I have very very little experience playing online. What servers are good for more serious games (30-45 min / side) where you are trying to practice your game vs. cash in on your knowledge in a blitz game? Also, it seems to me there are a lot of dicks on KGS (can provide several examples but why bother ). Is that everywhere except at the f2f go club, or have I just had bad luck on KGS (in the few games I've played)?

Thanks,
Bill

Play on IGS: http://www.pandanet-igs.com/

It is a bit backwards, technologically, but a new IGS client is currently in the works. There is very little social noise on the server - it's like a library: quiet and focused on the game. Bear in mind that the IGS rating system is hugely skewed. I'm 5 kyu on KGS and 9 kyu on IGS.

It is definitely my favorite server.

Both IGS and KGS are fine for serious, slower games. My time setting is much slower than yours
and I can still find games on both servers. There are good and bad people on every server;
no server (that I know of) has mostly bad people.Another experience -- for the last 10+ years, my IGS and KGS ratings, once past the volatile 10k~20k+ range,
have been very closely matched to each other.

I would suggest Tygem. I had always good experiences there.

For you, I suggest using the Seattle Go Center room and asking for a game.

IGS, just put your name in the queue and you get a game with an individual with your same rank. The 1 min main time with ten to fifteen minutes per 25 moves byououmi(sp?) time usually takes about 30-40 minutes, though it is confusing since the main time isn't really main time.

KGS attracts the blitzers and kibitzers, though it may have changed. I heard they implemented some sort of queue system there too, but I find the tradition of finding and challenging people or setting up games and choosing times excessively annoying. Just put your name in the queue and type "Hi!" then "Thank you for the game" that's it.

At least to the friendliness, I've never had problems with rudeness on KGS at the SDK level, so maybe it gets better as you get stronger?

I rarely want to spend 2 hours on a game these days, so I can't speak to your time problems

One thing that no one has asked is are you using a guest account? No one likes to be sandbagged and that makes people somewhat wary of guests(especially when accounts are free). If you are that might be the cause of your bad social experience.
That said, I've always found KGS relatively pleasant, there are of course exceptions. But it doesn't seem reasonable to expect to never have some one rub you wrong.

Excellent point! If you are playing on KGS as a guest, you are probably mostly playing other guests and - as you might guess - the people who don't care about being banned for bad behavior, behave badly. The registered users are cuddly.

I started playing recently and have tried out both IGS and KGS.I also attend our local University Go club as time permits (BTW I think playing face-to-face beats anything online )

I have found KGS, so far, to be very amiable. I have always found a game there (on weekends) in fair time. I have only played so far in the `Beginner's room';my opponent is always, not surprisingly, much stronger than me and has almost always kindly offered to review the game and offer helpful suggestions. There are also so so many rooms that have interesting things going on ! I hate the KGS UI though... and the updates/bug-fixes are really slow from what I've heard....

I have not played as much on IGS, but mostly observed interesting games being played there. As a beginner, my first impression is that IGS may be a far more unforgiving place with less input from senior players. Mind you, I'm not implying that it's a less friendly server - it may also be a function of language barriers, etc.

_________________
Tempus Vincit Omnia

Yes, the language barrier is one factor; the other one is the UI --
CGoban (KGS) has probably the best client for reviews and teaching.
IGS's clients are pretty horrible for reviews, and so fewer people do it there.

1) I think maybe your native language (I'm guessing English) being the most common language spoken among KGS users makes it easy for you to see this behavior. You may not see bad behavior on other servers with primarily Asian speakers because you can't read Chinese, Japanese, or Korean conversations.

2) I am surprised no one has yet made a joke about the KGS admins here.

I like tygem aswell, but only if you don't mind silent oponents.
Kgs is more social on the positive and negative side, you get more noise but also some nice reviews with your opponent or with a stronger player.
Guess it depends on what you like.

Cheers,
Otenki

just adding my 2c:
I have accounts on both KGS and IGS.
There IS something different about the guys who hang on each server but I can't really specify what it is.
KGS folks seem really concerned on what your exact rank is. I had some problems, being called a sandbagger, while adjusting the rank.
I also believe that IGS' way of playing is far more easier and direct. You challenge someone and he/her accepts or declines.
What I actually miss on both servers are low kyus that are willing to play free games. People seem to be so obstinated to be a dan...
I usually lurk at the free games room on IGS and play 9h games against senior go players, who aren't so interested on their ranks.
KGS does have a better reviewing system and people are more propense to teach, but I haven't had much luck on finding those people other than in my specific community room .
Only my 2c

Thanks for all comments and insights. I play with a named acct, no guest. I think what I've experienced is indpendent of that anyway, but that my supposition. A few quick examples ... I have heard of but not experienced people being directly rude and insulting if someone is playing slow, which I don't understand if the rude person signed up for more clock time. I have had people (before I understood the UI) change my 30-40 min / side game to a one min blitz game. Sure, I was clueless but the very act of that sort of swing seems ridiculous to me. I've had people escape rather than resign, which leaves me sitting there forever if I don't want to be marked as escaping.

Anyway, I do not expect people to be vituous everywhere, and in general I'm pretty tolerant. I was asking due to having experienced more negative encounters by far vs. good ones. But yeah, I did have a guy once (played a game I pooched pretty badly) offer to review it, and that was quite nice of him and pleasant. So, it sounds like, just focus on the good parts .

Bill

its been a while since I've actually played a game online, but I don't think you have to accept the suggested time changes (but it probably takes some getting used to the UI)

and you don't have to wait for an escaper. Just consider the game won, and move on. The first one to leave, is the one marked.

LOL. Not very many people in that room though.

And if its just me and oren, oren might play you, but I probably won't

I had problems with this too initially, but found the following to solve this.

1) Only apply for games that are 20 mins+ with at least 30 seconds x 5 for byo-yomi.
2) When I open a game, I always write (No blitz, No ~ plz) in the text box usually with a +/-1k.

They still have escapers on KGS. I don't think I have played an escaper on IGS, I wonder if it has something to do with the server policy. I have had disconnects, but after five minutes they convert to a W.

IGS doesn't consider a game with less than 4 moves, so you may just resign if something goes wrong from the start.
You may also mail admins to judge your game scoring.