Is chess really worth it?

If you wish to pursue G-d then study the Universe he created, emulate the act of creation by being creative, and participate in the complex feast created around you by participating in a constructive way.

Chess is one part of life. The act of creating during a game is satisfying and sometimes creates a work of art. The friendships and interchange have meaning between the players. I find the game helps sharpen my mind in other pursuits. It also makes me happy. Perhaps for some this is not tangible, but I believe such emotions as tangible as a bowl of sweet fruit, and more desirable than the bitterness of destructive pursuits. Yet each must decide what is right for themselves, but you are really asking what is the meaning of life. For me, the answer lies in my first paragraph.

Well, I guess im just gonna go crawl into a hole with my bible and die. Its been fun.  All sarcasim aside, this is why religion is evil.  Spirituality is one thing but the idea that one idea of existance is better than another when both go unproved is just plan crazy.  Stop wasting your time on some persons idea of existance and make your own choices cause existance is not gonna get figured out in our lifetime.

Some guy is suffering right now because he thinks too much... I am not suffering because I am enjoying my time being and not caring that time goes by. If I worry that I spend to much time playing chess, is it not the same as worrying that I am spending too much time sleeping.

Damn it! I sleep too much! THINK OF ALL THE PEOPLE I COULD SAVE IN THE WORLD IF I JUST DIDN'T SLEEP 8 HOURS!

in the end, 100s of years after our deaths, most if not all of our actions will probably be forgotten and all the deeds that we did unnoticed.  So in that regard it may seem that everything we do is worthless.  However, as a christian to another christian, we know that God works behind the scenes, subtly changing and influenccing people and using others to do it.  In all reality, our actions could really be very important in a pseudo "butterfly effect" manner.

You have no idea how your actions affect others, for better or for worse.

Nothing is irrelevant if you find joy in it, those of us who belive in God know we are here for a reason. As humans we should enjoy what makes us happy without hurting others until you can't enjoy anymore, if chess is a part of your happiness so be it.

Every moment I'm playing or studying chess is fun.  Is fun worth it?  Yes of course.

BTW going on a religious tangent may get this thread locked.  No religion or politics is allowed in the forums in order to avoid people becoming heated.  We're all here on this site to have fun afterall.

In the end "everything is vanity". 

~King Solomon

Then maybe you should ask "What's the point of living if you are gonna die someday? There won't be any memories left then, you'll just became NOTHING"... So if you ask me if it's worth it, of course it is. It's proven that chess opens your mind and exercises the brain. If you care about living, you'd care about how you live it, and chess improves your brain in different ways, like you work out to train your body for example.

Is it worth it?  Yes.  Then again, What isn't?  In the grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter why you do it and for what reasons.  Time spent doing something we enjoy is the most precious thing.  To put things in perspective look at this pic from the hubble telescope.

That little blue dot is Earth from 6.4 billion km's away.  Turn the camera around and you'll see this...

Those dots are all Galaxies with thousands upon thousands of stars within each one.  We are insignifigant, we are small but this is the reason we ARE significant and we are important.  The things that we do are important as well.. especially the things that make us happy.  Sure, you can get beat up on the chess board all day but  you keep coming back.  Its the love of the game that brings us back again and again.  If you play chess for 20 years then that shows you really loved the game, it wasn't some small thing, it was important to YOU.  Hell, if all you want to do all day is eat fast food and watch tv then so be it.. as long as that's what you want.

I love playing chess and will play it a loooong time.  I also want to be here on this site.  Its fun.

Now.. STFU and GBTW. 

Great post.

Yeah, chess isn't worth it and so are you.

I enjoy chess because I enjoy it. Why do you need to know more?

Its been 20 years for me, and yes its' worth it. I have as much, if not more interest in the game now than ever. Chess is a game that can be applied to your life. It helps with critical thinking, and analytical skills (as well as many other things).  I think any intillectual pursuit is worthwhile.

To answer the other part of your question: if you have any religious beliefs (belief in afterlife etc) then nothing on earth has much relevance unless it pertains to your beliefs. With that being said, even if you have those beliefs, its' still a worthwhile pursuit to try to better yourself (whether its chess or something else).

Something which has not been brought up, which should be is that chess has opened doors in my life which would not have opened if I had never learned the game.

I've played so many different people from so many different walks of life who share a common language in chess.  An instant kinship with people from different countries, creeds, and tounges. 

I've traveled all over the place and have found instant community though chess.

I've played in coffee houses, and met millionaires who invited me to their mansions to play because they saw my talent and wanted to discuss chess and of course others things.

Chess to me is much more of a game in this respect.  If you see it as a common language among many people, it is a catalyst for bringing the human race together.  Obviously chess is not the answer to all of life's ills and evils, but it has enriched my life and broadened my sphere of influence (My Friends).

Chess is a beautiful and complex game that trains important parts of the mind and provides useful life lessons. If this appeals to you, it is certainly worth it. It will serve as a source of joy and personal satisfaction.

In any case, it is enjoyable and useful to me. I learned a lot about how I respond to pressure (with advantage or disadvantage), how I react to my own mistakes, my overly materialistic tendencies (instead of seeing the more important plan and coordination) etc. from tournament chess. It helped me not only to become a better chess player, but also a more complete, effective person too. To me, chess is a mircrocosm of life, waiting to be explored and offering itself to all that are wise enough to listen. Luckily, it lies within its own realm. Thus, its lessons are free of the harsh realities and consequences poor decisions impart in real life.

Lol, okay.... We are all going to see when he comes, its going to happen very soon. I would rather live a life of God,(for it is a better life) and find out that he doesn't exist, than to not live one and find out he does. I don't understand what you people think? Your going to die? Then? With those thoughts nothing does matter.

Im not saying that you can't play chess or your a complete idiot, only that chess is nothing but a tiny game which anyone could have made, if you enjoy the game *VeRy* much then great, but its not helping anyone.. So in the end do something thats going to change the outcome of the future. But in the end, everyone will do what they can for themselves. So does it really matter if I post this or not?

 Chess can teach you many things and has many benefits

• The value of hard work
• Respect for others
• The value of teamwork
• Planning
• Persistence
• Decision making
• How to accept defeat
• How to accept success
• It exercises your mind
• Many more

Please Define what you mean by "does it matter?" 

Your attempt at existentialism is greatly lacking!  I'm not saying I don't understand the point you are trying to make, but here is your logical issue.

"Living a life for God".  How does one know the life they are living is "FOR" God.

Do you base this on a life of "works" that on the surface have a religious or pious motivation? 

Do you base this on missionary work or evangelism?  All these things that other humans might judge are a "life for God", could in reality be the same vain motivation as someone spending their life to become a Grand Master.

No one can judge the heart of a man or the motivation which leads the course of his life.  Yet you are suggesting a "life lived for God" can only be achieved through what you determine that lived life to be. 

So through faulty logic you have made yourself the measure by which a life is wasted or not, by suggesting you are "living a life for God".  There is no way for you to determine if your life was lived for God because no human can judge objectively the motivations of their own actions let alone anyone elses.

 I completely agree with everything you said.  I came to the same conclusion.  Gosh Fyah, I am a Christian and believe in God, but your remarks completely support the typical stereotypes given to Christians.  Get over it and enjoy chess!  If you still feel that way, then don't play chess.  Problem Solved!