tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post3763525524540121408..comments2023-12-28T02:11:22.501+00:00Comments on The Streatham & Brixton Chess Blog: No hint of hinterlandTom Chivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-27634348529503268312008-01-23T10:15:00.000+00:002008-01-23T10:15:00.000+00:00Quite so.Quite so.ejhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582272075999298935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-56181084603450369532008-01-22T11:06:00.000+00:002008-01-22T11:06:00.000+00:00Chess was enriched by Fischer: but was Fischer enr...Chess was enriched by Fischer: but was Fischer enriched by chess...Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-76898545212966895652008-01-21T08:24:00.000+00:002008-01-21T08:24:00.000+00:00Well, the question is whether the casualty count a...Well, the question is whether the casualty count and the incidence of dysfunctionality isn't higher among top chessplayers than among the other disciplines you mention. My concern is that it may be, although of course, the issues I raise are not <I>particular</I> to chess.ejhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582272075999298935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-44864190313770922672008-01-21T07:23:00.000+00:002008-01-21T07:23:00.000+00:00Hm. How then is chess different from any other occ...Hm. How then is chess different from any other occupation, sport, or hobby that demands high intelligence and absolute focus at its highest levels? I think it's exactly the same. One difference you might point out is that chess has a much lower barrier to entry than almost any other "obsessible" occupation - it's basically free. So many people play it who would be flatly forced out of many other competitive situations. But that would go to the putatively deleterious effect chess has on the average Joe (who should be spending his time with family) and would have nothing to do with Bobby, who was a genius. You might as well argue that mathematics is a harmful discipline because Godel starved himself to death. So, no, I don't think your argument is persuasive - you would have to convince me that chess players are more competitive than other people, or that there is something special about chess itself that turns uncompetitive, normal people into obsessive wankers. But I haven't seen that. It's just not that uncommon for high-strung, Asperger-y geniuses to end up going round the bend.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-3706034465950584682008-01-20T19:20:00.000+00:002008-01-20T19:20:00.000+00:00I don't agree with this (seemingly universal) line...I don't agree with this (seemingly universal) line that Bobby Fischer was mad (after 1972, at least). I agree that he had some quite appalling political views, but that isn't usually counted as grounds for madness.<BR/><BR/>The claim that he was paranoid doesn't really hold eater either, those Russians really were cheating/ out to get him, as it turns out. His periods of imprisonment were either on the grounds of mistaken identity or because the Americans were trying to extradite him for trade/tax reasons and a little paranoia on these grounds would seem reasonable.<BR/><BR/>His reclusiveness after 1972 was his own decision and a similar route has been taken by some other public figures: again, hardly grounds for describing him as mad.<BR/><BR/>No, Bobby Fischer was just an individual who was incapable of compromise. This ended up creating lots of problems for him as well as others. It's a great loss to all of us that he didn't defend his World Championship, but in the end: that was up to him.<BR/><BR/>Mike G.Mike Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13237794157491746812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-26340966846657261602008-01-19T18:59:00.000+00:002008-01-19T18:59:00.000+00:00Insofar as he wrote it, of course.Insofar as he wrote it, of course.ejhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582272075999298935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-71981179466302550812008-01-19T18:43:00.000+00:002008-01-19T18:43:00.000+00:00Very well said -- especially the parts about the v...Very well said -- especially the parts about the value and purpose of chess and its place in culture and the rest of life. Thank you.Tom Panelashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16043077227993571019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-50540183203285549482008-01-19T18:16:00.000+00:002008-01-19T18:16:00.000+00:00I agree with Hartson that chess probably kept Bobb...I agree with Hartson that chess probably kept Bobby sane. The question is why did he give up ? Maybe it was the media attention and intrusion into his life - after all he made a major issue of TV cameras in Reykyavik. I think he also preferred being the underdog rather than the champion.<BR/>As to his "erratic behaviour" you have to consider his early development (not on the chessboard !) before he started playing chess and also why his education was neglected. <BR/>Whatever the reasons, Fischer will be remembered as one of the most significant figures in chess history who was responsible for enlarging the chess community more than anyone else and also writing (probably) the best chess book ever (My 60 Memorable games) - not bad for someone with no education !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-64295661263437626302008-01-19T11:03:00.000+00:002008-01-19T11:03:00.000+00:00Ah, good point, I've corrected it. And the funny t...Ah, good point, I've corrected it. And the funny thing is, I saw him in person only a couple of years ago, going into the National Gallery while I was coming out.ejhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582272075999298935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-61097585777496114742008-01-19T10:32:00.000+00:002008-01-19T10:32:00.000+00:00The late Denis Healey?RichardThe <B>late</B> Denis Healey?<BR/><BR/>RichardAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com