I don't think of it as racist at all. They want a special prize tourney for their country, so be it. Anyone else here is welcome to do the same : )
As Merrily said down the page, there was talk of doing one for English speaking people and wasn't started for lack of interest. The Czechs put their money up, they should be commended, noted on server news and not criticized. If there was more interest, others could do the same. I would donate to an English speaking prize tourney. Anyone else?

AFTER ALL THIS IS A CZECH SITE,NOT AN AMERICAN ONE!

Me too, baddessi!!!

baddessi: And I, to a Farsi speaking tourny! or to a tourny for black-haired men or to one for those who don't have the right arm and the left leg!

baddessi: It is not the tournament which I am propossing as racist..... I am pointing out for discussion the possibility that the recognition of 13 Czech members for their contribution of $45.00 in the server news at the exclusion of many others who have contributed more, and to promote in the server news a tournament which has limited membership appeal, is at least inappropriate, and at its worst an act of racism.

(this is just an attempt to stimulate discussion, and not my personal opinion :)

The server news does not even name the 13 players, you know.

Czuch Chuckers: If it's not your opinion, and this is not a debate board - why even bring it up? All it looks like to me and many others is you just trying to cause trouble.... I mean if it was your opinion, I guess I would understand a little more.... but when it is not even your opinion, then why even bring it up????

BuilderQ: It does mention them with a link to their names, does that really matter?

Czuch Chuckers: I think that 13 of them stepping up and contributing is worthy of the server news. Yes, many others have individually done a lot for the site, but I thought it was cool that a group banded together for the good of BK.

Antichrist: yes, it is a site created by Fencer who is Czech, but I see people from all over the world playing on here.

Eriisa- that's two of us, 11 to go??? LOL

baddessi: We are very small country. There are (on BK.com) more english speaking peoples than native czech speakers. :) If You are able to stay together, try to find more than only 13 persons. On start I looking for 30 person. But I didnt find .....

BIG BAD WOLF: My opinion is that it doesnt matter what Fencer does on this site, weather it is racist or not, I dont care. But it still doesnt make it not racist and I was curious of others opinions of this action. I am just pointing this out for discussion, you know, that freedom of speach thingy ? I mean how is pointing out facts causing trouble???? Just cause it isnt pleasant for everyone to think about? Or just because it happens to be our fearless leader? You Libs out there dont mind bashing the president of our country, but make one comment deemed negative about the owner of a web site... and look out!

Czuch Chuckers: Probably the reason for that tournament to have been announced in the server news is because the prize is a Maharajah membership. Since Kaoz's membership expired we haven't had another Maharajah member around (I think).
It doesn't bother the least to me that it is restricted to checks only, I know it doesn't bother you as well (you stated it) and mostly nobody else... so why stirr up things?

pauloaguia: Thanks! I guess I was more curious as to why nobody was bothered by it, as I have seen far less sensative subject matter get tons of complaints and comments....

Luisifer: that's why I thought it was so great- because you are such a small country. We have the potential to do one as well...and as many as there are of us, it could do alot of good : )

What is the percentage of members (paying and non paying) who are Czech and those who are American? Does anybody know or know how to find out easily?

Czuch Chuckers:...LOL..and what about the rest of us?

Tulip: Sure the percentage of all different countrys represented on this site please?

Czuch Chuckers:i havent a clue but you only mentioned Czech and Americans?

Tulip: uhhhhh.... see below where I updated it to ask for all countrys ;)

Tulip: I don't think Czuch meant it the way it sounded. It would be interesting, but then again, it would only depend on what flag each person has listed.

I have held Gothic Chess tournaments with prize money. Does that mean I "excluded" Backgammon players or players who could not read the English description and understand there was money at stake?

I think anyone who holds a tournament with a prize should be able to specify it however they want.

I guess Fencer was just exercising his freedom of speech thingy in the newsbox.

ughaibu: :)

Heh, the site is changing its face, and I cannot tell that it make's me happy.
People complaint that IYT is American oriented - don't know, never played there... I can say that BK is going the same path toward Czech: http://brainking.com/game/Tournaments?trg=7709&trnst=0&tp=23

I have nothing against any nation, but why somebody will start label things with "Czech only" , "Only for Czech people!!! Nothing to see!!!" - What are you trying to say? The most upsetting part that this is encouraged: "Best regards fly to the following sponsors". I'm very upset with the way thinks turning around.

It's like in the old days: "white only", "my religion is the only religion", etc. Is it a right path to go? Not me to decide - I can only talk.
I thought that this is international site, but I don't think this way anymore.


I guess it's all about money - hey, it's always like this, but this time it was written in black and white: give me the money and I will allow you to do what ever you ask.

