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Is Ben Finegold as big a jerk as he seems in his videos?

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Akamaister

I like his advice to those who are starting to learn chess. Don't quit, even when you're behind.

Of course, it never works against bots who are several hundred points ahead of you. Unless your name is Hikaru.

Chessflyfisher
DesperateKingWalk wrote:

GM Ben Grim Finegold is a bitter a hole. And even GM Nakamura agrees. Once you know Grim Ben, you will never watch him again. To know him is to leave him. The guy is not funny, the guy is just a jerk.

Why do you say, "And even GM Nakamura agrees."? Why would he (or someone like him) not agree with you?

magictwanger

Sheesh....Lighten up.

magipi

Ben and Hikaru are long time pals. When they trashtalk each other they do it for show, because simple fans like "drama". Don't believe everything you see on the internet.

magipi
DesperateKingWalk wrote:
magipi wrote:

Ben and Hikaru are long time pals. When they trashtalk each other they do it for show, because simple fans like "drama". Don't believe everything you see on the internet.

Knowing someone is not the same as being PALS.

They have a lot more than just "knowing each other". Ben has been Hikaru's coach and/or second for years, in countless events.

xor_eax_eax05

It's not surprising, no one likes Hikaru except for his Twitch simps who give him money for existing.

magictwanger

Desperatekingwalk....I've seen plenty of threads where you decided to be antagonistic towards forum members,or be critical of what some folks' chess set looks like. Sets they have spent hard earned money on.Would it have killed you to be supportive,instead of critical? On a site like this,where we don't know a person's situation,support and politeness is more appropriate.

Btw,I am "not'" referring to my gorgeous Tsarist set.....You have kinda' peeved quite a few forum members here and nobody has called you a jerk....Yet!

magictwanger

I rest my case!.....Back to humorous and savvy Ben I like the guy.

magictwanger

That's what my wife tells me. But,you get a kick out of being antagonistic and abrasive. So many folks are not too wild about your antics.....Surprise me and get back to this thread,about a GM of high intelligence and sense of humor beyond the masses.

magictwanger

I don't respect your opinions enough to go there.You are mistaken and are simply being sensitive to criticism and that someone doesn't agree with you....I could care less about your opinions of myself, things I or anyone else owns.I simply felt the need to express myself here,prompted by your knocking Ben,because you've been so abrasive elsewhere to other folks.

If GM Finegold saw these silly remarks between us,he'd roll his eyes ....I'm not responding to you anymore.

I've made my point.......Have the last word,since you're so insecure and need to do so.

Be well.happy

varelse1

What you see when he is streaming is just a charade.

He isn't half as nice, in person.

LouisIII

I just watched Ben's lesson. He teases the students a little, but I don't think he was rude or disrespectful. I've seen much worse. I saw my son's teacher get into a little verbal roughhousing that left a girl in tears on her last day of elementary school. A college professor at an open house for kids made a joke about throwing erasers at his students, and a year later I found out my son was worried about going to college because he thought the professor was serious.

Yasser reminded me of Mr. Rogers.

ShelbyLohrman

I got an idea...Let's cancel him because you don't like him! Sounds like a great idea. If YOU don't like him he must be gone...it's a little self aggrandizing.

If you don't like him, don't watch him. Plain and simple. He may be rough around the edges, but if you know him personally he is an AWESOME guy. He works great with students and will take time for most anyone. Have known him for over 2 decades in person. Is his sense of humor for everyone? Nope!

This thread should have died a long time ago. Enjoy Ben for who he is or just move on. Very simple.

Shelby Lohrman

Rochester Chess Center

MammalBrain

Who is more obnoxious Wesley So or Vishy Anand happy.png

?

Chessflyfisher

He's like the Don Rickles of Chess.

bubuhul

fiskefillet

Thee_Ghostess_Lola

uhhh no...they say he likes popping salted caramels

medelpad

i mean he is indeed big

TheBlunderOpening
Yes but that’s his brand. His insults are the same ones in our heads when we blunder and it’s style his of humor. In summation: the truth hurts.
StuAngely
portlandflute wrote:
JerryKasporav wrote:

https://youtu.be/w7a2wGaez1g

I was watching some St. Louis Chess Club videos but every one that Finegold does he is constantly ridiculing and mocking the audience. Extremely off putting. Does he just have a poor sense of humor or is this his personality?

come on.. i think youre the one with poor sense of humor here.. his approach to teaching make it more casual and the jokes are just like jokes friends.. the audience must have glass heart if theyre offended by them

His jokes are terrible, beyond unfunny. I feel like I'm being forced to entertain my uncle who took a blow to the head at some point. He talks constantly about himself. I challenge anyone to find a chess video of his where he doesn't talk about some game he won that has nothing to do with the position in the lecture. I challenge them to find a video where he gets on with teaching within 5 minutes.

The truth is that he is mean and self centred. He has no humour to speak of and loves the sound of his own voice. His videos are painful to watch and almost impossible to get through and he imparts almost zero knowledge onto those watching. He is a terrible teacher and should really just step into the background, never to be heard from again. He's not even that good at chess.