aborted games

Hell

Sometimes (actually quite a bit) on live chess, I answer an open seek, the board pops up and if the opponents rating is a bit higher than mine, they instantly abort the game.

Is it just me or does that seem rude?

They can set conditions for the seek, so if they choose an open seek, they should play whoever answers. Lower rated players aren't going to improve unless they play better players.

Is that fair because it's starting to get very irritating.

It is but you can not do anything about it. They can set min rating but some people are just too lazy to do it.

Strep is right. However rude ti may appear, people are well within their rights to play whoever they like. I think some people avoid playng people near the 1200 mark in case they are actually quite a strong player who has only just joined chess.com

I can't agree with that. Surely no-one would say it's acceptable to refuse to play opponents because of their sex, nationality etc. Refusing to play people because of their rating is just another form of discrimination.

Also, I like to think of Chess.com as a community, hopefully one without an untouchable caste.

Ok, this one just went off the deep end...  Kookoo... Kookoo...

Well then! A philosophical debate!

I've had games where I've made my first move as White, and then they abort the game, as if they refuse to play with someone who doesn't open as they want.

sometimes they accept my seek, but after that quickly abort the game. What can I do ?