http://youtube.com/watch?v=gGKnUHSwGQw - his last words

http://youtube.com/watch?v=t7JcwOJADf8 - I've Got a Secret - Bobby Fischer

 

Fischer was crap as a person.  I'm a bit glad that he died.  One less horrible person, and he's helping spark interest in people who haven't played in years. 

He was a great chess player, a true iconoclast.  His games will always be remembered, analyzed and played over, again and again, by chess players all over the world.  That's as it should be.  He created beauty and art on the chessboard. But his games will also be remembered in association with the kind of person he was, and the things he said, and the beliefs he held. There's no getting away from that and it's no use trying to dissociate the game from the man. He didn't pretend they were inseperable, so why should we?

I love how the first video ends with

 

"Now he will rice to a better place."

 

 

On another note, Fischer was a great player, and it is a pity that the majority cannot look past his occasional bigotry into his brilliance as a Chess player. 

Unbeliever wrote:

On another note, Fischer was a great player, and it is a pity that the majority cannot look past his occasional bigotry into his brilliance as a Chess player. 

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 I find the reverse just as applicable. The wider chess community seems unable or unwilling to look past his brilliance as a chess player and into his bigotry, too. There's a difference between Fischer being someone's idol as relates to chess (fair enough) and in life in general (dodgy).

 

So, when it comes to the first video, I find the idea that he'll "rice again in a better place" somewhat laughable, typo aside. I think it shows exactly this cognitive dissonance. 

 

The second video was a more interesting piece to watch, I thought. Seeing Bobby in his youth, one can't help but wonder if it all could have turned out differently.

silentfilmstar13 wrote: Fischer was crap as a person.  I'm a bit glad that he died.  One less horrible person, and he's helping spark interest in people who haven't played in years. 

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Fischer was very eccentric, but the worst that I have heard of him was that he was anti-Semetic (and don't get me wrong I am not defending him on this point) but...Bill Graham is on record as being anti-semetic and many people still think that he is/was the best thing since sliced bread.  What in your opinion did Fischer ever due to earn the title "horrible person"?  In Fischer's defense, he had relatively little formal education and this is probably in part what allowed his bigotry to fester and mature.  As a chess player Bobby was a great player and a great inspiration, but he was human and had human flaws.  If a person has fame for whatever reason, it doesn't mean that they have all of the answers.  I think that people who look to grandmasters, movie stars, sports stars etc. trying to glean any wisdom other than the fact that these people are very good at their profession are looking for a let down.  Grade Fischer for what he was...a fantastic chess player. 

silentfilmstar13 wrote: Fischer was crap as a person.  I'm a bit glad that he died.  One less horrible person, and he's helping spark interest in people who haven't played in years. 

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 Really? What do you know of the man's life?

What do you know of his family life and upbringing?

What do you know about him that gives you the right to state such a rude ,ignorant, stupid comment?

Did you know that the American government persecuted and prosecuted only him for breaking  the economic sanctions when

he played the return match against Spassky? Although others did the same thing..

Did you know the American government siezed all his personal property here in the states? Issued an arrest warrant for him if he returned here. Years later had him detained and jailed in Japan for 9 months?

Why would you judge the whole life of a man by the man's actions in his last decade of  his living!!?? 

Fischer was over the top sometimes but he had just cause to hate the American government.

Your rude remarks about being glad he died makes me sick!!

I would say more but  I have no desire to get banned!!!!!!!!!-SIX 

 

 

silentfilmstar13 wrote: Fischer was crap as a person.  I'm a bit glad that he died.  One less horrible person, and he's helping spark interest in people who haven't played in years. 

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silent, I want say to you something but I don't want be suspended. 

Reb wrote: silentfilmstar13 wrote: Fischer was crap as a person.  I'm a bit glad that he died.  One less horrible person, and he's helping spark interest in people who haven't played in years. 

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What a horrible thing to say. You disgust me. Do you know both his parents abandoned him? I bet not. There are other things that happened in his life to turn him the way he was. What do you know of his life? I am guessing only what those who hate him write.

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Thank you, Reb. You are so right about Fischer.---SIX

 

The things that happen to shape a person are reasons for a person turning out the way he does.  They are NOT excuses.  Many rapists are the way they are because of past abuse.  Will you let them near your children?  No.  Why?  Because they are horrible people.  For those of you who dismiss his occasional bigotry, fine.  You have your priorities in what makes a valuable person.  I may be a bit biased because many of my family members were slaughtered in Nazi Germany because they were Jews.  Defend this vile human being if you wish.  Idolize him because he could move pieces of wood in stunning fashion.  Ignore the sick, twisted person he became.  Look back at his interviews before the bigotry.  He was always a cocky, uneducated, brat.  Other than his excellent chess play, I find no redeeming qualities in him.  I'm sorry, but chess is not enough.

