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| Dec-21-07 | | Shams: <We were all ruined by speed chess> indeed, it's like the Spanish Flu for chessplayers. |
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| Dec-21-07 | | Riverbeast: And ICC, forget it...I had to get rid of my internet at home, I was so addicted....I'd literally play blitz for eight + hours straight until the sun came up....if anyone would talk to me I'd tell them to "shut up"....my nose would be almost pressed against the screen, desperately looking for my next fix...I felt like the monkey in the famous experiment, where they gave him one button for food and another for cocaine....it kept hitting the cocaine button until it died. I was shocked at how much chess, the so-called 'noble game', would turn me into such a degenerate Before that, it was speed chess in Washington Square Park all night. (When I was a teenager, they didn't close down the park at 1:00 am...you could play blitz until rapture if you wanted) 'Strongest Force' will testify... Josh Waitzkin will testify... RUINED :-)
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| Dec-21-07 | | Akavall: American office is funnier than the British office :p. |
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| Dec-21-07 | | VinnyRoo2002: I have no idea how to spell the name, but my best attempt is Arbokvh. I'm not sure if he is an actual player, but I'd assume he is because all the players mentioned were. |
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Dec-21-07
 | | HeMateMe: <Shams: <We were all ruined by speed chess> > Well...it hasn't hurt the Russian players, now has it...? |
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| Dec-22-07 | | acirce: <this is an example of the problem, imo. do you think <riverbeast> is being serious?> Yes, I thought he was. If it was just a special kind of humour then, well, it was still pretty sad to see. <Riverbeast> I'm sure I sometimes use American spelling. Often I'm not even sure what's what and I don't care much. |
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| Dec-22-07 | | protean: The reprobates spell "centre" and "theatre" as "center" and "theater", and "colour" and "humour" as "color" and "humor". They also fail recognise that there's no "z" in "recognise". |
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| Dec-22-07 | | dabearsrock1010: when i go to the center of the theater, i enjoy the colors and the humor, as long as is recognize them from a prior movie |
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| Dec-22-07 | | protean: There was a typo in my post. I suppose it's cos I rush - far too busy doing important British things to be grammatically perfect. |
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| Dec-22-07 | | Strongest Force: Riverbeast's post about being addicted and staying out until late hours in the park reminds me of some scary situations when Josh's parents placed me in charge of Josh; while the sun was still high in sky i had to make sure that nothing happened to Josh until sunset (about 9pm in summer-time) when it would be time for me to walk Josh home (a few blocks from the park). Little did they know it but the Waitzkins intrusted thier son to one of the most il-responsible persons they could have. Lord knows i tried my best to keep a eye on him but i was also into playing and watching my own games which was far from Josh's games. The important thing to know is that Josh was a pre-teen at the time! There was no need to fear, the roles were actually reversed and it was Josh who was keeping an eye out for me. ;) Even-though he was only 12, he made sure to come and get me at the right time so i could take him home and not get yelled-at by his parents. At least i was smart enough to ask other responsible park players to help me keep an eye on Josh. I remember that one time, one of the responsible persons i asked was the famous IM Kamran Shirazi: a rumoured middle-east heir to an oil fortune and one of the fastest blitz-players ever. Well, when curfew time came around, Josh and Kamran were standing over my game with concerned looks on their faces: maybe they were wondering if i had the strength to pry myself away from from my enthralling game in time to get Josh home. When you're addicted you dont have much time for friends and family but the sad faces of Josh and Kamran got me to push away from the chess-table and walk Josh home. I was/is addicted to food and i had to stop the three-of-us at one point to get some food; once again Josh and Kamran had to watch me with worried faces as i ate some food...it was two minutes away from curfew time and we would be late. Fortunately, i didnt have this responsibility often. |
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| Dec-22-07 | | square dance: <If it was just a special kind of humour then, well, it was still pretty sad to see.> but on the other hand the british snob routine is an acceptable kind of humor?! anyway, i think most of the comments in your previous post just prove my point as it seems like you're making exceptions for one side. |
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| Dec-22-07 | | Jim Bartle: --The reprobates spell "centre" and "theatre" as "center" and "theater", and "colour" and "humour" as "color" and "humor". They also fail recognise that there's no "z" in "recognise". -- "England and America are two countries separated by a common language." --G.B. Shaw |
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| Dec-24-07 | | Riverbeast: <If it was just a special kind of humour then, well, it was still pretty sad to see.> There are things you say that I find sad, Acirce, but I don't mention them unless I'm attacked first. Like when you called me a "shameless liar" out of the blue... Stop hating. I treat everyone with respect, unless they don't show me respect. Then I have to b-slap them (a la MichAdams, who started the cycle with several racist, insulting posts). But since you probably agree with what MichAdams said about Americans, Jews, Hispanics, and other ethnic groups, you didn't find his posts 'sad'. And that, Acirce, I find sad.
