when i tell people they think i am a nerd

I try not to but my aquantince all ways talks to me about it so it blows my cover so everyone calls me a chess geek

So do I.

i try to not tell my friends cos they call me a geek!

Only in today's current age degeneracy where the ignorant and uneducated person is raised up as the role models for our society, is when people feel shunned, shamed and persecuted for their desire to exercise and expand their minds.  This game is the ultimate exercise of mental strategy, tactics and ability.  You should never feel ashamed of learning and playing it.  Be confident in yourselves, and if someone tries to make you feel somehow embarrassed because you choose to leverage your mind and your intelligence, then you need to either mentally and verbally smack them down if they are a friend, or wash your hands of them and let them continue on their own path of mental mediocrity if they are not.  Chess is the ultimate battle of minds and I love to use it to size up friends & acquaintences.  I would never fathom myself ever feeling embarassed to admit that I enjoy the game of Chess, and I welcome a battle with any challenger who wishes jump into the fray and test his mettle.

i dont because im known as the best althlete in my school

if i do..

people would call me a chess geek

I picked the option where I don't talk about it very often. Since chess is anti-social and so few people understand the game I shy away from talking about it. In fact, the game has had a huge impact on my life due to the thousands of hours I have spent playing and studying.

I went for the second option.

I am not self-conscious about chess,the trouble is at the present time I do not know a great deal about the subject and when I do talk to my wife about it you can see this curtain coming down over her face and her eyes glass over and she stops talking, trouble is it wears off to soon.

I picked "Mostly - but in some situations I would really downplay it. (15%)"

 

Like at work. I don't want to advertise that I sometimes spend a couple work hours studying tactics and master games. But my family and friends know. :)

I don't really tell people about it because you don't just walk up to sombody and go right into their face I LIKE CHESS! I only tell people about Chess.com and If people ask me...

Needed a response that reflects in some situations you wouldn't even admit to knowing the rules, while in others you'd be arranging a game.  This is true with me at work.

Are there really people who are ashamed of having an interest in chess???

Lol.. well I'm doubting anyone on here walks around with a plaque saying "I am a chess geek" but if chess is a social barrier you REALLY gotta get a girlfriend, quit chess if neccesary :P

 so the 2nd option is rather inevitable... if you're gonna make a poll lets not have obvious answers :P

I like how this poll assumes that I feel strongly about chess..