Quote:
Originally Posted by JustBe  I am a big fan of Steve Pavlina's articles.
Learned a lot from it.
Most of all his productivity skills and insights.
And I find it too bad that now chess is coming up.
If I have any gifts and talents than it is in chess.
But I don't like that game anymore. And I don't develop my skillset anymore.. Although I know I have capabilities to become a master (at least fide master).
It's not real life.
And for me, it belongs to the catagory of reading news, reading too much email, forums etc.
I can imagine for people who have reached everything in life can enjoy spending some time with this.
But I believe for most of us it is a huge time waster.
Just my 2 cents.
Still a fan though (and donator!)  |
JustBe, I agree with you. There are several reasons I (almost completely) stopped playing chess.
First, the chess community (masters and almost all pros, year after year playing chess and doing nothing else) is not healthy. Their vanity is very high, they are only able to talk about chess, and I stopped feeling good at tournaments. We often made fun that we are all autistic, and there is a grain of truth in it. Also, I had a feeling that I deteriorate intellectually and psychically.
Secondly, chess can turn into obsession, and be like a drug. It consumes all your time, and it's like an ocean and you can't see the end. All other aspects of life will hurt.
Thirdly, only a first few hundred players in the world can live from chess, and competition is high.
Now I play only for satisfaction, about hundred games a year, all blitz.
Maybe, chess was the choice in 60's, 70's, maybe 80's, but now in the fast-paced world, with every new game I feel guilt for not doing something else that is more important.
Everybody should estimate for themselves. I left the best years of my life in chess tournaments and am not sorry for that, but knowing what I now know (B.Tracy - zero-based thinking), I wouldn't do it again. Life is short.
Speaking about playing chess from beginning and being interested in this intellectual activity or game, and how far one can go in terms of strength, I had a friend (PhD in math) who had the fastest curve I saw. For a year he became a very strong player.
I wonder for how long would Steve endure.
Maybe, he will become a strong chess player, but community will hurt.
Pero