A word to link solicitors
For a long time, no one expressed much of a desire to have me link to them, but the last few weeks in particular this has changed in a big way. I'm not sure why this is - maybe it started with Peter Doggers of Chess Vibes setting an example. He hasn't been shy about promoting his website whenever something new appears there, and maybe his boldness has been contagious.
Whatever the case, I'm not enjoying the attention, as a steady stream of solicitors, often of truly awful sites, have come knocking on my mailbox. So in case anyone reading this is preparing to request that I mention your website or add it to my blogroll, here are the rules.
First, if you haven't already linked to my site, don't bother. It's not that I care if you link to me - it's your site, and you're welcome to link as you please. Rather, it's a matter of showing Kantian respect: I'm not interested in being treated merely as a means.
Second, if you're selling something, don't bother, unless there's a great deal of meaningful, free value on your site. (Examples are ChessBase, TWIC, and the Chess Cafe.) There's so much great free info on the web that with very rare exceptions, making anyone pay for chess information unless you're an IM or higher is completely ridiculous. I'm in this for the love of the game, not to make a buck. (I don't get "kickbacks" from Chess Today or ChessBase, and even if I did, they would have to be colossal to compensate the time I've put into the blog the past several years.)
Third, if your site features racy material, fuhgedaboutit. We keep things family-friendly here.
Fourth, what I am happy and eager to mention are quality blogs, local chess club sites, and sites dedicated to particular sub-topics like correspondence chess, chess problems/studies, opening forums, chess history, etc. (Note: rule #1 mainly applies here to bloggers looking for me to promote their sites.)
Whatever the case, I'm not enjoying the attention, as a steady stream of solicitors, often of truly awful sites, have come knocking on my mailbox. So in case anyone reading this is preparing to request that I mention your website or add it to my blogroll, here are the rules.
First, if you haven't already linked to my site, don't bother. It's not that I care if you link to me - it's your site, and you're welcome to link as you please. Rather, it's a matter of showing Kantian respect: I'm not interested in being treated merely as a means.
Second, if you're selling something, don't bother, unless there's a great deal of meaningful, free value on your site. (Examples are ChessBase, TWIC, and the Chess Cafe.) There's so much great free info on the web that with very rare exceptions, making anyone pay for chess information unless you're an IM or higher is completely ridiculous. I'm in this for the love of the game, not to make a buck. (I don't get "kickbacks" from Chess Today or ChessBase, and even if I did, they would have to be colossal to compensate the time I've put into the blog the past several years.)
Third, if your site features racy material, fuhgedaboutit. We keep things family-friendly here.
Fourth, what I am happy and eager to mention are quality blogs, local chess club sites, and sites dedicated to particular sub-topics like correspondence chess, chess problems/studies, opening forums, chess history, etc. (Note: rule #1 mainly applies here to bloggers looking for me to promote their sites.)