Some people really don't care about labels and do it for fun:
http://brainking.com/game/Tournaments?trg=6703&trnst=2&tp=41

THIS SITE IS EUROPEAN!
THIS IS NOT AMERICA!

eagle eye: I made the rules. If You don't like it, make your own tournament with your own rules. If someone write that it is racism or something other ... It is the same as I write about him that he is idiot. I think that he lie (to him self) that it is racism as he can think that I lie that he is idiot. And what is it? IT IS DEMOCRACY! BUT NOT ANARCHY! What is it mean? In Democracy can do everybody everything but nobody can contravene rules! And if someone tell that i am racist i tell that he is lier!

Luisifer:YOU GOT THAT RIGHT!IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT DONT' PLAY IT!

Luisifer:
I did not use terms "racist", "idiot", and "lier", so lets keep it nice way. I said whatever I said and the way I feel. If you don't like it - I cannot help. Using YOUR terms, this is "DEMOCRACY". Are you trying to say that I cannot do it? It's up to you if you want to continue this discussion, but I have nothing to add. I don't want to start a war here. period.

eagle eye: sry ... everything wasnt to You .... because I wrote: If someone ... not .. if YOU! Becasue befor You someone write about racism.....

eagle eye: Sorry to say that but when somebody makes global conclusions about the whole site based on one tournament, it makes me only laugh :-) And if you don't want to start a war here, please don't bring this subject back.

When anybody makes repressive stuff under the cloak of whatever, there is no way that I can express the position from Aristotle in terms allowed by the moderators. So, just accept that your thinking is thousands of years defunct.

ughaibu: When anybody makes represive stuff, so He can want to reduce number of players. The same it is when someone make tournament only for rooks etc.....

Other way round.

Luisifer: I see there are 3 people in the tournament without zech flags? Is that acceptable?

Czuch Chuckers: One (from izrael) is from Czech republic and the tournament was expand for Slovakia after votting from A,B,C.
(A - czech only, B - CZ + SK, C - whole world)

Luisifer: In all honesty I dont think you need to keep explaining yourself. You set up a tourney and chose who you wanted in it. Just like all of us can do at any time. And have!! many ppl toss out those they dont like or dont want to play .. This is no differnt. These folks set up a tourney, chose who they wanted in it and that should be the end of it.

Rose: Right! But its pity that it could not be set as option of tournament. As I can set a BKR of players, member level of players etc. .... it could be good to have an option for setting which countries could sign in. F.E. (in tournament without prize - for better imagination for people which are quiet till the tournament isnt with big prize) some tournamennts for single countries and every winner from each country will invited to the next level of tournament. (sry for my english - I hope that You've got it)

Czuch Chuckers: THE TOURNAMENT WAS NOT CREATED BY YOU WAS IT?SO WHY ALL THE LOCOMOTION?
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S TOURNAMENTS?

Is anyone else having problems with graphics?

Stevie:HEY I'M HAVING THAT PROBLEM!
THE PIECES DON'T SHOW IN SOME OF MY GAMES...
WHAT'S WRONG?

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE GRAPHICS?

ANTICHRIST: All the locomotion, since you asked, is it is a Czech tournament created by a Czech for Czech players only..... why then promote it on the English speaking version of brainking news? Of what importance is it to anyone who is not Czech?????

Not to worry, I have taken the server news off of my main page for now, so not to be bothered by it anymore :)

Czuch Chuckers: I DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM...AFTER ALL THIS IS A CZECH SITE!

ANTICHRIST: Why are you speaking English on a Czech site?

Czuch, are you saying that the issue is primarily that a "server news" module was spawned touting the contributions of the sponsors?

If so, in the grand scheme of things, I don't think it matters.

Other people have held tournaments where something was offered, by default, to the exclusion of everyone other than the participants.

Since the tournament creators make the rules, and offer the incentives for playing, the rest of the site should most likely just accept the conditions.

As far as I can see, it is not a "language" issue, it is not a prize offering issue, and you are just upset that it made it under the guise of "server news" in the English language.

I don't think the subsequent commotion was worth it after you have pointed out what we already were well aware of... so how about wave a truce flag, smoke a peace pipe, and let it go?

Stevie: Im having probs :( getting strange messages...The page has no data is one. Having to reload pages, and getting funny symbols for pieces.

BerniceC: Thats cos the sites been down for a fair few hours LOL

Czuch Chuckers: Are You sure that every czech member use the brainking with czech language version? I think that not! Someone can use f.e. english version of windows (on firm computer) where is not czech language suported. Do You think that so people want to see zig-zag only because he is czech and so he dont use english version??? Lets try it ...

Luisifer: If you want to run a tournament for just czech people, you go for it. I thank you and the sponsers for supporting BK. Maybe the people who are objecting could sponser a tournement for English speaking people, or even if they wish just for Americans. That way the site gets even more sponsership and everyone benefits even more as Fencer will be closer to getting the new servers.

I think this subject has been about talked to death by now eh? If anybody created a tourney with a maharajah prize (no matter what the details were) they'd be mentioned at server news. Hey, why not give it a try?