[phaus]

Since when did we start demanding background checks on people that publish free tutorials on the internet?

But since you asked, he explains in this article that he was rated around 1800. He also clearly explains what that means. He then described a system he used to boost his rating by 600 points in 15 months. I'm impressed, but you aren't obligated to feel the same way. You also aren't obligated to take his advice. He gave it to us for free, and you returned his kindness with unnecessary hostility.

[EdwigePelagia]

Does HN operate on a kindness and friendliness economy? If some blogspam hack writes in a very kind tone but peddles complete unauthoritative bullshit should we coddle him so as to not hurt his feelings? All he because he wrote with "kindness".

This isn't a nice lady smiling at you on the street and telling you about her knitting technique. This is fucking blogspam by a complete amateur who has self-proclaimed himself an expert on a topic that is already very well populated by ACTUAL authoritative experts.

[phaus]

Blog spam is for generating ad revenue or gaining attention for a product. This guy isn't selling anything, and there aren't any ads on his site(at least none that I see on my iPad).

If you don't like what he has to say, that's your perogative, but that doesn't make his article blog spam. The guy's been on HN for a year and a half and that's the first time he ever posted anything from his site. He likely just found out that a lot of HN members are interested in chess, and so he did what normal people have done with their hobbies for centuries, try to grow the community.

Instead of complaining, wouldn't it be more productive to take your own advice and post some of the resources that you found useful?

[EdwigePelagia]

>Instead of complaining, wouldn't it be more productive to take your own advice and post some of the resources that you found useful?

No. Pointing out the low quality of this article is pretty easy and helpful. It's not like the opportunity cost of my very simple (but powerful) criticism is precluding me from making my contributions to the world.

I think we should all spend a lot more time shooting down people who don't deserve attention.

I'm sure he's a nice guy. Maybe he's a great friend and sincerely loves his mom. If these things make you uncriticizable on HN, no wonder the place is full of trash.

P.S. It's blogspam because he's selling his book.

[phaus]

So on one hand you are criticising a 19-year old for attempting to add value to peoples' lives without asking for anything in return, because you feel his efforts are insufficient, yet you yourself are actively refusing to bring anything worthwhile to the table.

>I think we should all spend a lot more time shooting down people who don't deserve attention.

I agree. I hope its not lost on you that this is exactly what I've been doing.

No one is above intelligent criticism, but we have yet to see any of that from you.

This is a place for people that like to build things. Having a needlessly negative attitude isn't conducive to making that happen.

[scott_s]

Plenty of people submit content that also has a relationship to a book. If that content has value unto itself, then it's not blogspam.