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The secret to lasting love for chess

#21
@SerenityTau said in #19:
> So basically we are talking about a writer with writer's block here?

No, I think it's different, but I'm not a professional writer. Are you one, or are you just dropping a cliche term and hope it means something?

> While some may truly be that way I haven't found many people at all that have such a deep connection to the things they do.

Because they kinda stick together and hang out in places like art schools. You seem inclined to believe that the whole world is exactly like your closest environment, only bigger.

You can become an airbnb call center agent after 2 weeks of training. You can become a professional violinist after 15-20 years of practising 2-8 hours every day, 7 days a week. See how there might be a different level of connection here? A figure skater's career path is NOTHING like that of a carpenter. These are NOT comparable.

> And if it is an integral part of someone then they wouldn't that easily just throw it out.

And they don't, usually! That's the whole point. But there is often a *lot* of pain and struggle before you find the right mindset and balance.
#22
@ShiningDrongo said in #21:
> No, I think it's different, but I'm not a professional writer. Are you one, or are you just dropping a cliche term and hope it means something?
No, I'm not, I'm just married to one. But that comment had a lot of air of superiority in it, thank you for that.

@ShiningDrongo said in #21:
> Because they kinda stick together and hang out in places like art schools. You seem inclined to believe that the whole world is exactly like your closest environment, only bigger.
that is true, good point, and again brought to yours truly with that air of superiority, thanks again.

@ShiningDrongo said in #21:
> You can become an airbnb call center agent after 2 weeks of training. You can become a professional violinist after 15-20 years of practising 2-8 hours every day, 7 days a week. See how there might be a different level of connection here? A figure skater's career path is NOTHING like that of a carpenter. These are NOT comparable.

well, first call center, then 15-20 years of training for a violinist and then it isn't carpentry. You missed the point AND judge by stereotyping people who do other things than what you call art. Most things that you learn be they either crafts or art take between 10000 and 20000 hours of training until they are perfected. That depends of course on the individual but you have range. I know a lot of crafts people who can do wonders with their hands and imagination. But of course they are NOT comparable to a violinist. yeah, right!

@ShiningDrongo said in #21:
> And they don't, usually! That's the whole point. But there is often a *lot* of pain and struggle before you find the right mindset and balance.
If that is so then this article was obviously not for them and you argued just for the sake of arguing. And while these psychological tricks are very nice for those who can work with them they definitely are NOT limited to people in arts, so again that was completely beside the point.
#23
@SerenityTau said in #22:
> a lot of air of superiority in it, thank you for that.

Yeah that wasn't necessary, sorry.

No, I didn't mean to compare the level of skill required for different jobs and just be smug about it. Of course you need amazing skills to be a doctor, a pilot, a carpenter or a good cook. But as I said, the career paths aren't comparable. In sports and performing arts we are trained to do things and behave in certain ways often from a very early age like a bunch of monkeys. Your "profession" becomes deeply embedded in you as a person. While what you dismissively call "psychological tricks" are indeed not limited to a certain group, for some people there is just more at stake. If you lose interest in chess and quit, you just find another hobby. If a 16 years old grandmaster quits chess, it can become a dangerous identity crisis. Burnout is real, depression takes lives.
#24
@ShiningDrongo
I started playing violin at age 6, went to a music school (normal classes + 2 hours music lessons + training daily), did that until the age of 13 when my family left the country, we stated from scratch and I didn't have the money to continue music. I then saw my first computer and now I'm a computer scientist near pension...
Probably because of that rather drastic changes I don't take stopping with something and starting a new path so dramatically - but I at least now understand your reasoning and your concerns.
Sorry for the "psychological tricks" remark, I tried some of them but they simply don't work for me. That's the reason I often don't take them seriously, but of course they work for other people and that's a good thing (in this case).
#25
no secret at all, but that's right... you gotta enjoy the game in the first place
#26
I had to fight tears a little reading the article. Beautifully written. A beautiful mind speaking directly to the heart.
#30
I'm not really happy with this ...

1. for anyone not doing something professionally interests may change. I don't have to work on my love for a hobby or pastime. As long as it is fun (and chess is definitely fun for me right now) I will do it, when it stops being fun then I will do something else.

2. for a professional these moments come and not only once in a career. Either we continue because it pays the bills or because of some sense of duty or perhaps we really search for some new happy thoughts that help but it is my profession and I do it as well as I can. Of course there is the alternative to change what I do for a living, nothing wrong with that.

But in all that I don't see something extraordinary in chess. It is great but so is carpentry for the right person. Nothing wrong with either.