awell in answer to your question let me answer hang on no let me answer will you shush he asked me does it mae you insane i said shut up ill answer this i know better you dont know better your insane im tyhe sane one well hang on ill answer this when i stopped the insanity
Neurotics know they are mad, psychotics do not. 
I think Macer has a point. Something leading towards insanity could be good for the mind as long as insanity isn't reached.
How would that work then? Im not sure what you mean.
Maybe you think a chronic anxiety disorder is good for the mind?
How close to insanity would you need to be for it to be good for you?
It is like saying that something leading to a loss can be good as long you are not lost yet.. That is the pure joy of pain and destruction!! The suffering. The path down.. Yes. Very good for you indeed.
Could be that the stress of being fairly close to mental health breakdown could make people think "Lucky me, this is really good for my mind."
This thread is driving me insane....why you little....Do'h
I think Macer has a point. Something leading towards insanity could be good for the mind as long as insanity isn't reached.
How would that work then? Im not sure what you mean.
Maybe you think a chronic anxiety disorder is good for the mind?
How close to insanity would you need to be for it to be good for you?
Maybe you're just too sane to understand it? 
Sacrificing chess pieces seem insane until one sees the end results.
Its probably better for the mind than staring at a TV set all night.
Depends on what you're watching.
Andy, what are you going to be when you grow up?
Ask my nephew:
You don't have to be crazy to play chess, but it helps.
Hard evidence has it place but i prefer the great light show and music that netzac presented to us. 
Everything you mentioned are tools to use when you are trying to convince someone to let chess into a school or other facility. We are already convinced that chess is a positive thing or we wouldn't be here.
The mind. The mind. The mind.
Coconut. Coconut. Coconut.
The mind. The mind. The mind.
I think Macer has a point. Something leading towards insanity could be good for the mind as long as insanity isn't reached.
How would that work then? Im not sure what you mean.
Maybe you think a chronic anxiety disorder is good for the mind?
How close to insanity would you need to be for it to be good for you?
Actually, depending on what the definition of "good" is, insanity itself could be good for the mind. If "good" means conforming to normal human society (which is how most people define the word subconsciously), then no, insanity isn't good for the mind. However, if we ditch the preconception of insanity as a disease (and it is only a disease because human society labels it as such), then insanity is just another way of thinking. And often this way of thinking leads to results completely unattainable by so called "normal" people. To name a few examples: Van Gouh, Beethoven, Bobby Fischer (if we're talking about chess), F. Scott Fitzgerald (slightly), Copernicus (back in the day was labelled as insane), etc.
O, and Kanye West.
I think Macer has a point. Something leading towards insanity could be good for the mind as long as insanity isn't reached.
How would that work then? Im not sure what you mean.
Maybe you think a chronic anxiety disorder is good for the mind?
How close to insanity would you need to be for it to be good for you?
Actually, depending on what the definition of "good" is, insanity itself could be good for the mind. If "good" means conforming to normal human society (which is how most people define the word subconsciously), then no, insanity isn't good for the mind. However, if we ditch the preconception of insanity as a disease (and it is only a disease because human society labels it as such), then insanity is just another way of thinking. And often this way of thinking leads to results completely unattainable by so called "normal" people. To name a few examples: Van Gouh, Beethoven, Bobby Fischer (if we're talking about chess), F. Scott Fitzgerald (slightly), Copernicus (back in the day was labelled as insane), etc.
This would depend on what the definition of "insanity" is too. I consider it something that negatively affects a person. If it doesn't do that, then it's good. I don't use your mentioned definition for "good."
Yes chess is good for the mind, but it is not chess per se but rather the processes used in chess which execises the brain muscles. Thinking, reasoning, calculating, memory recall, forming plans, attacks and defences etc. I think the main thing is knowing that as we grow older, we must look after both our bodies and the grey matter upstairs as well. There are also a whole bunch of other mediums which will exercise your brain as well as chess does.
ofc it leads to insanity, but who says insanity is bad. I aspire true madness....
Insanity leads to chess. FACT!
Insanity. No question.
Dr Thorndyke sounds like High Anxiety--the Mel Brooks psycho-spoof.
Chloris Leachman as Nurse Diesel with her sasomasochistic approach to healing was hilarious in that!
No fruit cup for you!