggett decides to victimize someone in the Canadian chess community, no one will step forward to let Spraggett know that he's not fooling anyone and that his behaviour is unacceptable? Specifically, I'm referring to Lynn Stringer. Only two people, Roger Patterson and Jason Lohner, have had the decency to step forward and say something in her defence. I don't know Lynn personally but, over the years, I've never heard anyone say anything but positive things about her and about her impact on chess. Why aren't there dozens, scores, of supportive posts on this board from people who know Lynn and are offended by Spraggett's ongoing attack?
Those of you who've been visiting ChessTalk for a few years will recall that Spraggett did the same thing to Phil Haley 6 or 7 years ago. And hardly anyone had the guts to stand up to Spraggett back then, too, even though it was crystal clear that the premise for Spraggett's attack on Phil was without any basis in reality.
Show some backbone, people!
"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office." - Aesop
"Only the dead have seen the end of war." - Plato
"If once a man indulges himself in murder, very soon he comes to think little of robbing; and from robbing he comes next to drinking and Sabbath-breaking, and from that to incivility and procrastination." - Thomas De Quincey
...whenever Spraggett decides to victimize someone in the Canadian chess community, no one will step forward to let Spraggett know that he's not fooling anyone and that his behaviour is unacceptable? Specifically, I'm referring to Lynn Stringer. Only two people, Roger Patterson and Jason Lohner, have had the decency to step forward and say something in her defence. I don't know Lynn personally but, over the years, I've never heard anyone say anything but positive things about her and about her impact on chess. Why aren't there dozens, scores, of supportive posts on this board from people who know Lynn and are offended by Spraggett's ongoing attack?
Those of you who've been visiting ChessTalk for a few years will recall that Spraggett did the same thing to Phil Haley 6 or 7 years ago. And hardly anyone had the guts to stand up to Spraggett back then, too, even though it was crystal clear that the premise for Spraggett's attack on Phil was without any basis in reality.
Show some backbone, people!
Looks like Lynn Stringer is a registered user on this board (with 3 posts) and last visited on Sept 19,2009
She probably could post something herself, but has not done so. Maybe she has not bothered to read the rubbish on Spraggetts blob or on the 'vanished' website (I know I sure wish I hadn't!!)
It could be that she is not going to dignify the rubbish with any reply.
For that matter, I believe Peter Stockhausen is also registered on this board, so he could chime in with his version... (although he has not visited since March 2009)
Yeah, but I was talking about people who know her speaking up on her behalf. Anyway #1a, something worse has happened. Spraggett got ahold of that pic of you and me at the OCC New Year's party.
"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office." - Aesop
"Only the dead have seen the end of war." - Plato
"If once a man indulges himself in murder, very soon he comes to think little of robbing; and from robbing he comes next to drinking and Sabbath-breaking, and from that to incivility and procrastination." - Thomas De Quincey
I think that shows intelligence. I am certain that anyone who knows Lynn knows that it is absolutely ridiculous and isn't worth "defending".
I hear you but I think we come from two different backgrounds. Where I come from, if a friend is being subjected to an unjust and scurrilous attack, you stand up for them. Has it occurred to you that perhaps Lynn might appreciate a little support from her friends? If not publicly, at a place like this, then perhaps by way of a phone call or an email? Or perhaps, for people who come from certain backgrounds, it just "isn't worth" the price of a long distance phone call, or the effort of typing a brief email, to let a friend know that you're thinking about her.
"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office." - Aesop
"Only the dead have seen the end of war." - Plato
"If once a man indulges himself in murder, very soon he comes to think little of robbing; and from robbing he comes next to drinking and Sabbath-breaking, and from that to incivility and procrastination." - Thomas De Quincey
I hear you but I think we come from two different backgrounds. Where I come from, if a friend is being subjected to an unjust and scurrilous attack, you stand up for them. Has it occurred to you that perhaps Lynn might appreciate a little support from her friends? If not publicly, at a place like this, then perhaps by way of a phone call or an email? Or perhaps, for people who come from certain backgrounds, it just "isn't worth" the price of a long distance phone call, or the effort of typing a brief email, to let a friend know that you're thinking about her.
All of this is eerily reminiscant of a few weeks ago, in respect to Jean Hebert's personal attack on Hal Bond re: the conditions at the Canadian Closed. There, too, someone who has had nothing but a positive influence in chess according to all reports was summarily attacked and held responsible for something, without a shred of evidence presented.
