ChessBase reports by an article by Charles Krauthammer that suggests the bizzare behaviour of Bobby Fischer over the years, as well as apparant madness witnessed in other greats like Morphy can be attributed to chess. Is this the case, or was chess an outlet for these fellows that kept them from finding more anti-social outlets for their mad genius?
Originally posted by SkorjI don't think chess makes a person mentally ill.
ChessBase reports by an article by Charles Krauthammer that suggests the bizzare behaviour of Bobby Fischer over the years, as well as apparant madness witnessed in other greats like Morphy can be attributed to chess. Is this the case, or was chess an outlet for these fellows that kept them from finding more anti-social outlets for their mad genius?
I think if people like Fischer and Morphy had never learned to play chess, they'd have ended up in much the same mental state, one way or another.
I think there is a link though between greatness at chess and mental instability.
Charles Krauthammer is rated 1630, provisional, having played four rated USCF games. Now this is not to say that someone of that skill level can't write an article about players 2600 or 2700's going off the deep end. They're just not going to understand the stresses, inner workings, or politics of top level chess. I think if you examined the top level players you would find no more mental aberration than you would find in, say footballers or stamp collectors or beekeepers. I believe there is a cultural myth about the instability of chess players, sort of like mad scientists or stupid blondes or alcoholic poets. Fischer was lucky to find an outlet for his specialized talents otherwise he would have a maladjusted shoe salesman or grocery clerk. Morphy was a different case. His chessplaying skills got in theway of his considerable talents as a lawyer. And Steinitz, I believe was getting on in years before his mind started to deteriorate. What about Kasparov, Karpov, Spassky, Tal, you name 'em. Why didn't they go crazy? How about Joe Schmoe, who never learned to play chess and went crazy for no apparent reason. No, they can't hang this one on chess.
Originally posted by SkorjThat's backwards dude. Fischer was 'on the edge' to begin with. I mean, he was a lot like Bowmann 😉 - he didn't date girls and found fault with everybody else!
ChessBase reports by an article by Charles Krauthammer that suggests the bizzare behaviour of Bobby Fischer over the years, as well as apparant madness witnessed in other greats like Morphy can be attributed to chess. Is this the case, or was chess an outlet for these fellows that kept them from finding more anti-social outlets for their mad genius?
It was this particular personality disorder that drove him to succeed in something that he had potential in.
Speaking of personality disorder, Arrakis. In my many years playing club chess, I've seen lots of people with personality disorders, people who shake, dance, talk to themselves, have personal hygiene problems, etc. And all of them (I can saythis without exception in my experience) were lousy chessplayers. The chessplayers far above me were calm, focussed, and had a sense of humor.
Originally posted by arrakisExcept Bowmann is nowhere near as good as Fischer (or any other notable chess player in history for that matter=p) was/is.
That's backwards dude. Fischer was 'on the edge' to begin with. I mean, he was a lot like Bowmann 😉 - he didn't date girls and found fault with everybody else!
It was this particular personality disorder that drove him to succeed in something that he had potential in.
Krauthammer is a master at recycling other people's ideas, expressing them less well than they they were originally, and getting credit for originality.
ChessBase notes Krauthammer's reliance upon George Steiner, but they pass over the significance of the fact that everything he says what "news" in 1975.
Originally posted by SkorjWhat?? Huh???? Noo!!! *sweat flows down face* Not the dictionarys, not the dictionarys!!!!! Ackgah!!!!!!!! Don't do it Igor, leave that kangaroo alone!!!!! NOooooooo!!!!!! HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Try to catch me now you stupid canadians!!!!!! HAHAHHAHAHAHA
ChessBase reports by an article by Charles Krauthammer that suggests the bizzare behaviour of Bobby Fischer over the years, as well as apparant madness witnessed in other greats like Morphy can be attributed to chess. Is this the case, or was chess an outlet for these fellows that kept them from finding more anti-social outlets for their mad genius?
*runs down streets in only boxers and socks laughing like crazy*
Well, not sure if that's crazy but it's defenitely boarderline crazy 🙂.
Hope that helps 🙂
Josh
Originally posted by DfthdKasparov has eclipsed Fischer, I don't even think this is controversial.
Except Bowmann is nowhere near as good as Fischer (or any other notable chess player in history for that matter=p) was/is.
The link between chess and insanity is probably fallacious.
But, there is a link with eccentricity. I think all players who are attracted to the game, which is:
1. Adversarial;
2. Individual;
3. Time consuming.
Such a game requires protagonists who are socially malformed and those who possess some obsessive compulsive characteristics.
I remember walking home from a tournament a few years ago, when I was playing a lot of chess, I crossed a road and there was a person walking across towards me. They would have been an L- SHAPE away from me and I thought: fukme it's a knight!!! and I jumped out of the way. Err mental.