'Why would you block someone just because they offered a draw just once??"
Usually it's because there is no reason to ask for a draw. My opponent is distracting me and I call that cheating. Most of time I win that game. To prevent this problem again I block the person. I have no tolerance for people who can't be civilized and/or don't want to finish a game they started.
The only correct way to ask for a draw in my opinion is trying to repeat the position 3 times. Either that or force a draw. It's not hard to do, it doesn't take long, and the opponent who is trying to think is not distracted.
Some people might disagree with me. Fine with me. However if they ask for a draw when it's not yet a dead draw then that's the last time they play chess with me.
#11 - proposing draw _once_ per game _after_ you made a move is allowed by chess rules and is considered civilized. I think you are overreacting.
It's allowed by the chess rules but it's still wrong, especially if there is no reason for it. It's very obvious these people are intentionally distracting their opponent. If they don't realize this they still get blocked.
The vast majority of serious chess players never ask for a draw unless it's a dead draw.
I'm overreacting? OK with me if you think that. I still block these quitters.
Hope I never accidentally offer you a draw by accident :/
#13 Dear god, dude, calm down. Take the stick firmly out of your arse, come on. An ending doesn't need to be a "dead draw" for a draw to be accepted, and your statement that "the vast majority of serious chess players never ask for a draw unless it's a dead draw" is patently false. Just look at GM level. I will offer my opponents draws in positions where they have some pushing chances, but realistically, there's no win unless I start going off the rails. Is that worthy of blocking me? Apparently it is for you? Offering a draw doesn't mean quitting, which you would know if you were a "serious chess player."
Btw, if you offered a draw and your opponent declines you shouldn't offer again. It's considered etiquette that once you offered draw and he declines it's his turn to offer draw.
As for why one wouldn't want to draw: The starting position is draw too, yet you wouldn't agree to draw there. Now the position later in the game might still be equal (since you obviously only can win when your oppponent makes a mistake) but just like in the starting position you might want to play on.
But it's ridiculous to block players who offer draw. Why would this be meant as a distraction? They just think it's draw worthy nothing wrong with that, you can just decline. (just because one side might still blunder in pretty much any position doesn't mean one has to play till its K vs K)
Just a minor thing:
"The starting position is draw too"
It is unknown whether that is true or not.
True, it is unknown.
But every evidence points to that direction and I don't know a single GM who does NOT think so.
Also look at correspondence chess where they play on extremely high level with computer assistance and almost every top level game ends in draw.
"Just look at GM level."
I don't play chess at GM level.
Look it folks. If I say something is distracting that means it distracts me. I don't make things up. I have found a way to solve this problem. I block people who want to quit the game instead of finishing it. If somebody doesn't like what I wrote, I don't care.
When I'm in time pressure and I'm trying to think and I have a won game, and some uncivilized person chooses that moment to ask for a draw, that's the last time they play chess with me. It doesn't happen very often because I'm at about 2000 these days. The quitters are usually rated much lower.
#19, man, it's your decision, and if you feel ok with it, then it's probably fine for you. But this decision is just so weird for other people. That's why it attracted so much attention.
You don't have to react on draw offer anyhow, by the way - simple move cancel the offer automatically.
Of course draw offer in a completely lost position is disrespect to opponent, but otherwise most people (except you probably) see no problem with that.