The conditions may have been as bad as Hebert claimed they were, but I was calling out Hebert for being a coward, a hypocrite, and an unprofessional detriment to chess by attacking Hal after he (Hebert) had safely left Guelph with his sponsor check in the bank, and that Hal Bond shouldn't arbitrarily and without backing evidence be held responsible. We should encourage, not discourage, people to serve as organizers; it's already thankless enough without boorish elitists like Hebert attacking them.
While some people posted how much they appreciate Hal's organizing efforts, none of them joined me in condemning Hebert. Hollow praise indeed.
These two examples seem to show that if you're a highly-ranked titled player in Canada, this board's members with few exceptions will take whatever you post as gospel.... or that they just don't care.
The author in the article referenced on this board in the thread titled "Pierre Garon: How the game of chess lost its soul" makes this statement: "Outside the bounds of moderation, you practise the game at your peril. Chess in excess puts fairies in your mind." Hebert at least is another example of this. However, I must defer on making the same claim for Spraggett, as the latest post by Charles Graves seems to indicate it's not Spraggett making the blogs on the Spraggett blog site.
As for backbone, I think most people will only respond to something if and when it directly affects them. You can't make them act otherwise. It's like Michael Moore calling capitalism evil in his new movie. What is he expecting, that the masses are going to rise up and tear down the system? Something like that will only be triggered when enough people are adversely affected (DEPRESSION) by the actions of a few (GOLDMAN SACHS).
Perhaps Moore can make his next movie on a lighter topic, the antics and soap operas going on in international chess. In the search for debauchery, depravity and degenerates ;) Canada alone seems to have a whole movie's worth to offer!
Only the rushing is heard...
Onward flies the bird.
I hear you but I think we come from two different backgrounds. Where I come from, if a friend is being subjected to an unjust and scurrilous attack, you stand up for them.
Where I come from, I consider the source. If the source has a history of making totally unfounded, random accusations then I think it can be safely ignored. Think of it like the difference between the New York Times printing "Tom O'Donnell is a Socialist!" and the National Enquirer doing the same thing. I would sue the NYT, but wouldn't waste my time with the NE. ;-)
"Tom is a well known racist, and like most of them he won't admit it, possibly even to himself." - Ed Seedhouse, October 4, 2020.
Reality check. As much as many people might like Lynn, the Stockhausen family has far greater problems and I don't see people stepping up to help them. Your priorities are wrong here, Lynn has the capability to defend herself with just a few words, clarify what she knows, and has chosen not to. By not doing so she is extending the suffering of the family.
Careful with your use of analogies, Tom. The NY Times calling you a socialist would be a complimentary gesture on their part, given the paper's left-leaning reputation. And remember that it was the National Enquirer that broke the John Edwards affair story with some top notch investigative reporting!
The world has changed, even the US likes Muammar these days...
Think of it like the difference between the New York Times printing "Tom O'Donnell is a Socialist!" and the National Enquirer doing the same thing. I would sue the NYT, but wouldn't waste my time with the NE. ;-)
Would you get anything? I doubt anyone who reads what you write would believe such a thing. :)
All of this is eerily reminiscant of a few weeks ago, in respect to Jean Hebert's personal attack on Hal Bond re: the conditions at the Canadian Closed. There, too, someone who has had nothing but a positive influence in chess according to all reports was summarily attacked and held responsible for something, without a shred of evidence presented.
Why don't you give it a rest. Jean was a member of the CCCA when I was doing paid administration. He never gave me any problems.
Part of the job of organizing is to take the flack when players don't like something. I once had someone get so upset with me he started a correspondence club to compete with the CCCA.
When you write about someone who has had a positive influence on Chess, I'm sure you must be writing about Jean.
First people want colorful players in chess so the media will notice. Then when high profile players do speak out the hecklers start.
Reality check. As much as many people might like Lynn, the Stockhausen family has far greater problems and I don't see people stepping up to help them. Your priorities are wrong here, Lynn has the capability to defend herself with just a few words, clarify what she knows, and has chosen not to. By not doing so she is extending the suffering of the family.
In another thread, Lynn has clarified her involvement (pretty close to zero). Of course, Kevin Spraggett's mindless drivel borders on slander.
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