I have to agree with Silent on this one. Seemingly some people believe greater chess ability grants some form of indemnity for any other atrocities....

Fischer was a rare genius on the chess board, but the rest of his life leaves much to be desired....

 

Here are just a few Fischer tidbits: 

 

Fischer praised the 9/11 terrorist attacks, saying that he wanted "to see the US wiped out."  Telegraph News, UK

 

"Bob Elsworth is worthy of death for this s___ he pulled on me, in cahoots with Beacons Pasadena storage house. This was all orchestrated by the Jewish world governments."  Filipino Interview, January 14, 1999

 

"Jews can all go to heck. I want to tell you Jews out there that this is just the beginning. This is just the beginning. I'm not afraid of you. You can all drop dead."  Filipino Interview, January 14, 1999

 

"These f___ing Jews are thieves, they are liars, they are mother f___ers, and it's time we took care of these bastards."  Filipino Interview, January 14, 1999

 

 

I've never wished death upon anyone.  I may be glad when they're gone, but would never condone murder.  Reb, if you can, keeping these Fischerisms in mind, pinpoint why I disgust you(something that, by now, I am proud of) and the late Mr. Fischer doesn't, I'd be interested to hear it.  I will never respect those in death who did not command my respect in life.  Dangerous acts are brought about by dangerous ideas.  Any person who adds to the inconceivably popular idea of anti-semitism, especially with the audience he was reaching publicly, is doing humanity a great disservice and is more dangerous, in my opinion, than a rapist.

Reb wrote: I see you still havent names a single person Fischer actually harmed with his verbal outbursts? Why is that? Could it be because he didnt harm anyone? As for the things he said, who took them seriously? He said nasty things about Americans too and I am American. Most sane people do not take verbal outbursts by drunks or "paranoid schizophrenics" seriously, I am one of them. Why do you ? If Fischer had said the same nasty things about say, Arabs and Catholics we wouldnt even be having this conversation, you might even agree with him. As an American I believe in free speech, no matter how much I may disagree with that speech, you don't?

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Reb you have single handedly nullified large parts of judicial systems world wide. Good going!  

People are actually accountable for what they say.

Reb wrote: King_William wrote: Reb wrote: I see you still havent names a single person Fischer actually harmed with his verbal outbursts? Why is that? Could it be because he didnt harm anyone? As for the things he said, who took them seriously? He said nasty things about Americans too and I am American. Most sane people do not take verbal outbursts by drunks or "paranoid schizophrenics" seriously, I am one of them. Why do you ? If Fischer had said the same nasty things about say, Arabs and Catholics we wouldnt even be having this conversation, you might even agree with him. As an American I believe in free speech, no matter how much I may disagree with that speech, you don't?

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Reb you have single handedly nullified large parts of judicial systems world wide. Good going!  

People are actually accountable for what they say.

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Yes, I know that....just like in Nazi Germany and Communist countries too! Arent you proud?  

If the protection of the First Amendment is to have any meaning at all, then it must protect speech that some will find offensive or disrespectful. Speech everybody agrees with doesn't need any protection.

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WOW!! So you feel it's majority opinion that the US must be wiped out.???  

Reb wrote: I see you still havent names a single person Fischer actually harmed with his verbal outbursts? Why is that? Could it be because he didnt harm anyone? As for the things he said, who took them seriously? He said nasty things about Americans too and I am American. Most sane people do not take verbal outbursts by drunks or "paranoid schizophrenics" seriously, I am one of them. Why do you ? If Fischer had said the same nasty things about say, Arabs and Catholics we wouldnt even be having this conversation, you might even agree with him. As an American I believe in free speech, no matter how much I may disagree with that speech, you don't?

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I did address the issue of harm, but for the hard-headed:  Harm is not always physical.  The mass spreading of what some consider to be 'poison ideas' is incredibly harmful.  While most rational people, such as ourselves, will dismiss these ideas as lunacy, there are many people willing to accept them.  If you look at the problem of racism today, you'll see that it has not gone away.  This is because such 'poison ideas' are ingrained in people by parents, peers, communities, and public figures(such as Bobby Fischer).  To address the issue of free speech:  I have made no statement that implies a wish to censor such comments.  While I feel that Fischer's statements were dangerous and harmful, I think that censoring them would be even worse.  My point was that, in making these statements, he has earned my disrespect, and I'm glad that such a person is no longer alive to spread his filth.