Lamby: You win the prize as I see it too.

LOLOL. This is a complete contrast to those who say cloak mode should be abolished because "why should people hide?". Spirou's suggesting that we all be all be hidden as a matter of course.

Spirou: "annoyed imagined opponents "

There are two possibilities here. Firstly that you imagine your opponents to be annoyed because you get annoyed. Scondly, you don't get annoyed yourself but are being considerate and wishing not to offend others who might.

My assumption is that most people don't mind and have got used to the ways in which other people go about their gaming. It's very reasonable to allow others to do as they like, whether that be reading all the boards first (which is what I am doing, for example) or writing messages, perusing the new members list, etc, or just opening the main page and let it sit there while doing something around the house.

It's true that it would be a politeness to inform your opponents that you are not moving but, because making moves is only part of enjoying this site, it's a politeness which many people would find strange - it apologises for normal behaviour.

The ones who get annoyed? Let them get annoyed and deal with it themselves. I'm one myself sometimes when a particularly slow player is holding up a tournament and I see them online. But that's my frustration to deal with and the rational viewpoint is that my opponent shouldn't have to account for their actions. The bext course for an impatient player is to request of their opponent that they give their game more attention if it's convenient and then practice more patience.

A related point: Another bevaviour which is quite normal is to be playing somebody and then they go offline all of a sudden. Sometimes they will inform their opponent why (bedtime, or work, etc) while other times - most times - they will not. Getting offended by that is as pointless as getting offended because someone's reading a discussion board rather than making amoves.