(P.S. Happy holidays to all)
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| Jan-29-08 | | jovack: He has many entertaining games. If the players ever read their wall, I would suggest he try Chess960. A player like him would do well I think. And what's with all the pointless flame war politics going on? People are ridiculous. |
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| Jan-29-08 | | Tomlinsky: On the back of SFBF the myth that Waitzkin was some kind of prodigy and anything more than a reasonably competent, not even outstanding really, master level player will continue for deacades. Ironically, a true prodigy, mentioned in the movie title, gave up the game having actually achieved excellence within the field whereas Waitzkin gave it up presenting the idea that he was somehow on a similar path. A prodigy? Not even close. Self-publicist? Top marks. |
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| Jan-29-08 | | Riverbeast: <A prodigy? Not even close. Self-publicist? Top marks.> We've already discussed this in earlier posts. Waitzkin was a talented junior player, not a prodigy. Don't blame Josh Waitzkin for this...He didn't promote himself. His father wrote the book about him. And I don't think Josh ever claimed to be a prodigy. That label was placed on the cover of the book by the publishers, probably just to sell books: Most of them know little about chess, and would probably call any kid who checkmated them with the Scholar's Mate a 'prodigy'. <a reasonably competent, not even outstanding really, master level player will continue for deacades.> I don't know how fair this is. Josh was an IM at sixteen, and won the US Junior Championship twice. That makes him more than a 'reasonably competent master level player'. I find a lot of people bash Josh Waitzkin unnecessarily. The only explanation I can find is jealousy. The fact is, Josh was a nice kid who made something good out of his life, and all these people who have accomplished much less in life want to tear him down. The movie SFBF was good for chess in general - it made a lot of parents around the US want to sign their kids up for chess lessons, and made chess teaching a worthwhile profession where someone could actually make a living. Chessplayers should be grateful for the impact that film had in promoting chess among the general public, instead of bashing Josh Waitzkin out or jealousy and resentment. |
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| Jan-29-08 | | MichAdams: Waitzkin was, as I've said, a prodigy, albeit an American one. We have to recognise that chess amongst homegrown European-Americans is in a truly parlous state. Maybe this <Sugar Ray Robson> kid will prove to be a diamond in the dirt. |
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| Jan-29-08 | | Tomlinsky: <Riverbeast: The only explanation I can find is jealousy.> Well I did post the explanation and it has nothing to do with Jealousy or resentment. I just think that the guy is way over-rated. Nothing sinister or complex. |
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| Jan-29-08 | | Riverbeast: <Waitzkin was, as I've said, a prodigy, albeit an American one.> A repeat of the ridiculous comment you made before. Can't you find new idiotic statements, instead of repeating old ones? I used to think willful stupidity was one of the worst traits a human being could reveal. Now you've shown me the light...It'a possible to be willfully stupid AND redundant (though the two traits are most likely related) <Well I did post the explanation and it has nothing to do with Jealousy or resentment. I just think that the guy is way over-rated. > He's probably a better player than you.
You also wouldn't be saying anything about him being 'over-rated' if a book and a movie hadn't been made about him. So you probably feel like the attention wasn't 'deserved'. |
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| Jan-29-08 | | Tomlinsky: <Riverbeast: He's probably a better player than you.> Probably. And?
<You also wouldn't be saying anything about him being 'over-rated' if a book and a movie hadn't been made about him. So you probably feel like the attention wasn't 'deserved'.> Right. Well thank you for your valued insight and analysis into the exact why's and wherefore's of my opinion. I feel so much better now knowing their apparent deep seated roots. CG provides free counselling now as well. Excellent value! |
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| Jan-29-08 | | DarthStapler: [quote]You also wouldn't be saying anything about him being 'over-rated' if a book and a movie hadn't been made about him.[/quote] Isn't that exactly the reason why he's overrated? |
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| Jan-29-08 | | Riverbeast: <Isn't that exactly the reason why he's overrated?> No...because the book and the film was a look at the chess world in general, and the story of a kid who played chess - a story which captivated a lot of people. The book was not published, and the film was not produced, because Waitzkin was the best or most talented player around. This is something a lot of people just don't get. |
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| Jan-29-08 | | Petrosianic: <riverbeast> <I find a lot of people bash Josh Waitzkin unnecessarily. The only explanation I can find is jealousy.> So, in your experience, all IM's and/or Junior Champions get bashed a lot? If not, that theory doesn't really fit the facts. You hit on the real reason and then promptly forgot it. |
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| Jan-29-08 | | VinnyRoo2002: Come on now Petrosianic, have all IM's and/or Junior Champions had movies made about their chess abilities? Waitzkin is infinitely more known than the average IM or Junior Champion and hence why people are jealous of him. I think it has a lot to do with how much press he has gotten while stronger players have not gotten nearly the recognition. I for one could care less because if Fred Waitzkin could market a book about his son and turn it into an interesting enough story for a studio to turn it into a film which many people enjoyed, then he deserves the recognition. |
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| Jan-29-08 | | Riverbeast: <So, in your experience, all IM's and/or Junior Champions get bashed a lot? If not, that theory doesn't really fit the facts.> I don't know what you're talking about...You seem to be arguing with yourself. I didn't say ALL IM's and junior champions get bashed a lot, I said Waitzkin in particular. And I think jealousy re: the movie, and his fame, has a lot to do with it. |
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